Conservation agriculture (CA) and the use of biochar as a soil amendment can promote productive, resilient, and sustainable smallholder farming. However, adopting these practices requires a shift from conventional methods, potentially changing labour use and returns, the extent of which remains poorly understood. Using data from a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of 400 farmers designed to be representative of smallholder farmers in two districts of Uganda, this study assesses how an informational intervention (delivered through instruction and participatory field demonstrations) on CA methods with and without biochar affect labour use and productivity. Control group farmers were compared to those receiving (i) CA and (ii) CA+BIOCHAR interventions. First difference and inverse probability–weighted regression-adjustment model results indicate that the CA+BIOCHAR intervention increased labour use, with no significant labour productivity gains, compared to the control group. Labour input rose by about 36
This study examines the relationship between financial education and the development of SFSCs in vulnerable communities in Ecuador, Peru, and Colombia—a connection rarely addressed in the literature. Using a qualitative methodology, the research involved in-depth interviews with cocoa producers in Esmeraldas (Ecuador), banana by-product producers in Condorcanqui (Peru), and blackberry producers in Cauca (Colombia). The findings reveal that financial education—tailored to the cultural and productive context of each community—strengthened chain internal governance, understood as producers’ capacity to organize, manage, and make collective decisions around shared values. Key outcomes include improved resource management, expense control, productive investment, responsible access to and use of credit, and enhanced planning and commercial negotiation skills. These capabilities enabled producers to reduce intermediaries, access better markets, innovate products and processes, and improve both economic and social conditions. The three experiences overcame typical governance challenges in SFSCs—such as structural uncertainty, small scale, and lack of coordination—through business planning, local associations, and partnerships with universities, companies, and NGOs. Nevertheless, limitations remain, including regulatory barriers, insufficient government support, and shortages of key infrastructure. The study highlights financial education as a potentially relevant, yet underexamined, dimension of internal governance in SFSCs, contributing to ongoing debates on resilience, hybrid supply chain participation, and rural development in Latin America.
Abstract The transition to Agroforestry (AF) marks a pivotal shift from traditional agricultural practices towards more integrated, sustainable, and diversified farming systems. However, this transition is complex and poses several challenges requiring the cultivation of diverse species alongside crops, demanding careful management and knowledge of forestry and agricultural practices. This study aims to identify distinct farmer categories based on their stated intentions to maintain or adopt agroforestry practices. Then, the effect of sociodemographic, structural and economic factors on the probability of maintaining or adopting AF practices has been analysed among farmers of 4 European countries. Information was gathered through an online questionnaire from a sample of 376 European farms across five countries: Germany, Italy, Greece and Serbia. A multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) has been carried out to classify farmers into ‘active’ and ‘passive’ adopters as well as into ‘conditional-non adopters’ and ‘resistant non-adopters’ categories, by taking into account four future policy scenarios for 2030. Then, the determinants of AF maintenance or adoption were estimated using a multinomial logit model (MNL). Results show that both farm and farmer characteristics affect the probability of belonging to a specific category. Moreover, differences among countries have emerged. The results highlight the need for targeted policy interventions to support farmers in transitioning towards these practices. In addition, it is essential to design such measures in a way that accounts for farms and farmers’ differences and specific socio-economic and environmental contexts. The study findings would contribute to the scientific literature by providing empirical evidence on the heterogeneity of farmers’ intention to maintain or adopt agroforestry practices across some European countries. Furthermore, the findings would offer insights for policymakers to design effective supporting mechanisms to facilitate the maintenance and the adoption of AF.
Consumer food waste and the rejection of imperfect produce result in substantial environmental and economic losses across agri-food supply chains. Although public awareness of these issues is increasing, many consumers still avoid visually imperfect fruits like bananas due to psychological, social, and behavioural barriers. Existing research has largely examined these factors in isolation, offering limited insight into how moral norms, environmental concern, and social interactions jointly shape consumer valuation of imperfect perishable foods. This study addresses this gap by examining how pro-environmental behaviours shape consumers’ preference for imperfect bananas, thereby extending consumer and future foods research beyond cosmetic standards and price-based explanations. Drawing on the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) and the Value-Belief-Norm (VBN) Theory, the study develops an integrated behavioural framework that captures both intention-driven and value-based motivations underlying consumer acceptance of imperfect produce, as these models are appropriate for analysing how attitudes, social norms, perceived control, and moral values systematically shape sustainability-related decisions. Using survey data collected from consumers across multiple regions in Queensland, Australia, the analysis applies ordinal regression to examine behavioural, social, and environmental drivers of acceptance. The findings indicate that openness to processed banana products and environmentally motivated consumption practices play a central role in shaping consumer acceptance of imperfect bananas. Notably, social interactions related to food preferences may discourage acceptance, suggesting that prevailing social norms may act as barriers. These insights highlight the importance of promoting processed banana options and designing targeted environmental messages—such as campaigns emphasizing food waste reduction, environmental benefits, and the nutritional equivalence of imperfect produce while addressing social barriers to shift attitudes. The study provides practical implications for policymakers, retailers, and environmental advocates by highlighting the need for targeted food waste reduction campaigns, value-based retail strategies, and consumer education initiatives that reframe imperfect fruits as environmentally responsible choices, thereby supporting the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) through more sustainable consumer behaviour and reduced food waste.
