How Organizational Resources and Managerial Features Affect Business Performance: An Analysis in the Greek Wine Industry

Despite the growing interest of the wine industry in quality and environmental certifications and the influence of these standards on positioning in international markets, scholarly research has paid proportionally limited attention to the link between winery export intensity and the adoption of internationally recognized standards. This study aims to analyze which factors make an organizational model performant, and to verify the impact of the adoption of third-party certifications on the export performance by using the resource-based view (RBV) theory as a theoretical lens. Findings show that younger wineries are more oriented towards the adoption of voluntary quality and environmental ce…

Political and economic fisheries management in the Channel of Sicily

Fishery activities in the Mediterranean Sea are characterized by a number of distinctive features which include relative extension of national to international waters, straddling and shared stocks, overall characteristics of fishing activities, availability of scientific information and the absence of a policy fisheries management in many coastal States. Therefore, the principal objective of this paper is to portray a framework on the politics of management of the fish resources in the Channel of Sicily, by examining both the CFP in the Mediterranean or the Italian–Tunisian relationship, and then to inspect the fishing effort of the Sicilians and Tunisian productive structures to carry out …

Driving forces affecting the adoption of certifications in the forest-based industry: a systematic literature review

Several forest certification schemes have become increasingly popular over the last few decades as voluntary mechanisms to tack sustainability in the forest-based industry to an environmental, social, and economic paradigm. This study aims to systematically review the economic literature on the main motivational factors affecting the adoption of Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) certifications in order to perform a broadly theoretical assessment of this research field and identify the most relevant driving forces affecting the adoption of third-party certification in the forest-based industry. Results reveal that the most relev…

INTERNATIONALISATION OF SMALL AND MEDIUM SICILIAN WINERIES: AN EXPLORATORY STUDY BASED ON THE RBV APPROACH

Strategies of internationalization, such as export, have a central role as well to safeguard the market position and survival for many enterprises, including small and medium ones. The aim of this study is to investigate, through a resource-based view (RBV) approach, the main firms' internal factors that affect the export propensity of sparkling wines producers in Sicily and their ability to insert into foreign market. Based on review of extant literature we have identified the main factors, related both to the firms and to the managers characteristics, that affect the firm performance in the export market. Using survey data of 94 Sicilian small and medium wineries export oriented, this pap…

Shaping blockchain-based innovation strategies in the wine sector: a conceptual framework

The growing demand for transparency along the supply chain, partly related to recent incidents involving food contaminations and food frauds, has led businesses to reinterpret their business models by adopting strategies aimed to ensure an effective traceability system. In this scenario, emerging technologies play a decisive role by allowing for constant monitoring of data and information in the various phases of the supply chain. The aim of this study is to explore and analyze the main opportunities related to the BCT implementation in the wine industry and to identify the most important drivers and barriers of innovation, by using a case study approach. The case study of the Costaflores w…

Aspetti generali del commercio agro-alimentare dell'Italia con i partner mediterranei

Influenza della PAC nell'evoluzione della meccanizzazione europea

The role of internal resources in the competitive positioning of Sicilian wine cooperatives

The paper is an original article that uses accounting frameworks to determine what creates a competitive advantage in a cooperative business model. In particular, it investigates the influence of tangible, intangible and financial resources on the business performance of cooperatives operating in the Sicilian wine industry, with the RBV of the firms as a theoretical background. Using a linear regression model, our results show that tangible and financial resources are a source of a sustained competitive advantage. This study fills the gap existing in the strategic management literature related to the role of resources, tangible and intangible, in the cooperative system, providing both theor…

LA GRANDE DISTIBUZIONE ORGANIZZATA ALIMENTARE IN SICILIA

Effectiveness of incentives for agri-environment measure in Mediterranean degraded and eroded vineyards

The evaluation of the economic damage caused by soil erosion assumes great importance. It serves to increase awareness of the problem among farmers and policy makers. Moreover, it can promote the implementation of conservative measures at the field and basin level by spurring the development of more sustainable soil management practices. In the present study we have developed a new approach to evaluate the incentive for the adoption of Agri-Environment Measure (AEM) in Mediterranean degraded and eroded vineyards. In order to estimate this incentive, the replacement cost and the loss of income are calculated under two different soil management such as Conventional Tillage (CT) and Cover crop…

Intensità degli scambi agroalimentari tra i Paesi del bacino del Mediterraneo

The Mediterranean has always been an area of strategic interest for the European Union (eu), which, since its establishment, has woven a compact network of relationships with its trading partners in the South and East of the Mediterranean, signing cooperation and then associative agreements with them. This study aims to present a view of how the agro-food trade network has evolved between the eu’s Mediterranean partner countries and their neighbors in North Africa and the Near East. To measure the extent of this trade specific indicators are used which are also widely used in economic literature, albeit to analyze trade in sectors unconnected to agro-food. In particular, analyses carried ou…

MARKETING AND INNOVATIONS IN CHEMICAL AGRI-INDUSTRY THROUGH THE SWOT AND PEST ANALYSIS

This paper is dedicated to the reflection of innovations in the mirror of marketing. The best way to do so is to consider specific product, company or market. The production of mineral fertilizers is one of the most important branches in the chemical industry. The potash market is exceptional in characteristics, which make it an interesting object for marketing analysis with emphasis on innovations. The comparative marketing analysis of main potash producers has been performed in order to delineate the best potash supplier for EU market. SWOT and PEST analysis as well as Porter's five competitive forces model were used. It has very important economic advantages aroused from Canadian tax sys…

The land grabbing in the international scenario: the role of the EU in land grabbing

The worldwide increase in population and consumption has produced a growing demand for food and energy in the rich and developing Countries. The resulting intensification of land investments, to cope with this need, has in many cases produced investments without transparency rules and it hasn't created real development for local people. The aim of this paper is to identify, through a cluster analysis, homogeneous groups of investor Countries in order to understand the role of the EU Member States in the context of land grabbing. The results show that the strategies adopted by the investors are driven by the need to achieve energy security and reduce CO2 emissions in order to cope with the p…

Internal vs. external R&D teams: Evidences from the Italian wine industry

R&D teams' internationalization attracts interests from different research-streams. However, the decision on what type of R&D structure is more convenient to invest in may differ, based on several factors, such as risk-taking propensity and internal resource availability. With an aim to enrich the extant literature and to provide practical insights for managers working in the wine industry, this case study explores the determinants of an Italian family-owned winery that attempts to keep a balance between its internal and external R&D teams' decision, using an integrated theoretical framework based on the transaction costs and the resource-based view theory. The optimal R&D s…

Land Grabbing Models in the International Scenario: the Case Study of the European Union

The worldwide increase in population and consumption has produced a growing demand for food and energy in the rich and developing Countries and has intensiied the search for land on which to carry investments without transparency rules and without creating real conditions of development of local populations. The aim of this paper is to identify, through a cluster analysis, homogeneous group of investor countries and to verify if exist Land grabbing model for the EU Member States. The results show that the strategies adopted by the investors are driven by the need to achieve energy security and reduce CO2 emissions and to cope with the problems of food security in view of the exponential gro…

