Skip to content
Technical University of Munich

Dr. Meike Rombach

Senior Lecturer above the bar in Horticultural Management

Meike.Rombach(at)lincoln.ac.nz

PO Box 85084
Lincoln University
Lincoln 7647, Canterbury
New Zealand

Dr. Meike Rombach (Senior Lecturer above the bar in Horticultural Management) is an alumna of the chair of Economics of Horticulture and Landscaping. She is a member of Department Land Management and Systems at Lincoln University in New Zealand and program director for the Diploma in Horticultural Business and the Bachelor of Commerce Horticulture. Her area of research and teaching is horticultural management. Meike holds a master degree in International Horticultural Science, and studied at the University of Bologna, the Technical University Munich and at the Boku Wien. Further, she completed an apprenticeship in ornamental flower production. Meike’s research is dedicated to consumer preferences for experimental products such as food and ornamental plants, which includes flowers, apples, pet food and plant based meat and milk alternatives.

Scientific publications

  • McIntyre, T., Olvermann, M., Rombach, M., de Koning, W., Renwick, A. (2024). Here comes the sun: Social acceptability of solar photovoltaic in New Zealand.  Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand ( Accepted for publication)
  • Rombach, M., Dean, D., Vriesekoop, F., Jiang, B., Zhou, Z., Hao, W., & de Koning, W. (2024). Understanding factors determining Chinese consumer’s willingness to eat cultured meat, insect, and plant-based proteins. International Review on Public and Nonprofit Marketing, 1-33. doi:10.1007/s12208-024-00419-4
  • Dean, D., Rombach, M., Vriesekoop, F., Mongondry, P., Hoa, L. V., Laophetsakunchai, S., . . . de Koning, W. (2024). Against the grain: Consumer’s purchase habits and satisfaction with gluten-free product offerings in European food retail. Foods, 13(19), 14 pages. doi:10.3390/foods13193152
  • Rombach, M., Tangiora, H., Smith, D., & Kerr, C. (2024). Land-based education and experiential learning. The Journal : The official publication of the New Zealand Institute of Primary Industry Management Incorporated, 25-29.
  • Botero, J., Rombach, M., Dean, D., & Gan, C. (2024). Is a vending machine my best bet? Understanding key factors determining US consumers’ preference and loyalty to fruit vending machines. International Journal of Applied Business Research, 6(2), 121-135. doi:10.35313/ijabr.v6i02.412
  • Kerr, C., Kartikasari, A., Spence, P., & Rombach, M. (2024, July 9). Understanding drivers, barriers and value contribution of the land based social enterprise “Rakau”. Poster session presented at the meeting of  2024 IFAMA Virtual Symposium. Spain. Retrieved from https://www.ifama.org/Virtual-Symposium/
  • Rombach, M., Manna, V., & Dean, D. (2024, July 9). Bridezilla and her floral antics: Understanding narcissistic consumer behaviour in New Zealand’s floristry sector. Poster session presented at the meeting of  IFAMA 2024 Virtual Symposium. Spain. Retrieved from https://www.ifama.org/Virtual-Symposium
  • Rombach, M., Cong, L., & Dean, D. L. (2024). Leave the milk for the calf and spread the word: Exploring factors determining US consumers’ willingness to try plant-based milk alternatives and their word-of-mouth sharing about plant-based milk alternatives. Beverages, 10(2), 16 pages. doi:10.3390/beverages10020027
  • Rombach, M., & Dean, D. L. (2024). Eating macro-algae (seaweed): Understanding factors driving New Zealand consumers’ willingness to eat and their perceived trust towards country of origin. Foods, 13(9), 14 pages. doi:10.3390/foods13091300
