Food System Dynamics (E-Journals)
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Exploring the Interplay of Risk Attitude and Organic Food Consumption
Get PDFThis exploratory study seeks to advance the research on consumers’ preference for organic food eating by investigating the potential association between organic food consumption (OC) frequency and the individual risk attitude. Moreover, inspired by the literature, we investigate also the association between OC and the perceived OC related health improvement (i.e. the avoidance of health risks), subjective trust toward the certification, social norms and several lifestyle factors. Based on a direct survey of 223 Italian college students, a lottery task was used to characterize the individual risk attitude and a simultaneous equation model was estimated. This study marks a beginning by showing a significant relationship between being risk averse and a high organic food eating, offering a hint for future research avenues in the organic domain
Munger, Michael C. (2018). Tomorrow 3.0. Transaction Costs and the Sharing Economy
Get PDFIn the mid-1950s Erich Geiersberger, a journalist of the Bavarian rural radio, pioneered machinery rings. He had noticed that many family farms in Germany had over-invested in farm machinery compared to farms of similar size in France and in the Netherlands. This, Geiersberger worried, would threaten their competitiveness in the coming European Economic Community. Geiersberger suggested 'machine rings' as a solution to this predicament.Michael Munger, a professor of economics at Duke University in Durham, NC, USA, is probably totally unaware of machinery rings; they are certainly not mentioned in his book. Like Geiersberger, Munger is concerned with institutions that improve the utilization of durable goods. Yet, whereas Geiersberger acted as an organization designer and builder, Munger is a keen economic observer of changes in the organization of markets, changes which he expects to become revolutionary
The “Sophistication” of Agri-food International Trade: Switching the Concept to Imports
Get PDFThe aim of the paper is twofold. First, it introduces a new index (called Consy) for measuring the sophistication of traded goods looking at the importers’ side. The index is defined and then its sophistication content is assessed based on a simple regression model. Second, an empirical exercise is carried out focused on agri-food imports for a set of 46 selected items. This empirical analysis brings evidences on the kind of outcome provided by the index, but it also sheds light on recent trends in agri-food trade where demand of food imports in emerging countries is enlarging and it is more quality-oriented. Results can help stakeholders in better defining and implementing their exporting strategies, especially orienting business towards promising markets and enhancing the quality features for their exports to be delivered to more demanding consumers. Policymakers and sector analysts may also be interested in acknowledging how agri-food international trade is re-shaping in recent years in order to be able to govern the related processes.The Consy values of agrifood products indicate that rich countries are major world importers. Furthermore, the Consy ranking shows that higher value-added and more complex items are imported mainly by richer countries. The time trend of the Consy index is also studied and results show that, in the studied period, the was an increase of import shares of food items for final consumption of higher quality from poorer countries
Learning and Adaptation in Food Systems: Insights from Four Case Studies in the Global South
Get PDFThis article presents empirical results on learning and adaptation to risks among different groups of actors in food systems in two countries of the global south (Kenya and Bolivia). Using a resilience approach, the study sought to assess knowledge about risks perceived by actors, forms of learning that actors in food systems have access to and use, and how this knowledge and learning has contributed to adaptation and resilience build ing. Data were collected through questionnaires, interviews, farmer meetings, workshops, and participant observation. The target population was different groups of actors in agroindustrial food systems in both countries, a regional food system in Kenya and an agroecological food system in Bolivia. The results show that knowledge on threats came from the actors’ experience and interaction with external actors. The main risks identified in Kenya and Bolivia included climate change impacts – particularly extreme climatic events (floods and droughts) –, price fluctuation of food products, declining soil fertility, deforestation, and –in Kenya– human-wildlife conflicts, and conflicts between actors over resource use. The most important forms of learning were experiential learning through demonstration farms, social learning exemplified in group approaches, and learning at individual levels through informationexchange between farmers and external actors such as extension personnel, research organisations and non-governmental organisations. There is potential to enhance adaptation strategies whose knowledge has been acquired over the years, to build resilient food systems necessary for dealing with current and future shocks and stress
Brewing a more Balanced Cup: Supply Chain Perspectives on Gender Transformative Change within the Coffee Value Chain