Towards sustainable management of fishing resources in the Mediterranean Sea. Profitability and efficiency analysis of fishing enterprises in the Channel of Sicily

Implementation of green harvesting in the Sicilian wine industry: Effects on the cooperative system

This paper contributes to assessing the effectiveness of the GH measure to contribute in reducing the supply of wine grapes, and thus contrasting the fall of wine prices in those years when especially abundant productions are expected. By analysing the application of this measure to the Sicilian wine sector during the three-year period (2010–2012), we assess its effects on the regional wine cooperative system. The results from the analysis of the statistical data show that the GH measure was successful in terms of the number of applications, the supported area and financial expenditures, and contributed with other factors to determining a reduction in wine grape production. The empirical su…

MEASURING TECHNICAL EFFICIENCY AND CAPACITY IN FISHERIES BY DATA ENVELOPMENT ANALYSIS: CASE STUDY OF FISHING ENTERPRISES IN SICILY.

Innovation strategies geared toward the circular economy: A case study of the organic olive-oil industry

Circular Economy (CE) focuses on the (re)design of processes and products aiming to minimize negative environmental impact, by reducing the use of non-renewable resources, increasing products durability, improving waste management and enhancing the market for secondary raw materials. In the management field very few contributions deal with the topic of CE as a model that firms can implement from a business model perspective. The aim of the present study is to describe, by using a case study in olive oil industry, how firms in practice adapt their business model towards CE paradigm and the influence of personal drivers and stakeholders in this adaptation. The findings reveal that circular ec…

A fact-finding investigation on Sicilian wine firms attitude towards third party voluntary certifications: motivations and alternative impact assessment approaches

In the last few decades an increasing emphasis of public and private organization on quality and safety control, on traceability of food products and on environmental issues, has been registered. Mandatory public standards and private voluntary today drive this process in order to assure food safety and traceability standards. The aim of this work is to analyze the main reasons that drives some Sicilian wineries in the adoption of quality voluntary standards, and comparing their economic attitudes and performance with those firms not certified. Results show a very similar performance patterns among the two groups of firms, highlighting a series of differences that are not directly attributa…

The Italian competitiveness in the international market of the small fruits sector

Recently, the markets globalization process has become increasingly intense leading to markets' hanges and a growth competition between companies operating on the international market. The agrifood sector among others has undergone several transformation characterized by the diffusion of modern New Technology, Information and Communication, the harmonization of regulations, and the reduction of technical barriers (Banterle and Olper, 2007). These last two changes were made due to the commercial bilateral signature or multilateral agreements. These changes have forced companies to rethink their strategies and organizational management. The Italian international agribusiness scenario plays an…

La logistica per i trasporti nelle produzioni ortofrutticole in Sicilia

Il contributo affronta un tema quello della logistica che rappresenta per il settore agroalimentare una leva strategica per la competizione delle imprese sui mercati internazionali. In particolare, il lavoro tende a verificare la rispondenza della politica di una regione come la Sicilia strategicamente posizionata nel bacino del Mediterraneo con le effettive esigenze delle Organizzazioni di Produttori. La bontà delle scelte politiche viste dall''ottica dei produttori viene misurata con l''Indice di Vantaggio di Localizzazione.

Determinants affecting consumers' attention to fish eco-labels in purchase decisions: a cross-country study

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to investigate the role of consumer altruism and other socio-cultural factors in predicting how much attention consumers pay to seafood eco-labels.Design/methodology/approachThe empirical investigation was carried out by administering an online questionnaire to a sample of Italian and Spanish people from December 2019 to April 2020. After carrying out the principal component analysis procedure, the work made use of an ordinal logistic regression.FindingsBoth Italian and Spanish consumers with an altruistic attitude, who feel that food produced in a sustainable way can protect the environment and workers, appear more likely to take an eco-label into accou…

Pedotechnique applications in large-scale farming: Economic value, soil ecosystems services and soil security

Abstract Since ancient times Humans and Soil have experienced interwoven links. Nowadays soil scientists continue to stress such links highlighting the importance of soil in: i) satisfying the ever growing Human demand for food, water and energy, and ii) providing ecosystem services that mitigate climate changes, influence human health and improve biodiversity. Pedotechniques are recently used to generate soils suitable for table grape cultivation in order to increase productivity and grape quality, thus to get substantial financial returns. We show one emblematic study case of pedotechniques applied in Sicily (Italy). Aims of the investigation were: i) stressing threats to soil security de…

Changes in the international wine market competitiveness

This study offers a contribution to understanding the complexity of the international wine trade analysing the specialisation patterns of 14 among the most important wine world actors in the period 2007–2016, in order to verify if the patterns of comparative advantages for the trade of this countries have experienced significant changes. Using the Lafay index, as a comparative advantage measure, our results reveal deep changes in the global wine market exchange. Our result constitutes a base element for the future development of the competitive scenario and provides some both theoretical and practical implications. In the baseline projection, the maintenance of the competitive position is…

What is the role of social media in several overtones of CSR communication? The case of the wine industry in the Southern Italian regions

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to understand whether the companies most involved in communicating their responsible behaviour externally are those most active on the social media (SM) platform, with a philanthropic purpose rather than strictly aimed at economic aspects. Design/methodology/approach The authors, first, assess firms’ efforts on the SM platform using the model proposed by Chung et al. (2014), and, second, the authors analyze the content of messages in order to verify what dimensions of the corporate social responsibility (CSR) they contain. A multivariate modelling has been performed in order to verify whether the wineries that take most care to communicate their respons…

Italian wines in the new world wine consumers countries: the case of the Russian market

Over the last few decades, the wine market has been affected by a deep structural transformation due to globalization and mounting international competition. In particular, the wine demand has registered a geographical change with a fall in the traditional markets and an increase in the new markets among which Russia and China. Russia is one of the largest markets for wine on the planet, therefore, know what quality attributes are appreciated by Russian consumers is relevant in order to define effective business and marketing strategies. An hedonic price model has been used in this work in order to estimate implicit price for the main objective attributes of Italian wine sales in the Russia…

THE PREMIUM PRICE FOR ITALIAN RED WINE QUALITY ATTRIBUTES IN THE JAPANESE MARKET

In this paper we apply the hedonic price model in order to estimate implicit price for the main objective characteristics appearing on the label of Italian wines sold in Japan, easier to identify than sensory attributes by consumers. In this paper, the wine searcher dataset has been used in order to select the retailer price and the research score for 829 wines, for each of which we have observed information about their geographical origin, vintage, grape varieties, vintage, and the alcohol degree. Our results indicate that international grape varieties, alcohol content and the year of production explain the major part of price difference. On the other hand, the origin appellations linked t…