  • Rombach, M., Botero, J., & Dean, D. L. (2024). Finding nori—Understanding key factors driving US consumers’ commitment for sea-vegetable products. Sustainability, 16(5), 13 pages. doi:10.3390/su16052107
  • Kartikasari, A., Dean, D.L., Rombach, M. & Suhartanto, D. (2023). Discomfort and proactiveness of New Zealand OFD consumers during the coronavirus pandemic, Journal of Foodservice Business Research (online). doi.org/10.1080/15378020.2023.2214067
  • Rombach, M., Dean, D.L. & Bitsch, V. (2023). "Got milk alternatives?" Understanding key factors determining U.S. consumers’ willingness to pay for plant-based milk alternatives. Foods 12 (6), 1277. doi.org/10.3390/foods12061277
  • Dean, D., Rombach, M., Vriesekoop, F., de Koning, W., Aguiar, L. K., Anderson, M., . . . Alvarez, B. (2023). Should I really pay a premium for this? Consumer perspectives on cultured muscle, plant-based and fungal-based protein as meat alternatives. Journal of International Food and Agribusiness Marketing, 35, 25 pages. doi.org/10.1080/08974438.2023.2169428
  • Dean, D., Rombach, M., de Koning, W., Vriesekoop, F., Satyajaya, W., Yuliandari, P., . . . Aguiar, L. K. (2022). Understanding key factors influencing consumers’ willingness to try, buy, and pay a price premium for mycoproteins. Nutrients, 14 (16), 15 pages. doi.org/10.3390/nu14163292
  • Manna, V., Rombach, M., Dean, D., & Rennie, H. G. (2022). A design thinking approach to teaching sustainability. Journal of Marketing Education 44 (3), 362-374. doi.org/10.1177/02734753211068865
  • Rombach, M., Dean, D., Vriesekoop, F., de Koning, W., Aguiar, L. K., Anderson, M., . . . Boereboom, A. (2022). Is cultured meat a promising consumer alternative? Exploring key factors determining consumer's willingness to try, buy and pay a premium for cultured meat. Appetite, 179, 13 pages. doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2022.106307
  • Rombach, M., & Dean, D. (2023). Edible landscape: Key factors determining consumers’ commitment and willingness to accept opportunity cost and risk of foraged food. Frontiers in Horticulture, 2, 11 pages. doi.org/10.3389/fhort.2023.1028455
  • Rombach, M., & Dean, D. L. (2023). Exploring key factors driving urban foraging behavior in garden and non-garden locations. Foods, 12(5), 18 pages. doi.org/10.3390/foods12051032
  • Rombach, M., Dean, D. L., & Baird, T. (2022). Understanding apple attribute preferences of US consumers. Foods, 11(2), 14 pages. doi.org/10.3390/foods11020166
  • Rombach, M., Dean, D. L., Baird, T., & Kambuta, J. (2022). COVID-19 and the Locavores: Investigating the drivers of US consumer preferences for apples. Agronomy, 12(7), 20 pages. doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12071691
  • Rombach, M., Dean, D. L., Baird, T., & Kambuta, J. (2022). Should I pay or should I grow? Factors which influenced the preferences of US consumers for fruit, vegetables, wine and beer during the COVID-19 pandemic. Foods, 11(11), 18 pages. doi.org/10.3390/foods11111536
  • Rombach, M., Dean, D. L., Baird, T., & Rice, J. (2022). Fruit vending machines as a means of contactless purchase: Exploring factors determining US consumers’ willingness to try, buy and pay a price premium for fruit from a vending machine during the coronavirus pandemic. COVID, 2(12), 1650-1665. doi.org/10.3390/covid2120119
  • Rombach, M., & Dean, D. L. (2021). It keeps the good boy healthy from nose to tail: Understanding pet food attribute preferences of US consumers. Animals, 11(11), 15 pages. doi.org/10.3390/ani11113301
  • Rombach, M., & Dean, D. L. (2021). Just love me, feed me, never leave me: Understanding pet food anxiety, feeding and shopping behavior of US pet owners in Covidian times. Animals, 11(11), 18 pages. doi.org/10.3390/ani11113101
