Percepção dos jovens frente ao consumo de produtos de origem animal

Abstract

Brazilian agribusiness plays a crucial role in the production of grains, meat, and other products, and its importance is widely recognized globally. However, this relevance is being less and less valued within the country and faces criticism, especially from young people, who often see the sector in a pejorative way. The present study aimed to better understand the perception of young people in relation to the consumption of animal products and their knowledge about the welfare of farm animals, in addition to investigating the influence of social networks on these topics. For this, questionnaires with 32 questions were applied through an online platform, and 96 young people, aged between 15 and 19 years, participated in the research. Instagram was identified as the most used social network by participants, with most of them spending 3 to 4 hours a day on the platform. It was observed that most of the interviewees were of urban origin, and this origin proved to have a significant influence on the formation of young people's opinions, with a statistically significant difference (p=0.045). Urban youth, in general, more often believe that cattle production has a negative impact on the environment. In addition, the survey revealed a high frequency of beef consumption among young people who consume animal products. It was also found that many young people have limited information about existing breeding systems and animal welfare standards. However, the majority consider animal welfare to be extremely important in food production, and 73% of respondents expressed interest in learning more about humane production and slaughter systems.