Prospettive per la filiera delle piante officinali in Sicilia

WEB-SITES QUALITY AND BUSINESS PERFORMANCE: AN EMPIRICAL INVESTIGATION IN THE SICILIAN WINERIES

In recent years, several enterprises in different sectors have adopted e- business models exploiting the potential offered by ICT and particularly by the internet. As many authors have highlighted, web presence offers enterprises important opportunities which are linked to overcoming spatiotemporal and cost limits which characterize traditional means of communication. This study aimed to analyze how the web marketing is used in Sicilian wineries, and the relationship between the quality of content and features of websites to their business revenue. results show a different approach to web marketing by wineries which use the net as a mere tool to promote their image, to increase their visibi…

Quality Perception and Consumer Choice of Cactus Pear: Results of Direct Survey in Italy

Today, alongside the traditional search and experience quality attributes, credence attributes increasingly affect individual consumption. The aim of this paper is to identify and measure the principal attributes of quality in cactus pear and their effect on consumer choice. The hypothesis underlying the study is that credence attributes have a major influence on consumer choice compared to the other quality attributes. With this in mind a questionnaire was administered to 92 cactus pear consumers in Italy, and by means of an econometric model the relationship that single attributes have on the amount of cactus pear consumption was analysed. Results confirm that credence attributes are impo…

The Euro-Mediterranean Free-trade Area and the Competitiveness of italian Agriculture

Are alternative food networks winning strategies to increase organic SMEs profitability? Evidence from a case study

The aim of this study was to understand how and how much alternative food networks (AFNs) contribute to increasing the profitability of the organic SMEs, compared to traditional organic sales channels. For this purpose, an economic analysis and an in-depth interview were carried out in a case study located in the Sicilian northern coast. Findings showed a clear convenience of the participation to alternative food networks compared to the case in which all farm production was conferred to traditional sales channels, highlighting an increase both of farm profit (+76.9%) and net income (+72.1%). However, the in-depth interview revealed that AFNs are a mean, not only to have economic benefits, …

STUDY ON CONSUMERS' BEHAVIOR CONCERNING BERRIES CONSUMPTION IN ITALY

In Italy, the cultivated land of berries shows a positive trend, nevertheless berries still remain a productive segment of niche and luxury in the Italian agri-food system. In the world, the interest for these productions is high for their healthy aspects that have a strong appeal to the consumers. The objectives of this study are to know the consumers behavior of berries and the determinants of purchase in Italy in order to improve the management of the producing and retailers companies for increase the competitiveness of the supply chain. The results obtained through a multivariate analysis show some difference among the consumers interviewed. The most important results of this study is t…

Biologico in Sicilia, un record da difendere

Towards More Efficient Incentives for Agri-environment Measures in Degraded and Eroded Vineyards

Evaluating the economic damage caused by soil erosion is important. In addition to increasing the awareness of the problem among farmers and policy makers, evaluation of the economic damage caused by erosion can promote the implementation of more sustainable soil management practices. In the present study, we describe a new approach to evaluate incentives for the adoption of agri-environment measure (AEM) in degraded and eroded vineyards. To estimate this incentive, the replacement cost (RC) and the loss of income are calculated when the vineyard is managed with conventional tillage versus a cover crop (AEM). Our findings show that the incentive could range from the loss of income due to AE…

Il biologico nelle colture officinali in Sicilia

The efficiency of LiDAR HMLS scanning in monitoring forest structure parameters: implications for sustainable forest management

PurposeThis article aims to compare the LiDAR handheld mobile laser scanner (HMLS) scans with traditional survey methods, as the tree gauge and the hypsometer, to study the efficiency of the new technology in relation to the accuracy of structural forest attributes estimation useful to support a sustainable forest management.Design/methodology/approachA case study was carried out in a high forest located in Tuscany (Italy), by considering 5 forest types, in 20 different survey plots. A comparative analysis between two survey methods will be shown in order to verify the potential limits and the viability of the LiDAR HMLS in the forest field.FindingsThis research demonstrates that LiDAR HMLS…

IL CONTESTO GENERALE DELL'AGRICOLTURA BIOLOGICA IN SICILIA

Intention of coastal communities to support climate change mitigation policies for fish and marine ecosystem preservation

Purpose This paper aims to assess the willingness of individuals living in coastal communities affected by climate change to financially support mitigation policies towards the preservation of marine ecosystems and fish resources and to identify the key drivers of their behaviour. Design/methodology/approach A survey was carried out involving 994 people living in three main Italian coastal communities. To investigate the main factors affecting Italian coastal communities’ willingness to pay (WTP) to support climate change mitigation measures to protect the marine ecosystem and fishery resources, a Tobit regression model was implemented. Findings The results show that these communities are …

La politica comunitaria e regionale per il biologico

Italian red wine in the Japanese market: a hedonic price analysis

This study applies the hedonic pricing model to examine important objective attributes appearing on the label of Italian wines influencing average customer wine prices in Japan. Data on 829 red Italian wines sold in the Japanese market were collected through the wine searcher dataset, and the information included on the wine labels, useful for assisting in the selection and appreciation of wines, has been included. A log-linear model was esteemed and the proposed hedonic equation accounted for 43.5% of the variation in wine prices. The results indicate that international grape varieties, alcohol content and the year of production explain most of the price difference. On the other hand, the …

Electric mobility in the Sicilian short food supply chain

This paper is the first study to explore the intention of entrepreneurs operating in the Short Food Supply Chain to adopt electric mobility inside their business. For this purpose, a case study approach was chosen, employing a questionnaire based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour and the New Ecological Paradigm to investigate the determinants affecting this intentional behaviour. The empirical analysis has been carried out in the city of Palermo (Italy), involving 42 entrepreneurs who participate in farmer's markets. Results show that entrepreneurs with higher levels of intention to introduce sustainable means of transport, such as electric vehicles, are the most concerned about the enviro…

The dynamics of Italian competitive positioning in the Mediterranean Bluefin tuna industry

The bluefin tuna or Thunnus thynnus is one of the widely recognised fish species since ancient times. Italy is the most important players in the international arena, however, the introduction of a system of total allowable catches and other measures established by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, has deeply changed the competitive positioning of Italy. The aim of this study is to perform an analysis of the comparative advantage of Italy by using the relative trade advantage index. Findings reveal that Italy has gained a competitive advantage in the Maltese market and has suffered a loss of the historical competitive advantage in the Japanese one. Results …

Sustainable European fishery and the Friend of the Sea scheme: tools to achieve sustainable development in the fishery sector

This paper investigates the role of the Friend of the Sea (FOS) scheme as a market tool for sustainable competitive advantage. To capture this effect, we apply a theoretical framework based on the stakeholder theory (SHT) and the natural-resource-based view (NRBV) to two case studies each in Italy and Spain. Our model allows us to explain the main factors determining an effective and competitive sustainable business model in the fishery sector. The results confirm the relevant influence of market forces in acquiring FOS certification and the role of the same as a counterpart to state authority.

