3,022 research outputs found
Eco-Labeled Canned Tuna Consumption: What do Italians Know and How do They Behave?
No full textThe study investigates the importance that Italians assign to eco-labeled canned tuna, their appreciation and ability to recognize different eco-label logos. Three steps of analysis were followed: a descriptive analysis; a test analysis, to detect the significance of socio-demographic characteristics, frequency of
consumption and knowledge of eco-labels; finally, an ordered logistic model, to investigate respondents’ preferences toward eco-labeled tuna and understand what factors influence their choice. Results show a high willingness to buy and to pay for eco-labeled tuna. Most of the respondents were unable to identify the logos. Consumers who know the meaning of the sustainability concept, who buy certified products and who trust in the certification of products are more likely to prefer eco-labeled tuna, than other people. People’s recognition of eco-labels, awareness to buy certified food and the perceived knowledge of the overfishing status of tuna, all exerted a positive effect on people’s preferences toward eco-labeled tuna
An Explorative Study of Key Factors Driving Italian Consumers' Willingness to Eat Edible Seaweed
No full textSeaweed is an important source of nutrients and their consumption is considered an environmentally sustainable option. The study aims to contribute to the current literature exploring factors most capable of impacting on Italian consumers’ willingness to eat seaweed. Data were collected from a sample of 257 consumers in Italy by using a web-based survey and, after a factor analysis, a binary logistic regression model was applied. Even if the study shows an explorative approach, due to non-representative nature of the sample, findings suggest that there should be a potential for increasing seaweed consumption and production. Indeed, more information about seaweed organoleptic and nutritional characteristics, opportunities to find it in a menu, at gastronomic events or previous satisfactory eating experiences, should increase the grade of acceptance of this food in consumers. The study findings allow several implications for market interventions. In fact, promotional and informational tools could be usefully applied to satisfy consumers’ need of information. On the other hand, marketing tools, by improving the accessibility of this novel food through distributional channels, could be useful for supporting the development of a market niche, which up until now has been left unexplored in Italy
PDO Economy and Quality Agri-Food District in the wine sector: Blockchain and digitalization as tools for the twin transition
No full textThe twin transition has great potential for the development of the wine sector, although its benefits for the valorisation of the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) economy and at the quality districts level are not explored in depth either in the theoretical or empirical literature. The study aims to contribute to this knowledge gap from a strictly conceptual perspective, by investigating benefits and obstacles that Blockchain and digital technologies can have to favour the creation and implementation of a quality wine district towards a sustainable path. Based on the literature background and a case study approach, the Vermentino di Gallura PDO Quality District, this study discusses the prospects and hypotheses of introducing Blockchain technologies and other digital tools at district level and the challenges and opportunities for fostering its sustainable transition. Preliminary results suggest that this transition could benefit the local supply chain and its territory over different pillars of sustainability, although obstacles can be expected along the implementation path. Obstacles can be in various areas – among which are the breadth and variety of processes included within the boundaries of the digital transition and the inter-organizational nature of the twin transition
Environmental Attributes of Wild versus Farmed Tuna: Beliefs, Knowledge and Purchasing Choices of Italian Consumers of Canned Tuna
No full textThe study investigates the perception of the environmental sustainability of wild-caught versus farm-raised tuna production among a sample of Italian consumers. Awareness, concern, knowledge and beliefs related to the environmental impacts of wild and farmed tuna, and the attention given to environmental attributes when purchasing canned tuna, are tested for significance based on the socio-demographic characteristics of individuals. The results show that respondents are aware and concerned about the environmental challenges in fish production, but more than half of the sample has no or little knowledge of the environmental sustainability of both wild and farmed sources of tuna production. They indicate impacts in terms of by-catch, marine ecosystems and species reproduction for the wild source; for the farmed source, environmental issues related to the feeding and risk of the virus are reported. Most respondents believe that the wild fish source has a greater environmental impact than the farmed tuna production. Plastic contamination, separate waste collection and air emissions are other environmental challenges respondents mostly consider. Finally, minimal attention is paid to environmental attributes when purchasing canned tuna, and the production method of the fish is ignored
The potential for developing educational farms: a SWOT analysis from a case study
No full textPurpose: Educational farms (EFs) serve a number of social and
economic functions and are part of the debate about new
learning environments, multifunctional agriculture and firm
diversification. Through the analysis of a case study, this paper
aims to identify strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and
threats (SWOT) of EFs and key factors for setting a development
strategy.
Design/Methodology/Approach: A direct survey to EFs in Molise
region (IT) was implemented during April-May 2017 and results
were assessed following a SWOT approach.
Findings: Strong motivation and connection with agritourism
activities are strengths of EFs in the region; small size, unskilled
staff, lack of structured educational pathways, and limited
profitability are the main weaknesses. Farms opportunities come
from a territory rich in rural landscapes, environmental resources,
and typical food products, and from a growing demand for
educational tourism. Obstacles are in the institutional sphere and
due to the absence of regional networks. Based on SWOT
findings, key factors for EFs development are discussed.
Practical implications: EFs development requires innovative
educational and managerial tools, a more concerted and proactive
role for multiple stakeholders, and the implementation of a
network approach. Study findings solicit actions from public
institutions and advisory services to improve farmers’ skills.
Theoretical implications: The paper contributes to the theoretical
debate about the need for a multidisciplinary approach in dealing
with the analysis of EFs.