  • Rombach, M., Dean, D. L., & Baird, T. (2021). Exploring key factors determining US consumer preferences for growing over buying fruit in pre-Covidian and Covidian times. Horticulturae, 7(12), 14 pages. doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae7120575
  • Gabriel, A., Rombach, M., & Schmiedbauer, J. (2019). Integration und Arbeitszufriedenheit ausländischer Saisonarbeitskräfte als Grundlage für zirkuläre Beschäftigungsverhältnisse. DGG-Proceedings 9 (5), 1-5. doi.org/10.5288/dgg-pr-ag-2019, (published March 2021)
  • Gabriel, A., Rombach, M., Wieser, H., & Bitsch, V. (2021). Got waste: knowledge, behavior and self-assessment on food waste of university students in Germany. International Food and Agribusiness Management Review 24 (6) 951-970. doi.org/10.22434/IFAMR2020.0145
  • Rombach, M., Dean, D.L., Widmer, N.J.O. & Bitsch, V. 2021. „Oh, you shouldn’t have!” Understanding key factors impacting cut flowers gifting preferences in Germany. Horticulturae 7 (10), 368. doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae7100368
  • Rombach, M., Dean, D.L., Widmer, N.J.O. & Bitsch, V. 2021. Connected consumerism: Understanding fair trade cut flower purchase behavior in Germany. Sustainability 13 (21), 12133 (November). doi.org/10.3390/su132112133
  • Mair, S. & Rombach, M. (2020). Taking the helm at the family operation under the watchful eye of the predecessor: Succession in European horticulture and agriculture. European Journal of Horticultural Science 85 (2), 123-132. doi.org/10.17660/eJHS.2020/85.2.7
  • Rombach, M., Paul, S.E., Niedermann, L.F. & Bitsch, V. (2020). Peppers & More: A teaching case in organizational behavior. International Food and Agribusiness Management Review. doi.org/10.22434/IFAMR2020.0010
  • Meyerding, G.H., Spiwoks, E., Rombach, M. & Lehberger, M. (2019). Not only speed matters – Crisis response in the hypothetical case of a transport accident involving genetically modified crops. Food Policy 85 (May), 55-63. doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2019.04.006
  • Sedlmeier, R., Rombach, M. & Bitsch, V. (2019). Making food rescue your business. Case studies in Germany. Sustainability 11 (18), 5101https://doi.org/10.3390/su11185101
  • Rombach, M., Köhl, L. & Bitsch, V. (2019). Multi-layer Agency Problems in a Non-profit and For-profit Collaboration: A Case Study of a Delicatessen Product in Support of a Minority. International Food and Agribusiness Management Review 22 (5), 747-765. doi.org/10.22434/IFAMR2019.0014
  • King, R., Rombach, M., & Bitsch, V. (2019). Inclusion in German Horticulture. Acta Horticulturae 1242, 955-960https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2019.1242.140
  • Villnow, V., Rombach, M., & Bitsch, V. (2019). Examining German media coverage of the re-evaluation of glyphosate. Sustainability 11 (7), 1910. doi.org/10.3390/su11071910
  • Braun, C.L., Rombach, M., Häring, A.M. & Bitsch, V. (2018). A local gap in sustainable food procurement: Organic vegetables in Berlin’s school meals. Sustainability 10 (11), 4245. doi.org/10.3390/su10114245
  • Rombach, M., Ricchieri, F. and Bitsch, V. (2018). Food recovery and food redistribution in Italy. Acta Horticulturae 1215, 301-306. doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2018.1215.55
  • Rombach, M., Bitsch, V., Kang, E., & Ricchieri, F. (2018). Comparing German and Italian Food Banks: Actors’ Knowledge on Food Insecurity and their Perception of the Interaction with Food Bank Users. British Food Journal. doi.org/10.1108/BFJ-11-2017-0626
