1,721,058 research outputs found
Nutrition, hedonic or environmental? The effect of front-of-pack messages on consumers’ perception and purchase intention of a novel food product with multiple attributes
Full text linkThe present study aims to assess the effect of different Front-Of-Pack messages on consumer perception, willingness to buy and willingness to pay for a new food product, with multiple attributes, such as particular nutritional information, sensory characteristics, and a potentially positive environmental impact. Furthermore, this study explores the differences between consumers based on their individual latent traits in order to evaluate how these factors affect the willingness to buy the new product, as well as to outline a profile of target consumers attracted by innovative food products. A consumer survey was conducted on a representative sample of 1250 Italian consumers, using a between-subject design with different Front-Of-Pack messages as stimuli. Messages were related to different attributes: nutrition, environmental impact, hedonic characteristics, and process innovation. Empirical findings show that Front-Of-Pack messages do not directly affect consumer willingness to buy, but they do influence consumer perception of the product. The most effective message is the nutrition one. Consumer willingness to buy is particularly influenced by product perception and by their novelty seeking orientation in consumption. Furthermore, consumers were segmented through hierarchical clustering based on their novelty seeking orientation. The results obtained provide valuable suggestions for the design of new products’ labeling and for the outline of the profile of potential target customers for innovative food products
Multifunctionality in fisheries and the provision of public goods
No full textMultifunctionality is characterized by two key elements: the existence of jointly produced multiple commodity and non-commodity outputs (NCOs), and that NCOs exhibit the characteristics of public goods externalities. The term “multifunctionality” is almost not used outside agriculture. However, several issues discussed in fishery literature and in international contexts clearly refer to public goods provision and joint production. The key point is to recognize if fisheries, similar to agriculture, provide other (public) benefits beyond their primary food supply function. The paper establishes a theoretical framework for the classification and valuation of multifunctionality in fisheries, and outlines policy options to increase (through multifunctionality) social welfare. NCOs include: ecosystem- and biodiversity-related NCOs, other environmental public goods/bads, cultural heritage and coastal viability, coastal employment externalities, food security, and strategic benefits. The main NCO characteristics to be analysed are the degree of jointness between commodity outputs and NCOs, and the distribution of property rights over fish stocks and NCOs. Policy options to increase social welfare include, among others, command and control schemes, market based instruments (e.g., payment for ecosystem services), and marine protected areas. Customary marine tenure institutions, or other modern fishery organizations, may represent a framework for the communitarian provision of NCOs. Fishery subsidies, which can because of overfishing, are justified if they allow increasing social benefits, given by the sum of catch and NCOs value. Particularly, incentives may be necessary to support small-scale fisheries or other less efficient technologies
Small-scale fisheries in the Emilia-Romagna region: structural, social and market issues
No full textSmall-scale fisheries play an important role in the regional fishing industry of Emilia-Romagna, an Adriatic region located in the north-east of Italy. However, when comparing
regional data with national averages, some peculiarities do emerge. To gain a deeper
understanding of the situation of small-scale fisheries in the region, a survey has been
performed through by interviewing a sample of fishers. This study is also focused on
the added value issue. In fact, local fish products have low prices on the market; for this
very reason, the regional public authority has been interested in creating a collective
brand involving all stakeholders in the supply chain. The perspectives from the fishers
and other parties regarding the potential offered by such a brand are discussed in this
paper
Blockchain: a promising tool in tackling food waste
No full textA significant proportion of the world’s food supply is lost or wasted, with profound economic, environmental, and social consequences. This waste not only represents a significant financial burden but also wastes vital resources. Among these challenges, blockchain technology is proving to be a transformative solution. It offers decentralized systems that can revolutionize food waste management by improving transparency, traceability, and accountability throughout the supply chain. This chapter first addresses the problem of food waste management and then discusses how the unique capabilities of blockchain can address these challenges. By utilizing blockchain’s capabilities, we have the potential to decrease food waste and promote sustainability. However, for blockchain to be fully effective, the issues of scalability, standardization, and environmental protection must be overcome through continued research, innovation, and collaboration between industries and policymakers
A structural equation modeling analysis of relational governance and economic performance in agri-food supply chains: evidence from the dairy sheep industry in Sardinia (Italy)
Full text linkThis study investigates the factors affecting the inter-organizational relationships and governance of firms in agri-food supply chains and assesses the influence that the current conditions of vertical coordination have on the economic performance of these firms. Research hypotheses describing the causal effects between the environment, product characteristics, inter-organizational relationships, relational governance, and firm economic performance are formulated and tested using a structural equation modeling approach. Data were gathered from a questionnaire administered via a direct survey to both farmers and processors in a traditional high-quality dairy sheep supply chain in the Italian region of Sardinia: the Pecorino Romano Protected Designation of Origin. Results point out the role of informal contractual arrangements in this local production system characterized by social cohesion, entailing higher product quality and better economic performance. Further, the study highlights the role of trust as a key variable for attaining collaborative paths along the agri-food supply chain, particularly between farmers and processors
