An emerging food policy domain: The effects of autonomous transport technologies on food access and consumption

Innovations in food home delivery systems have seen rapid growth in the consumption of food prepared outside the home. Such food is often higher in negative nutrients than home-prepared food. Technological advancements in the transport sector are set to amplify the availability of food delivery services via the introduction of autonomous (driverless) vehicles. Very little is known about how consumers are likely to react to this change, and relevant regulatory frameworks are lacking. To address this evidence gap and inform policy in this emerging domain, the aim of the present study was to provide preliminary insights into how and why consumers may choose to use autonomous food delivery services once they are widely available and the potential impacts on their diets. A sample of 100 adults currently residing in Australia participated in one-to-one interviews. Quotas were applied for the attributes of age, sex, and geographical location to ensure appropriate demographic distribution. Around two-thirds of interviewees reported intending to use autonomous food delivery services for receiving groceries and around one-half for receiving fast food. Perceptions of increased convenience dominated interviewees’ expressed reasons for intending to use autonomous delivery services. Overall, interviewees saw few impediments to the widescale use of autonomous delivery services, and some expected to consume more unhealthy food due to increased access. While autonomous delivery services have the potential to substantially increase access to both healthy and unhealthy food products, effective policy actions are needed to ensure health outcomes are optimized.