COMPETITIVENESS OF ITALIAN WINES ON THE NTERNATIONAL MARKET

In the last few years the wine market has been affected by a deep structural transformation due to the entry in the world productive scenario of new competitors and for changing of the demand not only at geographical level but also for more and more orientation of consumers towards the quality wines. This transformation has involved even the Italian wine sector, that takes in the international wine scenario a significant importance, both in terms of supply and of the weight on the world wine export. The competitiveness analysis of Italian wine in the main partner countries, carried out through the application of the Vollrath index, show different scenario depending on the wine categories co…

Internal resources as tools to increase the global competition: the Italian wine industry case

Purpose The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, it identifies distinct organizational models in a sample of small and medium enterprises operating in the Sicilian wine industry; and second, it identifies the key factors enabling a superior export success. Design/methodology/approach Internal resources were analyzed theoretically in order to achieve the aims of the study. Subsequently the empirical investigation was carried out administering a questionnaire to a sample of 102 wineries in Sicily, Italy. A cluster analysis was performed in order to group these firms into homogeneous categories. Findings The findings show that success in the international market is more common among winer…

The integration of quality and safety concerns in the wine industry: the role of third-party voluntary certifications

Abstract Over the past few years, public attention has focused on the quality and safety control, traceability, and environmental issues surrounding food products. Several mandatory public standards and private voluntary schemes worldwide have been developed to address these concerns. Using survey data, this paper analyses the key factors affecting the adoption of voluntary quality standards in the wine industry and the existence of a relationship between the adoption of voluntary quality standards and economic performance, measured in terms of labour productivity and marketing behaviour. The survey involved 89 cellars, of which 68 were non-certified and 21 had one or more food quality cert…

PATTERNS OF COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGES AND THEIR CHANGE FOR THE WINE INDUSTRY IN THE INTERNATIONAL SCENARIO

The aim of this study is to analyse the specialization patterns of the main wine world actors, consumers and traders, so as to verify whether or not the patterns of comparative advantages for the trade of this countries have experienced significant changes over the period 2003-2012. The analysis carried out through the estimating of Lafay index reveals deep changes in the global wine market. In particular Italy, France, and Spain, though keeping an unquestioned importance in the international scenario, are experiencing a progressive loss of competitiveness. Differently, new countries have reinforced their presence in the international market, and among them Chile for the bottled wines, and …

Business-to-business service quality assessment in professional wine events: the case of Vinitaly

Stakeholder engagement toward value co-creation in the F&B packaging industry

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore how a food and beverage packaging company manages internal and external stakeholders to achieve sustainable innovation outcomes, as well as to contribute to the spread of sustainability paths along the supply chain, on which it operates. Design/methodology/approach A case study approach was chosen and applied multiple methods of semi-structured interviews and a documentation review. Findings Results reveal a structured stakeholder relationship management, according to which the packaging company acts through a stakeholder engagement process to both acquire and share new knowledge to address stakeholder pressure. Co-creation models result in a…

“Natural wine” consumers and interest in label information: An analysis of willingness to pay in a new Italian wine market segment

Abstract Increasing public attention to issues of health and environmental sustainability has contributed to a growing consumer demand for “natural” food and drinks. As has been observed, this trend has also affected the wine market, leading to the spread of so-called “natural wine”. According to the literature, consumers who are aware of the social and environmental impact of their consumption choices pay more attention to the information displayed on the label as a tool to reduce the risk associated with their purchase. This study seeks to identify which consumers are willing to pay for natural wine and to understand what information on the label influences their choice. This study is one…

The production and marketing of organic wine in Sicily

This paper aims at a better knowledge of the organic wine sector in Sicily. In the last few years regulations 2078/92 and 2092/91 have had a wide diffusion in the agricultural regional context; a rapid increase of areas and farms justify the attention paid by the European union policies. Two aspects of the sector have been examined: the influence on the implementation of Reg. 2078/92 with regard to diffusion of the organic wine sector in Sicily; and a group of farms in the west of Sicily have been analysed to verify the scenario of organic wine, and the strategy used in the commercialization of organic production. The results show a very interesting framework for organic wine. This is a sec…

HOW TRANSACTION COSTS AFFECT THE SALES CHANNEL CHOICE: AN EMPIRICAL RESEARCH IN THE SICILIAN ORNAMENTAL PLANT SECTOR

This paper, based on transaction costs theory, represents a contribution to the existing literature, and a first step towards a more in depth study, aimed to identify the more important transaction costs able to influence the strategic choices of firms. In particular, this approach has been used to evaluate, through a telephone survey, the influence of transaction costs on the sale channels choice made by a small sample of Sicilian firms active in the Ornamental Plants economic sub-sector. Results show that transaction costs increase moving from direct sale to the sale to wholesalers and large scale retail (LSR) channels, confirming our starting hypothesis. In particular, information and ne…

Agricultural land abandonment in Mediterranean environment provides ecosystem services via soil carbon sequestration

Abandonment of agricultural land leads to several consequences for ecosystem functions. Agricultural abandonment may be a significant and low cost strategy for carbon sequestration and mitigation of anthropogenic CO2 emissions due to the vegetation recovery and increase in soil organic matter. The aim of this study was to: (i) estimate the influence of different Soil Regions (areas characterized by a typical climate and parent material association) and Bioclimates (zones with homogeneous climatic regions and thermotype indices) on soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics after agricultural land abandonment; and (ii) to analyse the efficiency of the agri-environment policy (agri-environment measur…

Exploring the feasibility of introducing electric freight vehicles in the short food supply chain: A multi-stakeholder approach

Abstract The transition towards more sustainable approaches in the Food Supply Chain was concretely visible in the implementation of alternative models, like the Short Food Supply Chain. Some authors raise doubts on the environmental impact of this model, in particular for the externalities caused by the transport system, suggesting the adoption of Electric Freight vehicles. By adopting a multi-stakeholder approach, the objective of this study is to explore both the barriers and potentialities involved in the adoption of Electric Freight vehicles in the Short Food Supply Chain, and the existence of a shared strategy at the system level able to foster their adoption. Results suggest that, fo…

Motivations, adoption and impact of voluntary environmental certification in the Italian Forest based industry: The case of the FSC standard

Abstract Over the past few years several private voluntary schemes have been developed worldwide to address the environmental issues in the forest based industry. Using survey data, this study analyse the main factors motivating companies operating in the Italian forest based industry to implement FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) standard, as a tool to promote responsible forest management and traceability of derived products, and the impact of this standard on the economic and organisational results. The findings provide evidences that signalling mechanisms drive the entrepreneurs towards the adoption of FSC certification, followed by moral and ethical reasons. In terms of impact, emerges …

Website quality and internal business factors: An empirical investigation in the Italian wine industry

Purpose The purpose of this paper is dual. The first is to assess the quality of websites of Italian wineries, using the Web Assessment Index (WAI), and compare e-commerce and e-marketing websites. The second is to verify the existence of a relationship between the website quality and business revenue, on one hand, and the characteristics of managers, on the other. Design/methodology/approach A two-step survey was carried out to respond to the aims of the study. First, a sample of wineries was contacted to capture information on both the wineries and managerial characteristics. On the basis of the observed data, a second step of the analysis was performed taking into consideration 84 winer…

