Profiling Citizens on Perception of Key Factors of Food Security: An Application of K-Means Cluster Analysis

Cities have been increasingly involved in the development of food policies, becoming key points achieving security and fostering transition to sustainable agri-food systems. The aim this paper is identify citizens’ profiles by performing segmentation profiling according their socio-economic variables perception factors affecting security. This define appropriate strategies guide policy makers a more effective creation urban policies. An online survey was filled out citizens Metropolitan City Bari from July November 2022. Descriptive analysis, principal component analysis K-means cluster were applied collected data. Four clusters obtained labelled based on characteristics perception. Specifically, “Law-confident” (45% citizens) “Hedonist” (36%) revealed greatest trust “governance” “quality certification” aspects. “Capitalist” (15%) “Conservatory” (4%) relatively small groups, characterized respectively positive standardization production governance power, with focus regarding implementation, reduction loss waste (FLW) improvement quality certifications proposed approach results may support EU identifying macro-areas matters toward which direct public funding order improve areas, put place actions enhancing knowledge awareness issues