  • Rombach, M., Widmar, N. O., Byrd, E. S., & Bitsch, V. (2018). Understanding preferences of German flower consumers: the desire for sustained beauty. International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management, 46 (6), 560-576. doi.org/10.1108/IJRDM-10-2017-0229
  • Braun, C. L., Rombach, M., Bitsch, V. & Häring A.M. (2018). Structures and actors of the organic vegetable value chain for school catering: a case study of the Berlin-Brandenburg metropolitan region. Proceedings in System Dynamics and Innovation in Food Networks 2018, 133-142. doi.org/10.18461/pfsd.2018.1810
  • Rombach, M., Kang, E., & Bitsch, V. (2018). Good deeds revisited: motivation and boundary spanning in formal volunteering. International Review of Public and Nonprofit Marketing 15 (1), 105-126. doi.org/10.1007/s12208-018-0193-7
  • Rombach, M., Widmar, N. O., Byrd, E., & Bitsch, V. (2018). Do all roses smell equally sweet? Willingness to pay for flower attributes in specialized retail settings by German consumers. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services 40 (January), 91-99. doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2017.09.007
  • Kizil, M., Rombach, M. & Bitsch, V. (2018). Innovationspotenziale der Bundesgartenschau: Entwicklung eines Evaluationsmodelles. DGG-Proceedings 7 (12), No 15. doi.org 10.5288/dgg-pr-mk-2017 (published December 2018)
  • Rombach, M., & Bitsch, V. (2017). Sector blending: evidence from the German Food Bank. International Food and Agribusiness Management Review 21 (2), 181-200. doi.org/10.22434/IFAMR2017.0064
  • Hermsdorf, D., Rombach, M., &  Bitsch, V. (2017). Food waste reduction practices in German food retail. British Food Journal 119 (12),  2532-2546. doi.org/10.1108/BFJ-06-2017-0338
  • Rombach, M., Canavari, M., & Pignatti, E. (2016). Branded pears? An exploration of German consumers' perceptions of the new club cultivar 'Angelys'. Acta Horticulturae 1120, 447-454. doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2016.1120.69
  • Rombach, M., & Bitsch, V. (2016). A typology of online flower shops on the German market. Acta Horticulturae 1132, 127-134. doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2016.1132.17
  • Rombach, M., Bitsch, V., Nellen, A., & Salomon, M. (2015). Dumpster diving in Germany. Acta Horticulturae 1132, 167-174. doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2016.1132.23
  • Rombach, M., Nellen, A., & Bitsch, V. (2015). Food movements and food waste in Germany: Slow Food members’ perspectives. Acta Horticulturae 1132, 175-182. doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2016.1132.24
  • Bitsch, V., Kokovic, N., & Rombach, M. (2015). Foodborne illness and media coverage: case study of the German E. coli outbreak in 2011. Acta Horticulturae 1103, 75-82. doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2015.1103.12
  • Rombach, M., & Bitsch, V. (2015). Food movements in Germany: Slow food, food sharing, and dumpster diving. International Food and Agribusiness Management Review 18 (3), 1-24. www.ifama.org/resources/Documents/v18i3/Rombach-Bitsch.pdf
  • Bitsch, V., Kokovic, N., & Rombach, M. (2014). Risk communication and market effects during foodborne illnesses: A comparative case study of bacterial outbreaks in the U.S. and in Germany. International Food and Agribusiness Management Review 17 (3), 97-114. www.ifama.org/.../V17Issue3BitschKokovicRombach.pdf
  • Rombach, M., Pignatti, E., & Canavari, M. (2013). Fokusgruppen mit deutschen Verbrauchern zur Klubbirne Angelys. In: W. Dirksmeyer, L. Theuvsen, & M. Kayser (Eds.), Aktuelle Forschung in der Gartenbauökonomie, Tagungsband zum 1. Symposium für Ökonomie im Gartenbaum 27. November 2013 in der Paulinerkirche Göttingen (pp. 45-58). Braunschweig, Germany: Thünen Report 22.

Further Publikations

To top