Competitiveness of short sea shipping: the case of olive oil industry

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyse the economic benefits of short sea shipping (SSS) in the shape of Motorways of the Sea (MoS) compared to road transport. The study cover a gap in agro-food economics and analyses the economic benefits of sea transport mode compared to road transport in the food trade between Spain and Italy for a specific product: olive oils. Design/methodology/approach – Three different transportation scenarios are considered (road only, road combined with accompanied SSS and road combined with unaccompanied SSS) linking the main olive oil production and consumption areas in Spain and Italy. In each scenario the cost per unit shipped have been calculated. …

La Politica Comune per la Pesca: il suo ruolo nella salvaguardia del tonno rosso

Dinamiche competitive dei principali prodotti ittici in Italia: possibili strategie di intervento

Over the last few years, the Italian fishery sector has showed a tendential reduction in the economic performance because of the contraction of the value of the product, as a result of the fall in the catches and in the production average prices of the main species, and of the growing operational costs. Therefore, the contraction of the National supply is balanced by the imports which, in terms of value in the reference period tested in the current study (2003/04 – 2007/08) have grown, causing a further burdening in the absolute value of the Italian trade balance. The outlined background is made further worse by the slowdown, in few years, in the rise in the fishery products consumptions, d…

La pesca marittima in Sicilia: analisi economica dello sforzo della pesca a strascico nelle marinerie di Mazara del Vallo, Porto Empedocle e Sciacca

The premium price for Italian red wines in new world wine consuming countries: the case of the Russian market

Italian wine is increasingly appreciated in new world consumer countries and, in particular, in Russia where consumers associate its consumption with an Italian lifestyle. In this paper, market value for wine search attributes is measured through the estimation of a hedonic price model using online data from a Wine Searcher website and the information contained in the labels of wines marketed in Russia. Results show a premium price for wines from Piedmont and Tuscany, and in particular for non-native varieties and for Indicazione Geografica Tipica and Protected Geographical Indication wines. Additionally, vintage and higher alcohol content have a significant positive impact on the prices th…

What are the effects of sea warming on the fishing industry?

The paper analyses the impact of Mediterranean Sea warming on some species of small pelagic fish (pesce azzurro) in the Italian fishing industry. In particular, through a time series regression model, the research examines the productivity trend in physical terms of target species of small pelagic fish from 1950 to 2016, considering the Mediterranean Sea Surface Temperatures Anomalies as an indicator of sea warming, and the Western Mediterranean Oscillation index and the North Atlantic Oscillation index as proxies of climatic variability. The research results show an evident link between the reduction of fish availability and sea warming, with potential repercussions on the incomes of the e…

Farmers’ Proactive Behaviour An Overview about Theoretical Bases and Factors Affecting Sustainability

This chapter shows a review on the extant literature on the most used socio-psychological theories employed by scholars to investigate this topic. Second, through applying an exploratory case study, carried out on a sample of wineries working in the Canton of Ticino (Switzerland), the present work intends to gather more knowledge about which factors affect wine managers’ behaviour towards the adoption of more sustainable practices into their business. The case study has been preceded by a theoretical contribution based on the two most widespread theories used in research field: Stakeholders Theory (SHT) (Freeman, 1984) and Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) (Ajzen, 1991). The decision to int…

CONSIDERAZIONI CONCLUSIVE - L'AGRICOLTURA BIOLOGICA IN SICILIA

Limits and perspectives of sea shipping of agro-food products in the Mediterranean basin. The role of Sicily

In the process of the Euro-Mediterranean integration , and in prospect of the realization of the free trade area (FTA), motorways of the sea are one of the most ambitious initiatives. The agro food sector is worrying us in order to realize the free trade area. It offers many opportunities for the strong complementarity among the coastal countries’agriculture, that could see the countries of the Southern and Northern work together in a spirit of complementarity and cooperation. Sicily, in the middle of Mediterranean basin, is only marginally concerned by the agro food trade and by direct maritime trade between the two sides, due to the inadequacy of port logistics infrastructures. These, wit…

Production and trade marketing policies regarding organic olive oil in Sicily

This research analyses the main structural factors of the organic olive oil sector in Sicily, and the effects of the European sustainable development policy (EEC Regulation 2092/91, EEC Regulation 2078/92). It examines the trade marketing of organic producers of olive oil like the initiatives to exploit European branding, typicalness, and European recognition of PDO (protected denomination of origin).

Consumer interest in information regarding novel food technologies in Italy: The case of irradiated foods

Recent food crises and uncertainty regarding food quality have pushed consumers towards a growing need to know more about the foods they purchase, including information related to both food quality and production. This paper identifies the main factors affecting consumer interest in receiving information on food irradiation technology. An online survey was used for research purposes and a total of 392 people, living in Italy, were questioned. Findings revealed that 89.2% of Italian consumers are interested in receiving information on the treatment of foods with ionizing radiation aimed at raising product safety. In particular, this interest was greater for respondents who reported a high se…

THE MAIN EFFECTS OF GREEN HARVESTING ON THE SICILIAN WINE COOPERATIVES

In Sicily in the 2010-2012 period green harvesting is the most successful of the 9 measures provided by the Italian National Support Programme (NSP) for wine. Its main goal is to contribute to restoring the balance between supply and demand by destructing or removing grape bunches in their immature stage in order to prevent market crises. The paper firstly presents the main results of a "three-year" application of Green Harvesting measure to the Sicilian wine sector. Firstly the implementation of Green Harvesting Measure was examined at EU, national and regional level through the analysis of the available statistical data; at a later stage its effects on the Sicilian wine sector were invest…

Il ruolo della DM nella distribuzione dei prodotti biologici nell’area metropolitana di Palermo: una indagine esplorativa

The determinants affecting the internationalisation of the Italian SMEs producing sparkling wines: An empirical study on the RBV of the firms

In the last few years, wine industry has been characterised by profound changes that have determined an intensification of competition on a global scale. The aim of this study is to identify the firms’ internal factors that most influence the export intensity and the ability to fit into the international market of the Italian wineries producing sparkling wines through a resource-based view (RBV) approach. Results of our study supporting the findings of previous empirical researches presented in this paper. In particular, the main factors affecting export intensity are: innovation degree and intensity of investment in advertising and promotion, among firms’ characteristics, and abroad experi…

Are coastal communities able to pay for the protection of fish resources impacted by climate change?

