Panel research I

Final report

Duration of project

October 2004 to September 2006

Contact person at the University of Kassel

Jan Niessen

Head of project

In depth analysis of the perceived demand for organic food products on the basis of panel data

Research project within the framework of the Federal programme for organic agriculture (BÖL)

www.bundesprogramm-oekolandbau.de

Description of Project

The aim of the research project is a detailed evaluation of panel data collected by the Gesellschaft für Konsumforschung (GfK) on the demand for organic food products. In these representative data all consumer acts for organic food products from 200 private households have been recorded monthly during the period September 2002 to December 2003. The panel data were derived by means of a wave study within the GfK’s household panel. The existing data allow the evaluation of consumption structures and the analysis of the amount and value of consumer purchases by distribution channels. 

A further aim of the research project is to analyse the data with regard to the special method of data collection and its rate of aggregation. The value of the data for marketing for businesses in the organic food product branch is further investigated. The project includes the compilation of a compendium for use and integration of market research data in working practice of food firms.