Biodistricts (BDs) leverage the “significant presence” at the local level of organic farming and its supply chain to reach greater economic and environmental viability for farmers. Despite their increasing recognition by policymakers and inclusion in European strategies, empirical evidence of their effectiveness on farms’ competitiveness remains limited. Using Italian FADN data and a post-Keynesian econometric model with dynamic panel data and GMM estimators, this paper explores how BDs impact farm labour productivity growth, which captures both innovation processes and competitiveness. Results suggest being in a BD significantly enhances labour productivity growth compared to outside, highlighting the role of territorial specialisation and collaborative networks. These benefits extend beyond organic farms, suggesting that the district's “industrial atmosphere” facilitates broader knowledge spillovers. Findings call for policies to strengthen social capital and promote farming’s sustainable practices, leveraging the BD as a win-win strategy in enhancing both farms’ labour productivity and sustainability through agglomeration externalities.
This study examines how the share of grassland shapes the relationship between energy productivity and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission intensity in Polish milk-specialised farms operating under mixed-forage systems. The analysis uses a balanced panel of dairy farms observed from 2014 to 2022 in the Polish FADN database. In the first stage, farm-level GHG estimates are used together with FADN input and output data to construct Hicks-Moorsteen indices of energy productivity change and GHG emission-intensity change. In the second stage, the causal effect of grassland share is identified using the Generalised Propensity Score combined with Generalised Additive Models. The results indicate that energy productivity generally increases with the grassland share, although the effect is non-linear and strongest at very low and very high levels. GHG emission intensity follows a U-shaped pattern: it declines as grassland share rises to around 50%, then increases at higher shares. The findings suggest a synergy zone at moderate grassland shares and a trade-off when pasture-based production becomes too dominant.
In recent decades, global value chains (GVCs) have reshaped international trade, cross-border production, and specialization. Yet agriculture and food manufacturing remain underrepresented in comparative regional GVC research. This paper examines how countries in the European Union (EU) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) integrate into GVCs in these sectors. Distinguishing between forward and backward participation, it identifies structural and institutional drivers of different integration modes. Using inter-country input-output data for 2001–2022 and sector-level decomposition, participation rates are calculated for 42 countries. The results reveal clear sectoral asymmetries: backward participation is much higher in food manufacturing, especially in the EU, whereas forward participation is stronger in agriculture and driven by raw material exports. Regression results show backward participation is mainly explained by income levels, with tariffs mattering only in agriculture. Forward participation is more complex, with significant effects from development-status shifts only in agriculture, not in food manufacturing.
This study analyses an innovative multi-sensor remote sensing technology for the early and accurate detection of crop diseases, viewing technological integration into agriculture as a socio-technical process. The key objective is to identify the multiple economic, environmental and social costs and benefits incurred by the technology, using a novel methodology (process modelling + ACBA). This research highlights the technological contribution to reducing chemical use, lowering input costs, and improving both environmental and human health. Moreover, the integration facilitates the transition toward bio-based economies by decreasing pesticide reliance, conserving biodiversity, and aligning agricultural practices with long-term sustainability objectives. Conversely, it poses several challenges, including high investments, technical complexity, system interoperability issues, and privacy concerns. It should be noted, however, that the study was conducted in an experimental context, and thus the results are limited. Further research is encouraged to conduct the multi-dimensional impact analysis in diverse contexts to enable sustainable technological integration.
Operational Groups (OGs) are a key element of the European Innovation Partnership for Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability (EIP-AGRI), promoting innovative and sustainable agricultural practices. Although communication is crucial to their success, little research has examined its impact on project performance. This study addresses this gap by analysing how three communication actions, namely information, interaction, and participation, affect OG performance. Using partial least squares structural equation modelling and data from an online survey of Italian OG partners, the analysis reveals that participation has the strongest positive effect on project outcomes, surpassing both interaction and information. The findings highlight the need to prioritise member participation to maximise OG effectiveness. However, the limited use of innovation brokers may have constrained engagement. Future project proposals should therefore include dedicated intermediaries and detailed partner engagement plans to strengthen collaboration and enhance the overall impact of OGs within the EIP-AGRI framework.
