Consumers generally use artificial intelligence to support food and agriculture production, according to the August Consumer Food Insights Report (CFI).
A survey-based report from Purdue University's Center for Food Demand Analysis and Sustainability (CFDAS) assesses food spending, consumer satisfaction and value, support for agriculture and food policy, and confidence in sources. Purdue experts conducted and evaluated the survey.
CFI first addressed AI in food and agriculture in June 2023. At the time, ChatGpt was a relatively new tool. Since then, consumers have become familiar with AI. Many people use it weekly or daily. From June 2023 to August 2025, consumers were asked about their support, neutrality or opposition to six applications of AI to food and agriculture, including reducing food waste on farms by determining how plants are propagated for optimal production.
“Many consumers trust AI to make food production decisions, but emphasize the importance of transparency regarding its use in the production process,” said Joseph Baragtus, the lead author of the report, who is Purdue's professor of agricultural economics and director of CFDAS. Almost two-thirds say it is “very” or “very” important for food producers to disclose when AI is used in production or decision-making processes.
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Figure 7. “Do you assume that the possibility of choosing food labeled “AI Assist” with the same product made without AI is the same price? “Age, August 2025 Credit: Purdue University Centre for Food Demand Analysis and Sustainability
“The possibility that consumers would choose food labeled 'AI Assisted' is mixed between consumers,” he said. “Consumers cite trust in AI as a major factor in whether or not they choose food labeled 'AI Assisted'. ”
Most consumers (70%) said it was “impossible” to choose AI-assisted products over alternatives that chose traditional alternatives in their ability to maintain food safety as a concern. Conversely, 53% of those who “probably” chose believe that AI can improve food safety.
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Figure 3. Consumer support for AI application in food and agriculture, August 2025 Source: Purdue University Centre for Food Demand Analysis and Sustainability
“This contrast illustrates a broader perspective on this new technology. It is clear that trust and understanding play a major role,” Baragtas said. “Many consumers are not yet sure what “AI assist” actually means in the context of food production. For food producers and brands, this represents both challenges and opportunities. Building trust through transparency and education is important. From optimizing harvests to improving freshness and developing recipes, consumers can make a huge difference in acceptance and adoption. ”
Food values are consistent with those from the previous month of the survey. Taste, affordability, nutrition, and availability take precedence over environmental impact and social responsibility.
Elijah Bryant, CFDAS research and research analyst and co-author of the report, said: He noted that the environmental impact of his food and the importance of social responsibility decreases with age.
The authors of the report disrupted the results in six age groups: 18-34, 35-44, 45-54 and 65 plus. Environmental and social factors are more highly valued by younger consumers, but remain secondary overall.
The average diet quality score for American adults was 62.2, more placed in the “intermediate” category. “Although older people tend to score higher, all age groups show room for improvement,” Bryant said. “Only 17% of respondents were classified as having a 'healthy' diet. ”
Food security remains a concern, but amid the historical fluctuations in the survey, 13.5% of households report challenges in accessing adequate food. This problem is most prominent among younger adults (18-34), with a 24.1% reported rate compared to 3% of those over 65 years of age.
In August, consumers reported eating an average of $127 on groceries and $70 a week. Due to the large sizes at home and large children, spending tends to be higher among younger and middle-aged adults.
Consumers expect food prices to rise 4.5% the following year, showing a third consecutive monthly increase since July and a point jump of 0.5%. “The rise in forecasts have been relatively stable around 2.9% after gradually increasing over the past few months, in contrast to actual inflation,” Bryant said. “The gap between perception and reality suggests that consumers may be dealing with sustained economic uncertainty and feelings about the cost of food.”
Bryant noted here some differences and similarities between consumers of different ages. Younger consumers tend to choose foods that are sold as sustainable or more ethical than older consumers. However, older consumers are less likely to take risks with the food they eat. “Overall, label checking behavior is similar across all consumers in terms of information such as nutrition and date,” he said.
In line with the findings in the Consumer Behavior section, younger consumers are more likely to believe in the health benefits of eating alternative options such as organic, plant-based, and gluten-free foods in place of their traditional counterparts. As people age, skepticism about these health statements increases. Many consumers of all ages believe in the relationship between agriculture and the environment.
Finally, it is more diverse and lower among younger consumers as it trusts different organisations as a source of healthy and sustainable food. Elderly people consistently show a more stable and higher level of trust in institutional sources. In contrast, young adults exhibit broader confidence in a variety of sources.
The Center for Food Demand Analysis and Sustainability is part of Purdue's Plant Science 2.0 next move, improving food systems using innovative data analytics shared through an easy-to-use platform. In addition to the Consumer Food Insights report, the Center offers a portfolio of online dashboards.
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