Originality/Value: The analysis underlines the importance of
internal and external drivers in stimulating farms and institutions
to support diversification strategies, rural development and
transformation processes in inner areas
University value for sustainability: What do stakeholders perceive? An Italian case study
No full textThe study focuses on stakeholders’ perception about the university role in promoting a regional development along a sustainable path. The opinions of the University of Molise (IT) teaching staff together with external stakeholders were jointly investigated. Both believed that the University should strengthen its role, but their opinions differed about which activities should to be prioritised - education for external stakeholders, research for teachers-. The importance of the third mission did not emerge. The University role for enhancing the environmental dimension of sustainability was perceived better than that for the social dimension. The diverging views of stakeholders highlight the need for a more systematic and integrated involvement of all relevant actors before starting a formal process toward sustainability
A framework for assessing the relational accessibility of protected areas
No full textHuman - nature relationship concept has recently been reconsidered, emphasizing the benefits humans beings receive from ecosystems. This study moves from the awareness of the importance for organizations that manage protected areas to design strategies and actions aimed at improving the relatedness between the natural world and people, and between individuals. Starting from this premise, the study proposes a voluntary framework of relational accessibility, with the aim of improving the visitororganization relationship and the human-nature relatedness, and thus creating value for the organizations themselves. Afterdefining the relationshipconcept, the approach and the contentof the framework are set, based on multidisciplinary fields and approaches. The framework follows a cyclical approach and consists of a set of general and specific requirements and guidelines. To support the definition of the framework, relational accessibility is investigated within a specific protected area, through a focus group and a direct survey with children. The framework is then defined in more general terms, so that it can suitable for application to other environmental and organizational contexts. The relational accessibility framework is discussed with the managing board of the study site and compared with other sustainability tools. The implementation of the relational framework within the management system of protected areas could increase the social and economic value of these areas, while at the same time pursuing environmental goals
Are Italian consumers of canned tuna fish sensitive to environmentally sustainable product attributes?
No full textPurpose The study aims to provide important insights into environmental attributes that are relevant to consumer's choices in purchasing canned tuna fish, and how much these attributes and socio-demographic individual characteristics relate to the frequency of consumption. Design/methodology/approach An online survey of 251 Italians was carried out. Socio-demographic variables and environmental attributes of the product that consumers pay attention to were considered in a two-step analysis: a cluster analysis used to create a segmentation of people's profiles that are further characterised; a binary logistic regression to assess the significance of attributes in relation to the frequency of canned tuna consumption. Findings Among attributes that respondents pay attention to when purchasing canned tuna, the country of origin is the aspect most considered, while other characteristics with a higher content of environmental sustainability received minimal attention. Three clusters emerged: the smallest one, insensitive to sustainability issues; an intermediate group which is mindful of sustainability attributes; and the biggest cluster which is "sustainability inconsistent." Moreover, respondents who reported concerns about the environmental impacts of tuna production are less likely to consume the product than other consumers; attention paid to the method of farming, the presence of children and a young age show willingness to consume tuna. Originality/value This study contributes to the literature on canned tuna consumption by focusing on the attention that consumers pay to environmental product attributes in their purchasing choices. The relevance of this topic might be envisaged in relation to several environmental issues associated with tuna production and consumption, and to the economics and strategies of the tuna industry, being canned tuna among the most internationally traded seafood products
Environmental values and willingness to pay for a protected area: a segmentation of Italian university students
No full textThe study investigated students’ attitudes and willingness to pay (WTP) for the protection of some environmental values. The empirical study refers to a site located in Southern Italy and inserted into the Natura 2000 European Network. Students were segmented according to their appreciation of environmental values and the WTP for them. We considered two
scenarios of the study site – of use and non-use – and four values – recreational, educational, bequest and existence. Five clusters, from the ‘unconcerned’ to the ‘committed’ one, reveal a diversity of profiles across the sample. Segmentation results point out the multifunctionality of the environmental heritage and highlight the heterogeneity of students’ environmental profiles
Environmental impacts of a dairy cheese chain including whey feeding: An Italian case study
No full textThe dairy industry is associated with the production of wastewaters and effluents that could have a
significant environmental impact because of their pollutant characteristics. Cheese whey is an important
source of pollution that needs an appropriate treatment because of several environmental burdens.
Thanks to its nutritional value, liquid whey can be successfully recycled in animal nutrition. Following
the LCA methodology, this study aims to contribute to the literature on the environmental sustainability
of cheese production in a traditional dairy chain, based on an Italian case study and on liquid whey usage.
The environmental assessment considers both the milk and the mozzarella cheese production. Three
dairy chains and cow diets were assessed and compared: the A diet, with traditional feeding hay and no
liquid whey; the B diet, with silages but no liquid whey; the C diet, including both silages and liquid
whey. A physical allocation method was used to share the environmental burden between milk and meat
at farm level, while the environmental burden of the mozzarella cheese production was totally allocated
to curd. A sensitivity analysis based on the cereal unit allocation method was performed. A further
sensitivity analysis was performed to compare what the effect would have been considering the variability
of milk yield observed in the three diets. Results showed that raw milk production was the most
impactful phase along the considered supply chain. Compared with other dairy chains, the C chain with
liquid whey recycling did not result the lowest impacting solution at a global environmental perspective,
showing best performances on some impacts, but not on others. However, sensitivity analysis testing for
the observed yield variability showed that the C diet with whey usage could represent the best option
among the different diets
- …