Abstract Geographical Indications protect and valorise agri-food products whose quality, reputation or characteristics are linked to a specific geographical origin. Beyond legal protection and product quality, Geographical Indications depend on collective governance, in terms of both producer organisation and stakeholder coordination. While their economic and rural development impacts have been largely investigated, less attention has been paid to collective action mechanisms shaping small-scale registered and qualifying agri-food Geographical Indications. Using a Systematic Literature Review following the PRISMA methodology, the study analyses the main drivers influencing collective action in the context of Geographical Indications. The review identifies five drivers: collaboration between stakeholders; face-to-face relations among producers; trust and social capital; Geographical Indication certification as a goal and socio-demographic characteristics of stakeholders. Results highlight that collective action depends on the interaction between relational, organisational and institutional factors. By focusing on small-scale scenarios, the study provides a theoretically grounded synthesis of collective action in registered and qualifying agri-food Geographical Indications.
Pork production in Poland has declined sharply despite its important role in the EU. This study assesses whether horizontal integration via producer groups improves farm efficiency, using 2016–2023 panel data for Polish pig producers. We apply a true random effects stochastic frontier model (TRE-SFA) combined with Augmented Inverse Probability Weighting (AIPW). The TRE-SFA results indicate that producer group membership is associated with lower dispersion of the half-normal inefficiency component, i.e., lower inefficiency levels. The AIPW estimates suggest that, conditional on observed covariates, producer group membership is associated with a 2.2
Abstract This paper investigates gender dynamics in the adoption of digital innovations in agriculture, focusing on the Comino Valley, a remote rural area of Italy characterized by constrained institutional contexts. Adopting a constituent perspective on women’s role in agriculture, the study conceptualizes women as entrepreneurial agents within innovation decision-making processes. The analysis examines digital adoption pathways through the lens of social capital, emphasizing the reconfiguration of relational architectures based on ambidexterity among bonding, bridging, and linking ties. Drawing on survey data from 342 farms, the empirical evidence suggests a potentially relevant tension between observed innovation outcomes and the differentiated mechanisms through which such outcomes are achieved. While no statistically significant gender gap emerges in overall digital innovation adoption, women farmers operate smaller and less capitalized farms and report lower self-assessed entrepreneurial identity. At the same time, women exhibit higher engagement in bridging and linking social capital related to digital innovation. These findings suggest that comparable innovation outcomes may coexist with differentiated relational strategies, through which women adapt to structurally constrained environments. The paper contributes to the literature on gender, rural entrepreneurship, and digital transition by highlighting how processes of relational reconfiguration and compensatory adaptation may support women farmers in achieving innovation outcomes comparable to those of their male counterparts under constrained institutional conditions.
Mixed crop-livestock systems (MCLS) are commonly perceived as a means of applying agroecological principles to achieve positive economic and environmental outcomes. However, a global meta-analysis on this claim is currently lacking. This paper contributes to filling this gap by gathering evidence from 700 studies worldwide, drawn from 270 publications spanning from 1992 to 2026. We find that 60
Abstract Understanding the behavior of agricultural commodity prices is crucial for policymaking, forecasting, production, storage, investment, and risk management decisions. This study investigates whether agricultural commodity prices and volatility are generated entirely by linear stochastic processes or whether they contain evidence of low-dimensional nonlinear deterministic dynamics. We apply nonlinear time series analysis to empirically detect the underlying dynamics of commodity futures prices. Phase space reconstruction, nonlinear predictive skill, and permutation entropy measures are used to distinguish between linear stochastic and nonlinear deterministic dynamics. The results reveal evidence consistent with low-dimensional nonlinear deterministic dynamics in the structured component of commodity prices, which accounts for 82–98% of total price variation across commodities. These findings are suggestive of a substantial portion of observed volatility being generated endogenously by an inherently unstable market that may lack the ability to self-correct. The findings may have implications for commodity-price stabilization policies, although the form, timing, and effectiveness of any intervention require further investigation. They also point to the possibility of improving short-term price forecasts using nonlinear methods, although long-term forecasts remain challenging.