Abstract The purpose of this study is to examine inhabitants’ motivation and their willingness to pay to mitigate the impact of climate change on fish resources. Willingness to pay was tested empirically using survey data from 333 inhabitants of Sciacca, a fishing community in Sicily, Italy, which has the island’s second largest fishing fleet. People’s attitudes towards climate change, their degree of involvement in the issue, and their concerns about this phenomenon’s potential impact on the marine environment are the key factors affecting their willingness to pay. It was further found that respondents are willing to pay an average of €6.81 per month to support mitigation policies in the f…

OBIETTIVO DELLO STUDIO E METODO DI LAVORO

ISO 14470:2011 and EU legislative background on food irradiation technology: The Italian attitude

Our work aim is to produce an overview of food irradiation technology at European Union level, with a focus on the Italian context, by specifying the legislative background, detection methods and labelling obligations. We highlight how consumers are too often misinformed about this technology and its benefits. For this purpose, a series of tools aimed at improving the amount of information have been proposed, allowing the consumer to make a free choice about whether or not to buy irradiated food based on the correct information received, independent from socio-economic factors. Finally, we show the common effort at EU and International level, represented by the ISO 14470:2011 quality standa…

Economic aspects of pedotechnique applications in large scale farming: a case study

Conference of the World Association of Soil and Water Conservation

La politica agricola euro-mediterranea: implicazioni per alcune produzioni agricole italiane

AGRI-FOOD TRADE INTENSITY IN THE MEDITERRANEAN SCENARIO

In recent years, a political, economic, commercial, social and cultural dialogue get intensified among the Mediterranean countries. In particular, the establishment in 2008 of the Union for the Mediterranean, under the impulse of the French Presidency, represents the last act of the Euro-Mediterranean integration process, that binds more strongly the EU and Mediterranean countries, in particular those of the Southern and Eastern shores. The agriculture is an economic activity of great interest in the Mediterranean area due to the weight of employment and the contribution to the richness it brings to certain countries. In this work we analyze the intensity of agri-food trade among the EU Med…

Actual provision as an alternative criterion to improve the efficiency of payments for ecosystem services for C sequestration in semiarid vineyards

The aim of this paper is to evaluate the efficiency of the PES scheme actually used in the Sicilian rural development program, based on an egalitarian criterion, and proposing an alternative scheme in order to guarantee a greater equity and fairness of premium distribution in relation to soil carbon (C) sequestration potential. We, first, assessed the ecosystem services (ES) provided by agri-environmental measures (AEM) in terms of SOC stock increase in Sicilian vineyards. Based on these data we evaluated the efficiency of agro-environmental payments according to an egalitarian criterion and simulated the effects of the actual provision criterion adoption. Results showed that the adoption o…

La sostenibilità nel settore della pesca in Sicilia

The intensity of agro-food trade between the countries of the Mediterranean basin

The Mediterranean has always been an area of strategic interest for the European Union (EU), since its establishment, has woven with his partners of the South and East of the Mediterranean a dense network of relationships, by signing agreements cooperation, first, and association, then. The study aims to present an evolutionary picture of the agro-food trade network between the countries of the EU's Mediterranean partners and his neighbours in North Africa and the Near East. Using specific indicators, widely used in the economic literature that analyse trade in sectors, however, different from the agro-food, to measure the intensity of the trade. In particular, the analysis by the applicati…

The role of the economic crisis on the competitiveness of the agri-food sector in the main Mediterranean countries

Th e world economic crisis that, since 2008 has also struck the real economy, cannot be attributed only to the United States bubble which in 2007 involved the mortgage credit market, but it is the result of a series of factors among which the imbalance of the fi nancial market, of the public accounts of the main economies and the real sector. Also agricul- ture, which has always been considered an anti-cyclic sector, has seen a strong slowdown with a plunge in the trade fl ows. Th is paper analyses the changes which happened to the competitive position in the world market of some Mediterranean countries and of France, Italy, Spain and Turkey in particular trying, moreover, to understand the…

Le imprese florovivaistiche siciliane e le relazioni con il mercato

Lo studio si propone di analizzare la relazione tra i costi di transazione e le strategie adottate dalla imprese che operano nel comparto florovivaistico, con particolare riferimento alle diverse tipologie di canale di commercializzazione adottato.I risultati mostrano che la costituzione di consorzi di tutela o di associazioni di produttori florovivaistici potrebbe conferire agli imprenditori maggiore potere contrattuale e sostegno durante le diverse fasi del processo produttivo.

Determinants of Italy's agri-food trade flows with the Mediterranean non-Eu partner countries

The objective of this paper is to evaluate the determinants of Italy’s agri-food exports in the markets of Mediterranean non-EU partner countries and, particularly, the impact of Agreement Association signed in the Euro-Mediterranean partnership. The Mediterranean Sea situated at the crossroad of three continents, the European, the Asian and the African one, has ever been of great strategic interest for several geo-economical powers and in particular of the European Union as one of its foreign policy main protagonists. Italy as a centred Mediterranean country which is sharing agri-food production with some Mediterranean partners could profit from the EU’s relationships with the partners of …

Geographical cues: evidences from New and Old World countries' wine consumers

PurposeThis systematic review aims to investigate how geographical cues affect wine consumers' behaviors, with reference to the New and Old Worlds, and accordingly, how are recent consumption patterns and new consumer profiles modifying roles of geographical cues?Design/methodology/approachThis work employed a systematic literature review methodology on the extant literature published from 2009 to 2019.FindingsResults, summarized in a conceptual framework, emphasize five thematic areas on how geographical cues should be considered for future research and for new marketing strategies to capture consumers of New and Old World wines. Consumers' wine knowledge, socio-ethno-demographic factors, …

The requisite match between internal resources and network ties to cope with knowledge scarcity

PurposeThis paper aims to investigate the internationalization strategies of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), focusing on the interaction between network ties and “soft” internal resources at the foundation of knowledge management (KM). Specifically, it identifies the firms’ internal capabilities that affect KM strategies, and their collective influence on the degree of internationalization; verifies the influence of network ties on the internationalization process itself; and develops a conceptual “preliminary theoretical framework of SME internationalization capabilities and networks.”Design/methodology/approachThe primary research and analysis are based on a proportional stratified s…

Exploring the common blockchain adoption enablers: the case of three Italian wineries

Purpose This study aims to explore and describe the main enabling factors affecting the implementation of blockchain technology (BCT) in a strategic sector such as the wine industry, as well as the motivation behind this choice. Design/methodology/approach In light of the novelty of the phenomenon studied, a case study approach was adopted analyzing three Italian wineries. A conceptual framework, based on the dynamic capabilities, absorptive capacity and dominant logic theories, was developed. Primary and secondary data were collected. Findings Results show that wineries working in a highly dynamic and competitive market invest more in knowledge acquisition and internal assimilation and le…

LA GRANDE DISTRIBUZIONE ORGANIZZATA NELLA CITTA' DI PALERMO: ALCUNI CASI STUDIO

LE PROSPETTIVE DI SVILUPPO DELLA COLTIVAZIONE DELLE OFFICINALI IN SICILIA

Le prospettive della pesca e dell'allevamento del tonno rosso

Entrepreneurial competencies and competitiveness: an empirical analysis in the small wine companies in Sicily

Several approaches in the economical literature have been suggested for the competitiveness analysis which are different depending on the aim of the analysis, on the level of the survey and on the analysis space-time structure (Buckley et al., 1988; Banterle, Carraresi, 2006). Regarding to the competitiveness of the company, a lot of studies show that the availability of tangible resources does not stand by itself a successful condition, however, it must be seen as a constellation of resources, capacity and expertise. These studies suggest the key role of competencies, considered as a source of strategic advantage, and whose identification and evaluation is a central issue of the survival a…