The European Union prioritises the circular economy for sustainability, optimising resource use, and minimising waste. Agriculture, with its high resource demands, could thrive with circularity. However, the absence of a clear definition limits benefits and impedes cumulative knowledge. This study systemically identifies a consensus concept of circular agriculture and its relationship with sustainability and circular bioeconomy. We conducted a literature review and coding analysis of 23 academic and grey literature documents. Results highlight that circular agriculture closes production loops, reduces, manages, and repurposes waste. The most employed principle is the “Rs framework” - reducing, reusing, recycling – yet “reducing” is understated due to economic concerns. Our findings emphasise the need for better measurement tools to capture non-market benefits, particularly nature regeneration. Circular agriculture aims to improve the environment, reduce emissions, protect health and food security, and provide economic benefits. Clarifying this concept strengthens policy frameworks, implementation and monitoring strategies.
This study investigates the association between family-environment and children’s adoption of four obesity-related behaviours: regular physical activity, adequate fruit and vegetables (FV) consumption, having an adequate breakfast and daily snacks consumption. We perform a cross-sectional analysis using a nationally representative sample of Italian households with children (n=23,548 children from 11,518 households) collected by ISTAT over the period 2013-2016. Two sets of logit models are estimated to investigate the relationship between children’s adoption of the four behaviours under analysis and households’ characteristics (household models), as well as paternal and maternal habits (parental models). Our results show a statistically significant correlation exists between the adoption of obesity-related behaviours in adults and children within the same household. Moreover, this relationship is found to be stronger for relatively unhealthy behaviours (e.g., snacking) than for healthy ones (e.g., FV consumption) and when maternal behaviour is accounted for.
This study examines affordability issues related to EU water pricing policies in mountain areas, where irrigation entails costs but also provides valuable ecosystem services. Focusing on Italy’s Aosta Valley, we use a discrete choice experiment to assess residents’ willingness to pay (WTP) for ecosystem services from irrigated meadows and pastures, specifically: maintaining active livestock farms, reducing landslide risk, attracting summer tourism, and preserving the traditional landscape. Respondents valued the traditional landscape at €126/year, each livestock farm at €0.5/year, and each landslide avoided at €3.4/year; summer tourism was not statistically significant. Total WTP estimated is €633.5/year per household, or approximately €36 million/year for the region. Results support recognising traditional mountain irrigation as a provider of ecosystem services and inform the integration of their value into EU water policy.
One of the challenges currently facing Europe's agri-food system is the availability of sustainable, high-quality protein for animal feed in regions of intensive animal production. The production of grain legumes holds the potential to significantly increase the availability of protein feed in Europe, thereby raising the biodiversity contribution of cropland. Germany is a major protein importer (especially in terms of soy), while grain legumes' acreage remains limited and volatile. Despite agronomic considerations, one reason for this might be the non-competitive structure of grain legume traders. Using district data from 400 German regions, a spatial stochastic frontier analysis is applied to estimate the effect of the spatial market structure on the diffusion of grain legume growing. The analysis shows that the number of agricultural traders in close spatial proximity is significantly and positively associated with farmers’ decision to grow grain legumes. Improving the marketing structure e.g. by establishing marketing cooperatives or investigating potential market power among traders could be promising strategies to capture some of the currently under-utilized protein crop potential in Germany.
Family farms in the Global South are vital for global food security, yet they are particularly exposed to succession issues. In Paraguay, a country where family farming is predominant, we know little about the main aspects characterising the intention of having a successor. By using Social Reproduction Theory as theoretical construct and an original database of Paraguayan farmers, this study employs a logistic regression model to examine how productive capital, reproductive capital, and external frictions are associated to the likelihood of having a successor. The analysis reveals that economic factors, particularly land availability, play a decisive role, whereas human capital and mechanisation show weaker effects. Therefore, we argue that succession reflects a broader set of structural and contextual dynamics that situate Paraguayan family farmers within a dual agrarian structure marked by inequality and exclusion.
