Western Macedonia, the leading power-producing region in Greece, has long depended on thermoelectric plants and lignite mining. To reach climate neutrality by 2050, Greece is undergoing a delignitization process aiming to shut down all lignite plants. This structural reconstruction of the energy model will mainly affect society, the economy, the environment, and agriculture. Strengthening efforts to support lignite-dependent areas are essential for this transition. Bioeconomy could be one of the main pillars for the post-lignite era in the Western Macedonia Region (WMR). This paper explores the gender dimension in the adoption of bioeconomy practices and innovativeness among farmers in the Region of Western Macedonia. Based on 331 structured questionnaires and a Two-Step Cluster Analysis, the research identifies five farmer clusters and then correlates the clusters with Rogers’s theory of diffusion of innovations. The findings identify a dynamic group of young female farmers leading the diffusion of innovation, emphasizing their role in promoting sustainable agricultural transitions and the need for gender-responsive policies in regional bioeconomy strategies.

PurposeThis study examines consumer preferences for sustainability certifications and labels on fruit and vegetables within short food supply chains in Mediterranean countries. It uniquely contributes by distinguishing between environmental and socioeconomic dimensions of sustainability while assessing how these dimensions influence consumer perceptions and willingness to pay. The study identifies the specific types of information consumers seek in sustainability labels, evaluates their awareness of and attitudes towards these dimensions and uncovers how willingness to pay varies depending on the nature of the information provided, offering insights that address significant gaps in prior research.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative research design was adopted, involving eight focus groups conducted across three Mediterranean countries, Egypt, Greece and Italy. The discussions followed a structured guide with card-sorting exercises to explore consumer knowledge, perceptions and preferences related to fruit and vegetable certifications. The data were analysed using thematic analysis to identify recurring patterns and themes across different countries and market contexts.FindingsThe study reveals significant cross-country patterns in how consumers perceive and respond to sustainability certifications. Consumers consistently prioritised geographical origin and organic certification in fruit and vegetable labels. While environmental sustainability was widely understood and positively received, awareness of socioeconomic aspects was limited and required further clarification. Participants expressed a higher willingness to pay for environmental information, with variations across countries and product types. These insights highlight the importance of trust, label clarity and relevance in shaping consumer behaviour.Originality/valueThis study contributes to a deeper understanding of how consumers interpret and prioritize sustainability information on fruit and vegetables labels within diverse Mediterranean contexts. By highlighting differences in consumer expectations and willingness to pay across sustainability dimensions, it provides practical guidance for producers, retailers and policymakers to tailor certification strategies and improve the effectiveness of sustainability labelling in regional markets.

This study investigates the satisfaction level of dairy farmers with their collaborating dairy industries, focusing on differences between small-scale (1–100 animals) and large-scale (401–1000 animals) farms. Using survey data collected during 2011–2015, the research assesses both satisfaction and the extent to which dissatisfaction leads producers to switch partners. Findings show that larger farms report higher satisfaction due to stronger bargaining power and preferential contractual conditions, whereas smaller farms face greater insecurity and moderate satisfaction. Despite dissatisfaction, most farmers remain with the same companies, highlighting market rigidity. Results remain relevant today, emphasizing the need for policies enhancing small producers’ negotiating power and supporting cooperative structures.

This paper attempts to empirically investigate the degree of innovation in dairy industries using an overall innovation indicator. Innovations were identified through the literature review. A questionnaire was distributed to industry experts who held senior positions in or were academically relevant to dairy industries, for evaluation. The innovations identified were grouped into six sections: production, marketing, dairy organisation, quality control, storage/distribution and milk zone. The integrated questionnaire was used to collect information on the adopted innovations from two cooperative dairy industries in Greece. An overall innovation indicator was applied to the six departments of each dairy industry and a degree of innovation was derived for each of them. The innovation indicator revealed that the marketing and quality control departments were more innovative. Besides, none of the cooperative dairies approached the maximum degree of innovation adoption in all six departments.

This study explores the governance of the Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System in Greece, analysing its internal and external environments and proposing policies to strengthen innovation. A quantitative SWOT analysis and the Strategic Position and Action Evaluation (SPACE) matrix were employed to assess system dynamics. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire from December 2022 to March 2023, involving 61 senior managers across AKIS actors. Findings reveal that opportunities outweigh threats, while weaknesses surpass strengths. The SPACE matrix highlights the need for competitive strategies, offering valuable insights and policy directions for enhancing governance and fostering effective innovation processes within Greek agriculture.

PurposeThe aim of this study was to investigate consumer preferences and profile their food-related lifestyles, as well as to identify consumer groups with similar attitudes/behaviours in the Euro-Mediterranean fruit and vegetable market.Design/methodology/approachA structured questionnaire was designed drawing from the food related lifestyles instrument and including other factors relevant to fruit and vegetable consumer preferences. The data were collected in an online survey with 925 participants in France, Greece, and Italy. A principal component analysis was conducted to interpret and examine consumers' fruit and vegetable related lifestyles. In addition, a cluster analysis was performed to identify different consumer segments, based on the core dimensions of the food-related lifestyle approach.FindingsIn each country, three primary consumer segments were distinguished. Health-conscious individuals were predominant in France and Greece, while quality-conscious consumers were prevalent in Italy. These classifications were determined considering various factors such as purchase motivation, perception of product quality, health concerns, environmental certifications, and price sensitivity.Originality/valueThe food-related lifestyle approach has been adapted instrument to create a customised survey instrument specifically designed to capture the intricacies of fruit and vegetable consumer preferences and priorities in three Euro-Mediterranean Countries.

Edible insects are considered among the most promising sustainable sources of protein to address the predicted deficiency of conventional food protein. Due to their nutritional and environmental benefits, there is an increasing interest in the ways insects could become part of the Western diet. Little is known about Greek consumers’ attitudes toward the habit of consuming insects as food. This study provides insight into Greek consumers’ preferences for insect-based food products. The data were collected through an online questionnaire (n = 1531). A two-step cluster analysis and a categorical regression were employed to classify the respondents into discernible clusters and determine the relationship between their socioeconomic characteristics and their willingness to adopt insect-based food products. Feelings of disgust and rejection were the predominant reactions to the concept of insects as food. The acceptance of novel foods derived from edible insects could be potentially enhanced by providing information regarding their positive effects, using familiar food products, and decreasing the insect’s degree of visibility by employing processed forms. Finally, the categories of insect protein-enriched food products (bakery, meat, snacks) that Greek consumers are more likely to consume were revealed. Such findings may be useful for promoting strategies regarding consuming insect-based products.

Food quality is becoming an increasing important factor in consumer's buying decision making, especially after serious safety issues appeared recently in the European Union. The need of standards to assure food quality and safety is evident from literature. The present study explores young consumers' perceptions of food quality. It presents the outcome of a field research undertaken from October 2002 to January 2003. A convenience sample of 582 higher education students aged between 18-23, living away from their homes, in Greece, was employed. Statistical analysis included frequencies, percentages, means, factor analysis, reliability and cluster analysis. The findings from this study are discussed, which are considered to be relevant to marketing practitioners and policy makers for designing appropriate marketing strategies in order to attract and satisfy these segments of young consumers. Lastly, suggestions for further research are presented.