Contribution to the Sustainability Challenges of the Food-Delivery Sector: Finding from the Deliveroo Italy Case Study

The food delivery sector is assuming increasing importance in the distribution of food products and meals as it is becoming an ordinary component of consumption habits. However, the growth of the sector has inevitably affected the demand for freight transport, especially in urban areas. The aim of this study was to investigate the main enabling factors affecting the adoption of sustainable strategies, among which the electro-mobility, in the food delivery sector and what obstacles to dissemination can be seen. Deliveroo s.r.l. was chosen as case study. Results show that Deliveroo undoubtedly represents a good example of sustainable logistics and the dissemination of good practices among the…

A macroeconomic analysis of the farmland value determinants in Italy

The determinants of farmland value and the factors that have caused its changes over time have been discussed extensively in the economic literature. This studies offer different classifications of the determinants of the farmland value. The aim of this paper is to investigate the influence on the farmland value of the some macro-economic variables related to the agricultural sector both directly and indirectly. A multiple regression model is adopted to answer the research questions. The results showed, on the one hand, a strong influence of agricultural productivity, a regional expenditure allocated to the sector and an increasing diffusion in the regions of protected areas on the farmland…

THE ROLE OF SICILY IN THE MARITIME TRAFFIC OF AGRI-FOOD PRODUCTS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN BASIN

This paper shows the results of a survey on trade flows to agri-food products among Sicily and the non-EU countries of the Union for the Mediterranean, through maritime transport. The aim of this paper is to outline the role that Sicily plays in respect of trade in agricultural products through the maritime mode considering its strategic location in the Mediterranean basin. Political reference scenario is that of the Union for the Mediterranean and EU Mediterranean Transport Policy (motorways of the sea). The work contains an analysis of the evolution of maritime trade in agri-food of Sicily, in the main ports of departure and arrival, with non-EU countries of the Union for the Mediterranea…

The Cereal Market and the Role of Fermentation in Cereal-Based Food Production in Africa

Cereals represent the main crop in Africa (45% of arable land) and make an important contribution to the human diet in this continent. Cereals for humans are not consumed raw. Fermentation technology is widely used in Africa to transform cereals into edible products as well as to preserve and enhance the nutritional and safety aspects of cereals. In general, in Africa, this process is not controlled and is devoid of good manufacturing practices (GMPs). Spoilage and/or pathogenic microorganisms may compromise the final quality when the fermentation is not controlled. This article focuses on the role that the fermentation process could play in creating safe food conditions in Africa. Taking i…

Consumer awareness and acceptance of irradiated foods: the case of Italian consumers

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate consumers’ willingness to accept irradiated food and the major factors related both to socio-demographic characteristics and to the perceived risk of consumers about the assumption of foods treated with novel technologies and irradiation, in particular, affecting their behavior. Consumers’ need for information has been investigated. Design/methodology/approach An online survey, involving 392 consumers living in Italy, was carried out to respond to the aim of the study. A Probit model was performed in order to identify major factors affecting the probability to accept food treated with ionizing radiation. Findings Findings show that the ac…

Riforma Fischler: il modello di agricoltura europeo

LA METODOLOGIA DELL'INDAGINE AZIENDALE

Confronto economico tra aziende cerealicole biologiche e convenzionali in Sicilia

Il lavoro contiene un confronto tra i risultati economici e di efficienza tecnica di un gruppo rappresentativo di aziende che operano in biologico ed in convenzioanle nel comparto cerealicolo in Sicilia.

Factors affecting consumer preferences for “natural wine”: An exploratory study in the Italian market

PurposeThe aim of this study is to understand which wine quality characteristics, consumers' attitudes and socio-demographic characteristics affect the consumers' willingness to pay (WTP) a premium price for a bottle of natural wine.Design/methodology/approachThe research is experimental and investigated the purchasing intentions of 613 Italian wine consumers within a hypothetical setting. In order to elicit WTP for natural wine, a multiple price list (MPL) in a comparison with one bottle of conventional wine, with an average price of €5 was adopted. To understand which quality attributes of wine affect the consumers' WTP for natural wine, a Tobit regression model was implemented.FindingsTh…

La gestione politica ed economica della pesca nel Canale di Sicilia

Il disegno della ricerca

Lo scenario economico dell'agricoltura siciliana

Social media as a strategic marketing tool in the Sicilian wine industry: Evidence from Facebook

Abstract Over the last few years, many companies have integrated social media, and social networking sites in particular, into their communication and media plan, leading to a deep transformation of the organizational models and changing the companies׳ marketing dynamics. This study has dual aims: first, to recognize and validate the firm׳s social media (SM) efforts in its use of the Facebook platform; second, to examine the relationships among the firm׳s SM efforts and some firm and managerial characteristics. In order to achieve these research aims, data on 45 wineries were collected and analysed, using a model that considers three different dimensions of the firms׳ activity on the social…

Situazione attuale e prospettive della domanda nel comparto delle officinali in Sicilia

Consumers’ Willingness to Pay for Agri-Food Products Delivered with Electric Vehicles in the Short Supply Chains

This study aims at investigating the consumers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for agri-food products delivered in the farmers markets with electric vehicles (EVs). The empirical analysis has been carried out by administering an online questionnaire to 273 consumers within a hypothetical context. A multiple price list has been provided in order to measure the price premium for 1 kg of oranges transported by EVs comparing with the ones transported by traditional vehicles. A Tobit regression model has been used for the data analysis in order to identify the most influential factors affecting the consumers’ WTP. Results suggest that consumers’ WTP is mainly influenced by environmental attitudes, kn…

Assessing the dynamic of agri-food export trends before and after the EU Eastern Enlargement

This study examines the evolution in development of Intra-European Union agri-food export during the period 2000–2011. By using Data Envelopment Window Analysis, this paper at first provides a more comprehensive picture on agri-food trade performance of sampled New Member States, focusing the attention on the pre and post phase of the enlargement process. Two specific country case studies will be released, revealing different patterns of performance among New EU Member States. The majority of New EU Member States differed in their approach in benefiting from the opportunity to enter into the EU enlarged market, and some of theme preferred to strengthen established trade relations with a pas…

La Politica Agricola Comune per il grano duro

La politica agricola comunitaria per le produzioni mediterranee

Towards More Efficient Incentives for Agri-environment Measures in Degraded and Eroded Vineyards

Evaluating the economic damage caused by soil erosion is important. In addition to increasing the awareness of the problem among farmers and policy makers, evaluation of the economic damage caused by erosion can promote the implementation of more sustainable soil management practices. In the present study, we describe a new approach to evaluate incentives for the adoption of agri-environment measure (AEM) in degraded and eroded vineyards. To estimate this incentive, the replacement cost (RC) and the loss of income are calculated when the vineyard is managed with conventional tillage versus a cover crop (AEM). Our findings show that the incentive could range from the loss of income due to AE…

Perspectives and challenges of small scale plant microalgae cultivation. Evidences from Southern Italy

Abstract In recent years, the cultivation of algae has achieved attention of scientists and practicioniers due to the great variety of products that can be obtained, among which biofuels. The aim of this work is twofold. The first is to perform a profitability analysis of food and biofuel production from microalgae, in a small-scale setting. The second is to assess the economic impact of algae production systems on the dairy farms potentially interested in Southern Italy. The analysis was performed using financial and economic indicators and considering two system management scenarios, namely single and collective. Our results confirm that current microalgae production technology favors bio…

L'agricoltura italiana nello scenario mediterraneo

The paper illustrates the main political aspects and most important economic issues affecting Italian agriculture whitin the context of the Mediterranean area.