This study assesses the impact of drought on Italian dairy farms and its interplay with market shocks, while identifying adaptation strategies. An agro-supply economic model is applied to a FADN sample of 930 dairy farms. Farm-level responses are analyzed in terms of land use, economic outcomes, and resource use. Climate data are employed to estimate irrigation water requirements and simulate drought scenarios, while feed prices increase to capture market shocks. Results show that farms are able to maintain incomes and herd size under drought if market conditions remain stable and feed purchases remain accessible. However, when market pressure intervenes, dairy farms reduce herd size and shift towards on-farm feed production, increasing water and production intensity. This strategy led to environmental, social, and economic consequences such as contracting costs, reducing employment, and cutting herd sizes with significant income losses. Policy action is needed to reconcile resilience with less market dependence.
This paper presents a keynote speech delivered at the 2025 AIEAA conference in Pisa, titled “From Words to Deeds: Harnessing Innovation for an EU Agrifood System Transition”. It critically examines the current EU innovation landscape in food and agriculture, arguing that prevailing policy frameworks prioritise incremental efficiency over transformative change. Drawing on recent political developments, including the rollback of the Farm to Fork Strategy, the paper highlights how vested interests, agricultural exceptionalism, and reductionist notions of competitiveness constrain progress. It advocates for innovation strategies that are normatively grounded, inclusive, and politically attuned, and underscores the need to reframe innovation as a means to achieve ecological sustainability, social justice, and democratic renewal. The paper also reflects on the roles of researchers, calling for a shift towards honest brokerage and greater engagement with the political economy of food systems. Ultimately, it calls for a recalibration of innovation policy to support genuine, structural transformation.
Catastrophic (CAT) weather events are rare and impactful, yet still poorly considered in ex-ante risk management policy interventions. The subsidised crop insurance schemes are not an exception. We study the Italian subsidised crop insurance market and its dynamics vis-à-vis CAT events, including flood, drought, and frost. This knowledge will help designing CAT-related policy interventions. The Italian case study stands out to draw policy recommendations for the EU vision on risk management. We find that insurance uptake is correlated with the occurrence of CAT events. The responsiveness is higher when coverage is predominant, yet the marked differences call for a deeper dive into the mechanics of CAT insurance schemes.
This study aims to investigate Italian consumers’ interest and their willingness to pay (WTP) for crackers containing Tenebrio and cricket flour. Through a discrete choice experiment this study estimated consumers’ utility and WTP of a stratified sample of young consumers for different combinations of extrinsic attributes—such as flour type, extrinsic characteristics, and packaging— while incorporating psychometric scales to capture trade-offs across product alternatives. Results indicate that insect flours generate lower utility compared to wheat flour. However, when socio-demographic and psychological interactions are considered, substantial variability in WTP emerges. This heterogeneity is largely driven by gender, age, and food neophobia. For cricket flour, female respondents and late Millennials exhibit lower WTP, whereas mealworm flour acceptance is more strongly influenced by psychometric traits, with older and more neophobic consumers showing greater resistance. Overall, acceptance declines with age and varies within generational cohorts, highlighting the importance of intra-generational differences in shaping consumer responses.
Agroecology is increasingly recognised as a pathway to sustainable food systems, yet its uptake in Europe remains limited, raising questions about the effectiveness of current policy support. This Policy Paper identifies priority policy areas to support agroecology transitions by integrating actor perspectives through a participatory mixed‑methods approach combining multi‑criteria analysis and qualitative evaluation. Evidence from 15 European case studies shows that policy instruments perform differently across transition goals (adoption, positioning, amplification). Knowledge promotion and payments for investments emerge as key enablers for adoption and market positioning, while networking and cooperation are critical for territorial scaling. By contrast, certification schemes and food policies require redesign to better address equity concerns and improve connectivity across actors and scales. The findings highlight the importance of adapting, combining, and sequencing existing policy instruments in line with transition goals and governance conditions. Overall, the paper provides actionable insights for policymakers seeking to create enabling environments for agroecology in Europe, with implications relevant beyond the European context.
