1,721,018 research outputs found
Analysis of Socio-Economic and Environmental Sustainability of Barley Supply Chain: a Healthy Crop for Human Nutrition
Full text linkLa ricerca ha lo scopo di fornire evidenze sui benefici, in termini di salubrità, sostenibilità ambientale ed efficienza produttiva, dell’orzo (Hordeum vulgare L.), una coltura ampiamente diffusa in Puglia (Italia).
Al fine di perseguire questo obiettivo generale, lo scopo della ricerca è duplice: (i) studiare la percezione dei consumatori circa la qualità dei prodotti biologici, in termini di sostenibilità e salubrità, e analizzare come e in che misura la qualità percepita dei prodotti biologici è influenzata dalla presenza di informazioni in etichetta relative alla qualità e dal profilo socio-demografico dei consumatori; (ii) confrontare la coltivazione dell’orzo in regime biologico e convenzionale, in condizioni pedo-climatiche favorevoli, al fine di valutare i potenziali impatti ambientali ed individuare la migliore soluzione in termini di sostenibilità ambientale ed efficienza produttiva.
È stato usato un approccio basato su una Combinazione tra una variabile casuale Uniforme discreta e una variabile casuale Binomiale traslata, denominato modello CUB per analizzare le preferenze dei consumatori in termini di due componenti latenti, il livello di attrazione verso l’item considerato (feeling) e l’incertezza connessa alle modalità della raccolta delle risposte (uncertainty).
È stata usata la metodologia della valutazione del ciclo di vita, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), usando alternativamente come Unità Funzionali (FU) 1 ha di terra destinata alla coltivazione di orzo per testare la sostenibilità ambientale, e 1 kg di granella secca di orzo per testare l’efficienza produttiva.
I risultati del modello CUB evidenziano che la presenza di informazioni specifiche sull’etichetta dei prodotti (e.g. etichetta ambientale, certificazione biologica, indicazioni salutistiche) fanno percepire i prodotti biologici come prodotti di qualità superiore. I risultati sottolineano anche come il profilo socio-demografico dei consumatori svolge un ruolo fondamentale ne determinare il meccanismo di acquisto dei prodotti.
I risultati di LCA mostrano che la coltivazione di orzo biologico è più sostenibile da un punto di vista ambientale (ma non è produttivamente efficiente), viceversa la coltivazione di orzo convenzionale è più efficiente da un punto di vista produttivo (ma non è sostenibile per l’ambiente). I risultati relativi all’efficienza produttiva e alla sostenibilità ambientale dovrebbero essere bilanciate da assunzioni metodologiche (la scelta dell’unità funzionale, il procedimento di allocazione) e da elementi qualitativi (la qualità della coltura, l’adattabilità a specifiche condizioni pedo-climatiche). L’unità funzionale di superficie (1 ha) è preferibile per l’analisi delle fasi di coltivazione in campo, mentre l’unità funzionale di massa (1 kg) è consigliabile per la valutazione di un contesto più ampio, quale un’intera filiera.
La ricerca tenta di colmare la mancanza esistente nella letteratura economica relativa alla coltura dell’orzo, che rappresenta un punto di forza per le aziende agricole e di trasformazione pugliesi, grazie alle sue caratteristiche di sostenibilità e salubritàThe scope of the research is to provide evidences about the benefits, in terms of healthiness, environmental sustainability, and productive efficiency, related to barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), a widespread crop in the Apulia region (italy). Seeking to pursue this general goal, the aim of the research is twofold: (i) investigating consumers’ perception about quality of organic food, in terms of sustainability and healthiness, and analyzing how and to what extent perceived quality of organic food is influenced by the presence of information related to quality on food products’ label, and consumers’ socio-demographic profile; (ii) comparing organic and conventional cultivation of barley, under favorable pedo-climatic conditions, to evaluate the potential environmental impacts related to the cultivation of barley and to identify the most suitable solution in terms of environmental sustainability and productive efficiency.
An approach based on Combination of Uniform and shifted Binomial random variables, named CUB model, was performed to analyze consumers’ preference in terms of two latent components, feeling and uncertainty. A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was performed alternatively using, as Functional Units (FUs), 1 ha of land involved in cultivation of barley to seek environmental sustainability and 1 kg of dry matter grains of produced barley to check productive efficiency.
Findings from CUB models highlight that the presence of specific information on food’s label (e.g. environmental label, organic certification, healthy claims) contributes to perceive organic food as food of superior quality. Results also underline how consumers’ socio-demographic profile plays a significant role in driving food purchasing decision mechanism.
Findings from comparative LCA show that organic barley cultivation is the most environmentally sustainable solution (but not efficient in production), vice versa conventional barley cultivation is the solution most efficient in production (but not environmentally sustainable). Efficiency in production and environmental sustainability may be balanced with methodological assumptions (choice of functional unit, allocation procedure) and qualitative elements (crop quality and adaptiveness to specific pedo-climatic conditions). A land-based FU is preferred in the analysis of the agricultural stage, while a mass-based FU is suitable for the assessment of a wider context, such as the entire supply chain.
