University of Gastronomic Sciences

Persuasion in marketing for consumer acceptance of edible insect-based foods: exploring past, current trends and future directions

Purpose This paper systematically reviews how marketing persuasion strategies are used to overcome barriers and strengthen drivers of consumer acceptance of edible insect-based foods, particularly in Western markets. Design/methodology/approach Using PRISMA guidelines, a systemat...

Coffeehouses as Symbolic Spaces: Materialism and Experiential Motivations in Coffeehouse Selection

The demand for coffeehouses has been growing globally; however, little is known about the psychological factors associated with individuals’ coffeehouse selection. Drawing on a value–motivation–intention framework, this study examines how materialism–coffeehouse as defining succe...

Awareness and usage trends of the traditional culinary ingredient ‘Kolakhar’ among young adults in Assam, India: an exploratory perception survey

‘ Kolakhar ’, an alkaline culinary ingredient prepared from ‘ Bhim Kol ’ ( Musa balbisiana Colla), holds a crucial place in Assamese culture, reflected in the identity ‘ Khar Khuwa Axomiya ’ (those who eat Khar ). However, modernisation, societal change, and habitat degradation i...

Autumn edible mushrooms’ euphoria in Dzūkija, SE Lithuania: lessons to learn for an ethnobiology of situated and resilient forest practices

Dzūkija is the most heavily forested region of Lithuania, and foragers and ethnographers alike describe it as the country’s epicentre of mushroom enthusiasm. We interviewed 34 foragers there in October 2025 (20 women, 14 men; mean age 56 years) to ask why gathering fungi in this...

Contemporary Foraging as a Lever for Plant Conservation and Plant Awareness: Evidence from Denmark, Southern Scotland and Tel Aviv–Jaffa

Wild-food foraging is booming across the Global North, but its meaning—and its value for plant conservation—differs sharply between settings. We compare three case studies: Denmark, an intensively cultivated country with a book- and app-led revival; Southern Scotland, a post-indu...

INTELLECTUAL SOVEREIGNTY AS A STRATEGIC RESOURCE FOR ENSURING NATIONAL SECURITY

The article discusses current issues of national security in the context of digitalization of public relations. The article reveals the problems of intellectual sovereignty that goes beyond the digital technologies of modern society. Proposals are put forward to prevent the negat...