The proposed EU Multiannual Financial Framework (2028–2034) reshapes rural development by consolidating instruments into a Single Fund and recentralising strategic decisions. Although presented as simplification, the reform risks reinforcing existing biases toward urban, high‑productivity regions. Drawing on rural proofing concepts, EU comparative analyses, and fine‑grained Italian municipal data, the article shows that 2014–2020 Cohesion Policy allocated only a limited share of resources to rural areas, while the EAFRD remained the main—though uneven—source of support. The reform also gives rise concerns about resources and institutional responsibilities for broader rural measures, including diversification, infrastructure, services, and funding for LEADER and cooperation initiatives. Key recommendations include: (i) a mandatory rural chapter in NRPPs; (ii) explicit rural safeguards in Single Fund rules; (iii) clearer rural typologies and better data systems; (iv) stronger multi‑level governance with real local participation; and (v) dedicated resources for capacity‑building and co‑design
Agricultural productivity growth has been central to food security efforts, yet productivity-driven intensification raises sustainability concerns by exacerbating environmental pressures and resource inefficiencies. Addressing these issues requires integrated insights on Total Factor Productivity (TFP) and resource misallocation, which are conceptually related but largely studied separately. This paper offers the first comprehensive bibliometric and text-mining analysis of research on TFP and misallocation in agriculture, examining them both jointly and independently. Using 688 peer-reviewed publications from the Scopus database through 2024, we apply Structural Topic Modeling (STM) and keyword co-occurrence networks to map thematic areas, trends, and gaps in the literature. Results reveal a fragmented research landscape with limited integration between productivity and misallocation studies, and underexplored dimensions including institutional contexts, regional disparities, and farm heterogeneity. We argue that bridging these themes is crucial for policy design, and propose a forward-looking research agenda to stimulate integrative, sustainability-oriented scholarship.
Conventional agricultural intensification, driven by global demand, poses significant environmental and sustainability threats to the Philippine cacao sector. This study investigates the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices (SAPs) using a Theory of Planned Behavior framework; and the partial least squares structural equation model and multivariate probit model based on a survey of 271 farmers. Results reveal complex adoption patterns; while high-yielding varieties and irrigation show complementarity, substitution occurs between labor-intensive practices. A key theoretical finding is that perceived ecological benefits influence intention both directly and indirectly, yet personal attitude lacks a statistically significant direct effect on adoption intent. This suggests that adoption is driven more by social norms and structural constraints such as land ownership, income, and irrigation; than by individual preference. These findings emphasize that policy should address specific socio-economic barriers and resource interdependencies to foster long-term SAP adoption.
The Global Methane Pledge was launched by the EU and the US with the aim to cut 30 % of methane (CH4) emissions by 2030. Livestock systems are major contributors to CH4 emissions. This study assesses a combined tax and subsidy policy tool applied at the farm level that would allow to reach the 30% reduction target for livestock CH4. The simulation is applied to the Italian commercial livestock farms as represented by the Farm Accountancy Data Network. Findings could be used to help policymakers understand the diversified impacts of the target on farms and evaluate possible compensation they could provide for a more just transition.
Agriculture 4.0 represents a huge opportunity for the transformation of agrifood sectors. However, its adoption (and diffusion) in real-world farming contexts faces multiple challenges. This study focuses on greenhouse farming within the Mediterranean basin. It aims to assess the needs of actors involved in the uptake of Agriculture 4.0 and define enabling conditions to support achieving these needs, focusing on the introduction of an innovative decision support system in real-world greenhouses for tomato production. A qualitative and comparative approach is implemented, using participatory data collection methods with cross-disciplinary experts from four case studies across the Mediterranean Basin. Data are collected through one-to-one open discussions, supported using context and SWOT analyses to stimulate reflection and recall. The findings highlight the need to improve digital literacy among farmers and advisors, build trust through tailored education conditions and mentorship, and support young farmers with financial incentives and training. Market dynamics are relevant as well, pinpointing the need for stronger product images and increasing consumer awareness through certification and labelling. Great interest and technology potential emerges from the possibility to enable (partial) remote work thereby benefiting a work-life balance. Simplifying bureaucratic processes and enhancing policy support for cooperation and farmer unions are also essential for encouraging farmers to adopt digital technology.
