The value of collective reputation for environmentally-friendly production methods: The case of Val di Gresta

In this paper we investigate consumers' preferences for various environment-friendly production systems for carrots. We use discrete-choice multi-attribute stated-preference data to explore the effect of collective reputations from growers of an Alpine valley known for its environment-friendly production: Val di Gresta 'the valley of organic orchards'. Data analysis of the panel of discrete responses identifies unobserved taste heterogeneity for organic, bio-dynamic and place of origin, while observed heterogeneity for income is addressed by a piece-wise linear function. The implied sample distributions of individual-specific WTP for each of these random attributes are then compared. Results indicate that Integrated Pest Management is preferred to biodynamic as an emerging method. The presence of a premium for Val di Gresta produce is confirmed. The use of an experimental design to identify the relevant second order effects reveals the presence of a reputation effect which can be decomposed into a generic effect from place of origin and a specific one for each EFPMs. Farmers operating in geographically limited marginal areas, such as mountain valleys, may find it useful to invest in collective reputation through high quality standard to achieve higher returns. This strategy may compensate for the dwindling public support to farm income from EU programmes

Consumer's WTP for Environment-Friendly Production Methods and Collective Reputation for Place of Origin: The Case of Val di Gresta's Carrots

This paper investigates preferences for various environment-friendly production system for carrots using discretechoice multi-attribute stated-preference data amongst buyers and explore the effect of collective reputations from growers of an Alpine valley known to be completely dedicated to organic production. Results show that buyers distinctly recognize only organic production as a production system different from the conventional one, and there is some evidence of recognition of collective reputation. As well as for marginal utility of income, substantial unobserved heterogeneity is found for many skin imperfections, origin from the organic Alpine valley and the organic production methods. The implied sample distributions of WTP for each of these random attributes are then compared.Choice modelling, mixed logit, organic products, marginal utility of income, unobserved taste heterogeneity, status-quo bias, heteroskedasticity, Crop Production/Industries, Environmental Economics and Policy, C15, C25, Q13, Q18,

Mercosur e politiche ambientali-agroforestali: conservazione della biodiversit\ue0 come leva d\u2019integrazione

I fenomeni di integrazione economica regionale degli ultimi decenni originano dalla volont\ue0 di liberalizzare gli scambi commerciali, come premessa di coordinamento pi\uf9 ampio e di creazione di un\u2019unione politica. La realt\ue0 latinoamericana del Mercato Comune del Sud detto MERCOSUR viene spesso osservata attraverso la lente \u201cordinaria\u201d del \u201cgrado di integrazione\u201d economico-commerciale; in particolare assume rilievo l\u2019analisi della maturazione dell\u2019approccio decisionale intergovernativo, che sembra limitarne l\u2019emancipazione, verso una sopranazionalit\ue0 assente nei trattati costitutivi. L\u2019importanza che il MERCOSUR riveste nel contesto mondiale non riguarda solo il potenziale economico, ma concerne la \u201cricchezza ambientale delle nazioni\u201d che in esso si integrano: in particolare, la regione costituisce un biodiversity depository unico al mondo, la cui importanza si riverbera dai fabbisogni e opportunit\ue0 per le comunit\ue0 locali (in particolare rurali) agli equilibri ambientali globali. La conservazione e gestione della biodiversit\ue0 e dei servizi ecosistemici assurge a prospettiva di osservazione \u201coriginale\u201d sul percorso d\u2019integrazione, in quanto elemento portante attorno a cui essa si \ue8 sviluppata, sfida imprescindibile per il futuro e (si cercher\ue0 di dimostrare) premessa originaria, a complemento delle ragioni commerciali e politiche. Il coordinamento delle politiche ambientali e agroforestali pu\uf2 rivelarsi un\u2019opportunit\ue0 di consolidamento della regione, cos\uec come pu\uf2 aver costituito un vero e proprio \u201cagente integratore\u201d sviluppatosi attorno alla gestione di importanti risorse condivise

Attitudes towards honey among Italian consumers: a choice experiment approach

Honey is becoming increasingly popular with consumers for its nutritional benefits as well as many other functions. The objective of this article is to determine which factors influence consumers' purchase intentions and to assess the importance of certain honey characteristics to enable identification of the constituents of an ideal honey profile. This information will lead to satisfaction of consumers' preferences and formulation of marketing strategies that support honey makers. We applied a choice experiment to the Italian honey market to define the preferences and the willingness to pay for key characteristics of the product. A face-to-face questionnaire survey was conducted in 2014 (January-July) among Italian consumers; it was completed by 427 respondents. A latent class model was estimated and four classes were identified, with different preferences, illustrating that respondents seem to be heterogeneous honey consumers Results suggest the "organic" attribute was more important than others factors, such as the place where the honey was produced (landscape), but less important than the country of origin; local Italian honey was preferred to foreign honey. Respondents showed a higher willingness to pay (WTP) for honey from their country of origin versus the production method used. Our results suggest that while organic beekeeping might be an important strategy for diversification, if suitable communication is not taken into consideration, the added value of the production method might not be perceived by consumers

Organic vs local claims: substitutes or complements for wine consumers? A marketing analysis with a discrete choice experiment

This study aims to understand people\u2019s preferences concerning five different extrinsic characteristics of wine and among them organic production. Consumers\u2019 preferences were assessed by means of a choice experiment on a sample of people living in Friuli Venezia Giulia (north-eastern Italy). The wines considered in the hypothetical market were differentiated considering the area of origin, landscape features, production method (organic or conventional), wine denomination of origin label and price. According to our results, denomination of origin labelling is the most important factor considered by all respondents. More than one quarter of the sample is interested in purchasing organic wine and willing to pay more for it. In this respect, organic production combined with a good communication strategy in order to increase the knowledge about its benefits can be a good marketing diversification strategy. Therefore, organic production seems to be a necessary (for at least 27% of people) but not sufficient condition in characterizing wine quality: it should be supported by an appropriate promotion of the product characteristics