Review: Preference elicitation methods for appropriate breeding objectives

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Animal Breeding
• Genetics

Background:

• Traditional livestock breeding prioritizes profit maximization, often overlooking broader stakeholder values.
• Financial valuation of traits may not capture full societal or environmental benefits, especially for traits lacking market value.
• Societal values are evolving, necessitating breeding objectives that accommodate reduced negative externalities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and synthesize existing literature on stated preference methods in agricultural breeding.
• To identify knowledge gaps and promote the development and implementation of stated preference approaches.
• To guide the formulation of breeding objectives and selection indices that incorporate diverse stakeholder values.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of 84 peer-reviewed publications on stated preference approaches in livestock and crop breeding.
• Aggregate ranking of traits for cattle based on preference estimates.
• Analysis of methodological diversity and potential sources of uncertainty in preference estimation.

Main Results:

• Significant heterogeneity exists in methodologies applied to stated preference methods in breeding.
• Uncertainty in preference estimates for cattle traits is linked to non-standardized methods, trait selection/description oversights, and respondent representation.
• Stated preference methods offer a framework for incorporating non-market values and societal preferences into breeding goals.

Conclusions:

• Stated preference methods are crucial for aligning breeding objectives with evolving societal values and environmental concerns.
• Addressing methodological limitations, including standardization and accurate respondent representation, is essential for reliable preference estimates.
• Interdisciplinary collaboration and simplified approaches are needed to fully integrate diverse stakeholder values into genetic improvement programs.