The research seeks to fill the lack, existing in economic literature, about barley crop, which is a potential strength for Apulian farms and firms, thanks to its sustainability and healthiness properties
Lupino (Lupinus albus L.) La riscoperta di un’antica coltura in AA.VV. Nuove colture possibili nel territorio del Gal Daunofantino Nespolo (Eriobotrya japonica L.), Lupino (Lupinus albus L.) e Canapa (Cannabis sativa L.) a cura di Roberto Rana
No full textClimate distance and bilateral trade
No full textClimate conditions are sources of comparative advantages and may foster trading opportunities. Through a gravity-type approach we show that overtime variations in climate differences correlate with bilateral trade values. Intuitively, these differences may be associated with diverse productivity levels, a plausible channel through which climate distance affects trade
Analysis of consumers’ perception of quality and sustainability of the organic food products
No full textSystematically analysing the acceptability of pig farming systems with different animal welfare levels when considering intra-sustainability trade-offs: Are citizens willing to compromise?
No full textIn recent years, intensive pig husbandry has been subject to increasing public criticism, including a clear demand for more animal-friendly housing systems in many countries. However, such systems are associated with trade-offs at the expense of other sustainability domains, which challenges implementation and makes prioritization necessary. Overall, research is scarce that systematically analyses citizens’ evaluation of different pig housing systems and associated trade-offs. Given the ongoing transformation process of future livestock systems that meet social demands, it is crucial to include public attitudes. We therefore assessed how citizens evaluate different pig housing systems and whether they are willing to compromise animal welfare in trade-off situations. We conducted an online survey with 1,038 German citizens using quota and split sampling in a picture-based survey design. Participants were asked to evaluate several housing systems with different animal welfare levels and associated trade-offs based on an either positive (‘free-range’ in split 1) or negative (‘indoor housing with fully slatted floors’ in split 2) reference system. Initial acceptability was highest for the ‘free-range’ system, followed by ‘indoor housing with straw bedding and outdoor access’, ‘indoor housing with straw bedding’, and ‘indoor housing with fully slatted floors’, with only the latter being clearly not acceptable for many. Overall acceptability was higher with a positive rather than a negative reference system. When confronted with several trade-off situations, participants became uncertain and temporarily adjusted their evaluations. Thereby participants were most likely to trade off housing conditions against animal or human health rather than against climate protection or a lower product price. Nevertheless, a final evaluation demonstrated that participants did not fundamentally change their initial attitudes. Our findings provide evidence that citizens’ desire for good housing conditions is relatively stable, but they are willing to compromise at the expense of animal welfare up to a moderate level.Bundesministerium für Ernährung und Landwirtschaft http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100005908Bundesanstalt für Landwirtschaft und Ernährung http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/50110001077
Relationships management and value creation: a study on the role of the organizational culture in the wine industry of Basilicata
No full text
Technical measures, environmental protection, and trade
Full text linkPublished online: 29 January 2025Technical regulations are increasingly numerous, complex, and often less transparent than traditional price-based measures. Widely employed to achieve nontrade policy objectives, these measures are frequently adopted for environmental protection purposes. However, the trade effects of environmental measures remain underexplored. Using a unique and original dataset of technical measures notified for environmental reasons, we provide robust evidence that such measures significantly reduce both trade values and volumes. Our analysis further reveals substantial variation in the trade impacts of environmental technical measures across sectors and countries, highlighting notable differences. These findings are critical for assessing whether these measures function as trade barriers and underscore the importance of further research into their trade-offs and spillover effects. Such research is essential for understanding the broader implications of environmental technical measures on global trade dynamics.This work was supported by European Commission, 101031139.Published version of EUI RSC WP 2023/4
Climate changes and new productive dynamics in the global wine sector
Full text linkClimate change has the potential to impact the agricultural sector and the wine sector in particular. The impacts of climate change are likely to differ across producing regions of wine. Future climate scenarios may push some regions into climatic regimes favourable to grape growing and wine production, with potential changes in areas planted with vines. We examine which is the linkage between climate change and productivity levels in the global wine sector. Within the framework of agricultural supply response, we assume that grapevines acreage and yield are a function of climate change. We find that grapevines yield suffers from higher temperatures during summer, whereas precipitations have a varying impact on grapevines depending on the cycle of grapevines. Differently, acreage share of grapevines tends to be favoured by higher annual temperatures, whereas greater annual precipitations tend to be detrimental. The impacts vary between Old World Producers and New World Producers, also due to heterogeneity in climate between them
Impacts of climate change on global agri-food trade
Full text linkClimate change and trade are closely related. Climate may alter the comparative advantages across countries, which may in turn trigger changes in trade patterns. Trade itself may constitute an adaptation strategy, moving excesses of agri-food supply to regions with shortages, and this in turn may explain changes in land-use. We investigate these linkages, showing that the changes in climate affect counties’ trade value and contribute to reshaping trade patterns. First, we quantify the long-term impacts of climate on the value of agri-food exports, implicitly considering the ability of countries to adapt, and show that higher marginal temperatures and rainfall levels tend to be beneficial for countries’ exports. Following a gravity model approach, we then link the evolving trade patterns to climate change adaptation strategies. We find that the larger the difference in temperatures and rainfall levels between trading partners, the higher the value of bilateral exports. Furthermore, while developed and developing exporters are both sensitive to climate change and to cross-countries heterogeneity in climate, we found their responses to changes in climate to be quite diverse
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