Seed insecurity remains one of the most pressing challenges facing smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in conflict-affected regions such as Ethiopia. This study investigates the extent of seed insecurity and the coping strategies employed by smallholder farmers in war-affected areas of Tigray, Northern Ethiopia. Data were collected from three districts of Tigray using mixed-method approaches, including focus group discussions, observation, and household surveys (n = 548). Farmers’ seed (in)security was assessed by adapting and modifying the FAO’s seed security framework. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Poisson regression models. The mean household seed insecurity experience score was 9.41 out of 17, indicating higher insecurity compared to benchmark values reported in FAO-based seed security assessments. These were mainly associated with conflict-related disruptions and related social instability, such as disturbances in the farmers’ seed network, unavailability and high cost of seeds, economic instability and limited market access. Key determinants of seed (in)security included education level, crop diversity, wealth status, and distance to markets. Farmers adopted both adaptive and negative coping mechanisms to fulfill their seed and other planting material requirements, mainly through enhancing seed networks, selling assets, asking for credit, and reducing food consumption. The study underscores the importance of context-specific intervention strategies that could best fit with seed systems in the war-affected areas, directly responding to the factors associated with seed insecurity. These findings offer strategic insights for enhancing farmer seed security and coping strategies in war-affected areas.
Abstract This study examines the factors influencing farmers’ cropping pattern choices and evaluates how these patterns affect profitability and risk in vegetable farming within an upper watershed context. Data were collected from 277 vegetable-farming households across Bandung and West Bandung Regencies, covering 380 plots, or 579 plots–season combinations. A Multinomial Logit (MNL) model was chosen in this study for its ability to estimate how various explanatory variables influence the likelihood of selecting a specific cropping pattern (monoculture, polyculture, and mixed systems), in line with the study’s objective to identify key determinants of farmers’ crop diversification decisions. Complementary to this, a cost–benefit analysis assessed the economic performance of each pattern, while risk–profit mapping illustrated trade-offs across commodities. The findings reveal that monoculture dominated (50.8%), followed by polyculture (39.5%) and mixed systems (9.7%). Cropping decisions were significantly influenced by farmer characteristics (age, education), household labour availability, landholding size and status, plot slope, cropping intensity, risk exposure, and seasonal factors. Polyculture was associated with significantly higher net profits per hectare compared to monoculture. Commodities such as chilli, broccoli, and shallot offered high returns but also carried higher risk. Farmers adopted polyculture not only to manage risk but also to enhance income stability and cash flow. These results underscore the importance of aligning profitability and risk profiles to inform strategic cropping decisions. Policymakers are encouraged to support diversification through improved market access, targeted training for farmers and extension services, investing in water management infrastructure, and promoting access to risk management tools.
Abstract This study employs provincial panel data from China spanning 2010–2023 to examine the impact mechanisms and effects of agricultural technological innovation (ATI) on agricultural economic resilience (AER). The findings reveal that: (1) ATI enhances AER through agricultural industrial structure adjustment, labor productivity improvements, and industrial agglomeration effects. (2) Compared to major grain-producing regions, ATI demonstrates greater efficacy in promoting AER within primary grain-consuming areas and grain production-consumption balanced regions; similarly, ATI exhibits stronger promotional effects on AER in economically developed areas relative to less developed regions. (3) ATI generates significant positive spatial spillover effects on AER in surrounding areas, with the intensive spillover zone extending within a 1313.68-kilometer radius. These findings provide crucial insights for policymakers seeking to leverage technological innovation in building agricultural resilience.
The livestock sector is a significant contributor to climate change, as it is a direct source of greenhouse gases and an indirect source of gas and carbon emissions through the processes of land use and feed production. The objective of the study is to contribute to the ongoing debate concerning the economic and environmental performance of the specialised livestock sector. The study analyses the relationship between economic variables associated with the management of livestock farms and their impact in terms of carbon dioxide emissions. The analysis is based on data extracted from the Italian section of the EU Farm Accountancy Data Network database and through the implementation of a multilevel mixed-effects regression model on a balanced panel dataset. The correlation between utilisation of agricultural inputs and emissions demonstrates a positive elasticity, which proved to be statistically significant. The analysis by farming types indicates that the most significant environmental impact is attributed to beef cattle farming, while poultry farming is found to be the least contributing factor to the carbon emissions of production units. Interactions with the age of farmers reveal that, all other things being equal, farms run by young people do not have significantly different average emissions compared to other farms. However, interactions with the main production factors are highly significant, suggesting differentiated carbon emission intensity according to the type of inputs.