Get PDFShifts in global agriculture have led more women into formal roles in the coffee industry as small-holder producers and cooperative members. Inclusion of women in these institutions, however, does not guarantee a change in historical power relations, or the benefits that might flow from this. A transformative change in gender relations not only requires changes in women's attitudes and capacities and in the relationships between men and women, but also progress at the institutional and structural levels, a topic which has been infrequently studied. To address this gap, this paper explores institutional perspectives of stakeholders in the supply chain of a fair-trade organic coffee federation located in the western highlands of Guatemala. Major themes emerged from the interviews regarding women's inclusion in the industry, gender sensitization, women's empowerment, and supply chainsupport. The study finds that empowering women as productive cooperative members requires not only technical assistance and support, but also creation of an inclusive social and political environment that supports expanded choices for women and men. The paper expands our understanding of the historical context and current institutional dynamics that are fueling gender transformative change in the coffee industry. The conclusions find that this type of approach may lead to more than just superficial gender integration, and has the potential to result in the genuine integration of women into previously male-dominated organizations and the eventual percolation ofsociety-wide shifts in gender norms, moving towards a more equitable society
Openness in Malting Barley Value Chains: The Case of Adoption of new Varieties in Canada and the United Kingdom
Get PDFDevelopment of new malting barley varieties depends crucially on value chain acceptance. A case study analysis of the adoption of new varieties in malting barley value chains in Canada and the United Kingdom (UK) indicates thatopenness in value chains is a major contributing factor to a faster adoption rate for new varieties, even if firms conduct R&D in-house. Drawing upon the open innovation literature, this paper applies four degrees of openness framework across two dimensions: a firm's level of openness in innovation strategy, and its degree of openness with the rest of the industry
The Carne Carbono Neutro Accordance to Brazilian Consumers’ Attitude towards Beef
Get PDFThe Brazilian project Carne Carbono Neutro (CCN) assumes that a more sustainable beef will increase its value for the consumers. The paper aims to verify this assumption and to suggest a communication strategy supporting the CCN valorization. An online survey involving 506 Brazilian consumers showed three different classes of consumers with significantly different attitudes towards environmental issues. Price and quality always strongly influence their demand for beef. A communication campaign should focus on the CCN lower beef environmental impact and beef price/quality issues. Social media on internet and education programs in schools and different institutions should be used
Assessing the Sustainability of the Indonesian Halal Beef Supply Chain
Get PDFAssessing the halal beef chain's sustainability is crucial for the achievement of sustainable development goals in Indonesia. This study evaluates the economic, environmental, and social impact of the Indonesian halal beef supply chain. The economic indicator shows that cattle farmers incurred the highest costs, but earn a lower profit than the beef retailers. Cattle farmers produce higher carbon emissions and use more freshwater than other actors. However, cattle farmers contributed most significantly to hiring employees along the Indonesian halal beef supply chain. These indicate a gap between actors that impact the fragile sustainability of the supply chain
Preferences for Certified Beef with Animal Welfare and Other Credence Attributes in Australia
Get PDFConcerns over livestock production practices have resulted in increased consumer preferences for certified products. Australian beef buyers’ survey data revealed the preferences of consumers who would buy differentiated beef based on animal welfare, safety, health, or environmental-friendly considerations. Female respondents are more likely to buy certified animal welfare products. Buyers with children, and those who value branded beef, are more likely to buy products differentiated by a bundle of credence attributes. Given that Australian beef consumers eat similar amounts, there are opportunities for differentiating beef products according to credence attributes and offering them in a range of retailers
Participation in Agricultural Extension and Labor Productivity: A Case Study of Smallholder Farmers in Ghana
Get PDFLow agricultural productivity remains one of the main factors influencing poverty and food insecurity among smallholder farmers in many developing countries. Among the key interventions assumed to influence agricultural productivity of smallholders is the provision of agricultural extension services to farmers. Access to agricultural extension however remains low in most developing countries thus slowing down agricultural productivity growth. This study therefore sought to determine the labor productivity effects of agricultural extension in northern Ghana using data from a cross-section of 300 smallholder farm households. The results of a binary probit model indicated that participation in agricultural extension increased with farming experience, farm size, access to irrigation and group membership but decreased with years of formal education and household size. Regression estimates of a labor productivity model revealed a positive and statistically significant relationship between agricultural extension and labor productivity. Also, labor productivity increased with farming experience, household income, access to irrigation, degree of specialization in production and the level of conventional inputs used per man-day of labor but decreased with participation in off-farm work. The authors recommend an increase in agricultural extension coverage to ensure that more farmers are reached with information on modern technologies to enhance their labor productivity. Furthermore, farmers need access to inputs such as seed and fertilizer to improve the productivity of labor