A structural-functional theory approach to vertical coordination in agri-food supply chains: Insights from the "Gran Suino Italiano" inter-branch organisation
No full textThe pig sector plays a strategic role in many EU Member States, and particularly in Italy, due to the high value of Italian dry-cured ham Protected Designations of Origin (PDOs), such as "Prosciutto di Parma" and "Prosciutto San Daniele". However, vertical relationships in these supply chains, especially breederslaughterer relationships, are affected by a number of critical factors, including international competition in the supply of livestock, different profitability conditions and the weak concentration of primary supply as well as the scarce effectiveness of Inter-branch Organisations (IOs). This research aims to point out stakeholders' perceptions of the current vertical coordination and bargaining power conditions in the pig sector, with a specific focus on farmers. The information provided will be useful to identify appropriate governance and contractual tools to improve efficiency and value distribution along the supply chain. To do that, an interpretative model of contractual relationships between breeders and processors in the agri-food supply-chain was proposed, based on the relevant theoretical concepts drawn from both sociological literature (Structural-Function Theory) and economic literature (Transaction Costs Theory, Contract Theory) and a set of research hypotheses are formulated. Then, a direct survey was conducted on a sample of farms of the "Gran Suino Italiano" Inter-branch Organisation (IO) in Italy and the information gathered was elaborated by means of multivariate statistic techniques (cluster analysis and tests for variance analysis) to verify the research assumptions made. The results obtained showed that farmers only partially use written contracts and, where present, these are limited to being individual and not in aggregate form. Moreover, the most serious problems encountered in the commercial relations with the counterparty are the lack of legal clauses that can protect the weak contractor in the transaction and the lack of shared agreements on the carcass evaluation method and, hence, the determination of the price of the animals sold to the slaughterer. We conclude that the most appropriate solution to improve breeders' perception of the current weaknesses in vertical coordination with processors could be to introduce a new contract scheme between farmers and processors, with specific features identified on a shared basis by the members of the Inter-branch Organization
Quality differentiation in the Italian wine industry: Terroir-based vs. brand-based strategies
No full textThis study assesses the reasons that induce wine firms to choose their differentiation strategy, namely a terroir-based or a brand-based approach, considering both endogenous factors (e.g., firm size, nature of upstream- downstream relations) and exogenous conditions (market size/opportunities, collective brand reputation). First, we provide an empirical characterisation of the Italian denomination of origin wine processing and bottling industry as well as of firms' quality differentiation strategies, by means of a cluster analysis (CLA). Based on these results, we developed an industrial organisation model explaining the incentives for firms to adopt each strategy in a competitive context, focusing on the trade-off between terroir-based strategies and brandbased strategies. We conclude that brand-based strategies are motivated mostly by scale economies, short-run market opportunities and synergies between brand and designations of origin, while the main reasons prompting firms to choose terroir-based strategies relate to supply chain control, low demand uncertainty and competition intensity
Exploring structural and strategic correlates of difficulties in the internationalisation process of Italian wine SMEs
Full text linkInternationalisation has been a key strategy for businesses around the world over the last decades. Nowadays, the European wine sector finds itself in an increasingly competitive international environment, which is characterised by mature and declining per capita wine consumption in traditional markets and increasing competition form new emerging wine producing countries. Structurally, this sector is characterised by a vast majority of family businesses and faces several particularities. This research investigates the perception of difficulties in the internationalisation process of small and medium wineries in two emerging Italian wine exporting regions. It is found that the difficulties perceived in the internationalisation process depend on strategic and structural factors. The strategic factors highlighted in this paper are the degree of international diversification and the geographic scope of a firm's export activities. The structural factors relate to the characteristics of the exported goods, the management and the size of a firm. The findings are discussed in the light of recent developments of Italian wine exports and their implications for the Italian wine sector are derived. Keywords: Internationalisation, SME, Ital
Adaptive capacity to climate change in the wine industry: A Bayesian Network approach
Full text linkThis study assesses the main factors influencing the behavior of wine producers and the strategies implemented by them with regard to changing climatic conditions. To do so, we adopted a Bayesian Network combining climatic, technical, and economic factors, as well as farmer perception and environmental actions. Based on the scientific literature reviewed, a set of research hypotheses was formulated and compared with empirical evidence collected in the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna. Climatic data, both at the regional and vineyard levels were collected and primary information on wine growing and wine making firms was gathered by means of a producer survey, including 56 wine farms. The results showed that the probability to be negatively affected by the effects of climate change is influenced by structural and technical farm characteristics and by farmer readiness to embrace change. Local climatic conditions, particularly temperature and water surplus, are the factors that most affect both wine production and adaptation behavior in the study area. We conclude that the adoption of focused management and appropriate adaptation strategies, as well as appropriate policies with regard to regulation, incentives and support, are crucial issues for farmers to face the ongoing climatic challenge
- …