While the impact of extreme weather events on food prices has been widely documented, much less is known about the effects of milder but more frequent weather disturbances—such as water shortages, or vegetation stress—that compromise agricultural production and can silently but persistently drive food inflation. Despite their cumulative relevance, there is still no comprehensive assessment of how such recurrent shocks and food price inflation interact with monetary policy, an essential instrument to preserve price stability. This study addresses this gap by examining how central banks respond to weather-induced food inflationary pressures, with a particular focus on low-income countries where food represents a large share of household expenditure. To this end, the interconnectedness between weather shocks, macroeconomic variables, and monetary policy is explored through a Panel Vector Autoregressive model estimated on quarterly data for 107 countries from 2000Q1 to 2019Q4, and separately for high- middle- and low-income economies. We introduce the Agricultural Stress Index, a satellite-based measure of agricultural land under water stress, as a novel proxy for less abrupt but more frequent weather disruptions. Results show that food prices are highly sensitive to such shocks, with stronger and more persistent effects in low-income countries. Moreover, central banks in these economies tend to lower policy rates, an expansionary response that may inadvertently amplify food inflationary pressures. These findings highlight the importance of prompt monetary policy responses to contrast the inflationary consequences of recurrent water stress.
Environmental degradation in agriculture remains a pressing issue, with key ecological indicators continuing to decline despite the longstanding policy objectives and public support for curbing environmental degradation. Biodiversity, particularly for natural pest control, is crucial for sustainable farming. The limited success of current policies to stimulate adoption of such practices can partly be attributed to a lack of attention to policy acceptability amongst farmers during ex-ante evaluations, leading to resistance or hesitance at the implementation stage. This paper tests the acceptability of different policy instrument types (categorized under the RESET framework) aimed at increasing the adoption of biodiversity-friendly practices through a survey among 99 outdoor vegetable farmers in Flanders. We explore variation in acceptability across different farmer profiles through a factor and cluster analysis. Policy instruments focused on education, advice, and knowledge exchange, including training courses, subsidised farm advice, demonstration farms, information sessions, and smart decision-support systems, received consistently high acceptability scores. In contrast, pull-based measures such as hybrid payments, voluntary labels, biodiversity monitoring tools, and collective efforts elicited mixed responses, while regulatory and penalising instruments (e.g. mandatory non-productive areas, pesticide taxes, bans) were generally less acceptable. Cluster analysis identified three farmer profiles; Sceptics, Moderates, and Enthusiasts; with Enthusiasts, typically younger, more educated and organic-oriented, showing high acceptability across most instruments. Based on our findings, we provide recommendations for policy design and for more targeted implementation strategies. The paper concludes by advocating for the systematic inclusion of acceptability assessments in the ex-ante design of agri-environmental policies.
Many studies have found a preference of European consumers for locally produced food products and in several countries, policymakers seem to respond through measures that aim to support local sourcing and want to increase their share in out-of-home catering. However, when seasonal crops are not locally available year-round, consumers may face a trade-off regarding their love for variety. This trade-off is analysed using side salads in German canteens by means of a choice experiment (N = 906). Half the respondents were informed that local varieties may not be available during all seasons. Results from our mixed logit models show that the provided information affects respondents’ choice behaviour primarily through a higher likelihood of rejecting the available salad options. We do not find evidence that respondents would accept variety losses in canteen salads in favour of local product origin.