Intensity of Italy's agri-food trade with countries outside the EU Mediterranean

This paper aims to present a framework of trade relations between Italy and the countries of southern and eastern shores of the Mediterranean Sea. More specifically, using the indicators proposed in the analysis of international trade, we want to analyse the intensity of trade in agri-food products and the strength of trade ties between the bordering Mediterranean countries. The analysis of the intensity of trade flows of food products from Italy and the partner countries of North Africa and the Near East has allowed us to trace a network of flows between the countries in the area. If we can see an overall weakening of the agri-food trade, the analysis for individual partner states, however…

Uva da tavola, strategie per margini più alti

Drivers affecting the adoption and effectiveness of social media investments: The Italian wine industry case

Purpose The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to identify distinct organisational models in a sample of firms operating in the wine industry; and second, to identify the main internal resources that characterise those firms most motivated towards the adoption of social media (SM) tools and those that perceive SM investment as more effective. Design/methodology/approach The empirical investigation was carried out by administering an online questionnaire to a sample of 82 Sicilian wineries. The principal component analysis was used to identify latent factors that drive managers to invest in SM technologies and to measure the impact perceived by managers. Subsequently, a cluster analys…

CAN COOPETITION BE A WINNING STRATEGY FOR SMALL FRUITS PRODUCTION COMPANIES IN SICILY?

In the last few years the agriculture sector has shown a significant slowdown due to economic crisis. On the one hand, the reduction in the purchasing power of households has determined a decrease in the demand for food and agricultural products, on the other hand, there has been a reduction in the income of the farmers. This has inevitably led to implement business strategies to counter the exponential reduction in profitability required to survive in an increasingly competitive environment. The literature on corporate strategies is particularly large, however, the majority of authors identify competition and cooperation as "the driving forces" for economic and social progress (Hurta and H…

IL progetto Enernetmob per una maggiore sostenibilità dei trasporti nella filiera corta

Il progetto EnerNETMob “MeditErraNEan inteRregional electromobility NETworks for interMOdal and interurBan low carbon transport systems”, co-finanziato dal programma europeo InterregMed, si propone di progettare, testare e migliorare piani di elettromobilità sostenibili che collegano città e regioni nell’area del Mediterraneo seguendo standard comuni e misure politiche, finalizzate alla riduzione delle emissioni di gas serra nell’atmosfera. EnerNETMob promuove, infatti, la condivisione e la promozione della mobilità sostenibile e l’intermodalità terra-mare, attraverso l’implementazione di reti pilota interurbane e interregionali di veicoli elettrici anche co-alimentati da fonti di energia r…

Possible future scenarios for Sicilian cereal cropping in the light of current trends in agricultural policy of the European Union

This paper sets out the results of a research project carried out by the University of Palermo and financed by the Sicilian Region, which aims to establish the impact of the Fischler Reform on Sicilian agriculture, and to project future scenarios that take into account some of the changes that the production process may undergo in the Region, following both the application of the Reform itself (now in force) and the eventual application of indications contained in the Health check. The impacts of the Fischler Reform, and especially the application of the Single Payment scheme to companies, were examined in cereal cropping companies, especially considering the significant amount of durum whe…

The contribution of a supplier of the food and beverage industry to the sustainability of the overall supply chain

Achieving sustainable scopes in a supply chain context entails structural changes at all tiers. Recently, scholars investigated different models able to achieve a sustainable supply chain management. With the aim to explain which factors, at the single supplier level, could reassure a focal firm as regards the compliance of sub-suppliers toward sustainability principles, a case study was performed on a company of the food and beverage packaging industry, based on the natural resources-based view of the firm. Results show the leading role that, a major supplier, can play in promoting sub-suppliers' compliance towards sustainable principles. Reputation, legitimacy and concerns about future po…

The proitability of microalgae biomass farming in Mediterranean environments

The aims of the present study was to assess the economic sustainability of microalgae cultivation in PBRs, ascertain in what conditions of productivity and price it is possible to achieve similar results to those of the irst case, and assess the impact that the results of plant management could have on the balance sheets of farms which may have an interest in expanding their production. Our results show shows that, while prospects are encouraging, there is a need to develop structured supply chains able to confer greater stability to the market and to ensure a higher degree of certainty to stakeholders.

La gestione integrata della fascia costiera nel Golfo di Castellammare ed effetti economici sulle imprese di piccola pesca

The ability of fish ecolabels to promote a change in the sustainability awareness

Abstract Researchers, environmentalists, as well as fisheries and retailers, have been focusing their attention on the design, use and effects that fish ecolabels have on sustainability. The fish processing industry and large retailers have rapidly adopted several market-based standards, with consequences for two major stakeholders: fishermen and consumers. Although the standards have shown rather positive results, from the perspectives of marine biodiversity conservation, the fish industry and trade, it is not clear how they are able to support a change in people’s awareness about sustainability. For this reason, the present work reviews and analyses the literature, produced in the last te…

Quality attributes of cactus pear fruit and their role in consumer choice

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to detect what experience and credence quality attributes contribute to the consumer decision to consume cactus pear fruit. The authors therefore try to measure the effect of each quality attribute on consumer choice. Design/methodology/approach – As a theoretical basis, two principal quality attributes emphasised in the literature on consumer behaviour were analysed and adjusted to the specific fruit features. The empirical strategy was carried out by administering a telephone questionnaire survey of 270 interviewees who consume cactus pears in Italy. The questionnaire, consisting of 14 items expressed on a metric scale (five-point Likert scale), was…

Label Style and Color Contribution to Explain Market Price Difference in Italian Red Wines Sold in the Chinese Wine Market

This study employs a hedonic price methodology to investigate the implicit price of individual labelling characteristics of Italian red wines sold in the Chinese market. Our results highlight the most important quality attributes (extrinsic and intrinsic) given in the label capable to explain price difference. In particular, reveal significant premium price for wine origin, identified in particular through the DOC/DOCG appellation given in the label, and for clean labels or labels with particular designs. On the contrary, a price discount has been revealed for Italian wines produced with local grape varieties and with a label characterised by warm colors. These results, partly in disagreeme…

Importanza economica delle piante officinali