Abstract In many irrigated regions, the failure of top–down management systems to ensure efficient water use and equitable access has spurred interest in participatory management; meanwhile, this management approach is highly subject to the collective action dilemma. While existing research has extensively focused on the extent of farmer involvement and the factors affecting their participation behavior, concrete empirical research on the role of village-level institutions remains insufficient. To fill this gap, based on survey data from 160 villages, our study uses an endogenous switching model to analyze the determinants of participation in irrigation management and a multivariate treatment effect model to examine the impact of participatory irrigation on agricultural performance. The findings indicate that villages led by college-educated village officials (CGOs) exhibit significantly higher levels of participation in irrigation governance. Additionally, village leaders’ age, psychological status, and village topography are significant determinants of the existence of a CGO in a village, which in turn has an impact on participation in irrigation management. Type of village, government investment, and number of illiterate people influence participation in irrigation management across various village contexts. Moreover, village leaders’ gender, number of family farms, distribution justice, and village water policy implementation emerge as influencing factors distinguishing participation in CGOs and non-CGOs. Participation is further found to have a positive impact on crop yield and farm revenue and to reduce irrigation water loss. The study provides empirical evidence for the role of village leaders’ educational capacity in promoting sustainable agriculture water governance and highlights actionable policy levers for enhancing collective irrigation practices in rural China. The paper concludes with policy implications to support more effective and inclusive irrigation governance in China.
Transitioning to more plant-based diets is critical for both health and environmental sustainability, yet consumer adoption remains limited. Supermarkets, as key food providers, are well positioned to facilitate this shift. Positioning of retail assortments is a powerful way to create a choice architecture that facilitates consumers’ sustainable product choices. This study tested a complement-based product placement strategy designed to promote plant-based protein purchases by aligning products with meal preparation goals, rather than dietary preference or product type. Over a nine-week period, ten Belgian supermarkets positioned four plant-based protein products alongside six ready-to-cook meal kits, supported by recipe leaflet to inspire meal preparation. To evaluate the impact, we analysed sales data using a difference-in-differences model based on a negative binomial distribution, comparing results to a 5-week pre- and 4-week post-intervention period and ten control stores within the same supermarket chain. The statistical model did not yield statistically significant effects of the intervention. A process evaluation revealed variability in implementation across stores due to differences in infrastructure and competing priorities, which may have influenced the intervention’s effectiveness. Further barriers were product-related challenges and misalignment with customer preferences, while facilitators included staff collaboration and interest in more effective promotion strategies. This study adds to the growing evidence on behaviourally informed retail strategies. Despite mixed outcomes, the findings highlight both the potential and challenges of these interventions in supporting the protein transition. Further research into effective and practical behaviourally informed supermarket interventions is needed to promote sustainable food choices and support broader dietary change.
Abstract This study examines how bargaining power asymmetries shape price formation in China’s broiler industry. Using farm-level survey data from 638 white feather broiler producers collected in 2023, we apply Two-tier Stochastic Frontier Analysis (2TSFA) to quantify bidirectional bargaining effects between farmers and buyers. Three key findings emerge. First, buyers exert stronger bargaining leverage, suppressing farm-gate prices by an average of 1.87% relative to the benchmark, which erodes approximately 34% of producer profit margins. Second, contract farming is associated with a 6.51% point decline in net surplus compared with non-contract farmers, while large-scale farms paradoxically capture lower net surplus than smaller operations. Third, regional disparities are significant: farmers in eastern markets retain relatively better terms, while those in central and western regions face stronger buyer dominance. These findings underscore how contractual rigidity, asset specificity, and market concentration are associated with weakened producer bargaining positions. Policy implications include strengthening contract standardization, supporting farmer cooperatives, and improving market information access to mitigate buyer dominance.
Abstract Achieving sustainable livestock production requires farming models capable of reconciling environmental performance, economic viability, and social outcomes, particularly in less-favoured rural areas characterised by agro-climatic constraints. This study examines whether organic mixed crop-livestock systems can deliver integrated sustainability outcomes through diversified crop rotations incorporating legumes. Using a Living Lab approach implemented in a semi-arid Mediterranean region of Italy (Sicily), the study addresses three research questions: (i) to what extent legume-based rotations in existing organic mixed crop–livestock systems can ensure adequate production performance while maintaining environmental sustainability, particularly in relation to soil and natural resource conservation; (ii) whether the crop rotations adopted by organic livestock farms comply with the requirements of the European Union’s 2023–2027 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), particularly eco-schemes supporting crop diversification; and (iii) whether livestock systems in less-favoured areas can serve as transferable reference models for other EU regions under comparable conditions. Sustainability performance was assessed using the FAO Sustainability Assessment of Food and Agriculture Systems (SAFA) framework, contextualised through stakeholder engagement and complemented by a quantitative farm-level economic analysis. Results indicate that legume-based rotations enhance environmental integrity, economic resilience, and social well-being, while governance dimensions show greater scope for improvement. Overall, organic mixed crop–livestock systems adopting legume-based rotations emerge as context-specific farming systems that can inform agroecological transition processes and CAP objectives in semi-arid Mediterranean areas.
