Criteria for a transparent assessment of carbon footprints in the food supply chain

Our daily consumption patterns have a major influence on climate change. Several European initiatives use CO2-labels for products to provide guidance for climate friendly consumption decisions. Different methodological details affect the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions (CO2-e) being labeled. A standardized method is needed to generate comparable results. The objective of this study conducted at the Institute for Marketing and Innovation of the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, was to identify the key methodological criteria for transparent assessment of the carbon footprint of food products. Expert interviews and content analyses were the methodological approach applied. Current carbon footprint standardization processes have to meet the challenge of meeting both scientific accuracy and practicability in order to enable comprehensive implementation in management practice

Is Sustainability Reporting Promoting a Circular Economy? Analysis of Companies’ Sustainability Reports in the Agri-Food Sector in the Scope of Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive and EU Taxonomy Regulation

Circular economy has the potential to contribute significantly to sustainable development. Despite its popularity, implementation in Europe is still low. Through more stringent sustainability reporting, the circular economy should be increasingly implemented by companies, which is currently pursued by the EU through two new legal acts. Therefore, we need a more integrated understanding of existing practices of corporate sustainability reporting to identify weak points and possibilities for further improvement. This article aims to (i) investigate whether companies in the agri-food sector have reported on the circular economy so far, (ii) to what extent future legal obligations are already being met, and (iii) if the two new EU legal acts hold significance for the promotion of circular economy through corporate reporting. To assess the current reporting practices, a qualitative content analysis and a mapping approach of 20 selected sustainability reports from key players in the agri-food sector have been conducted. Additionally, seven semi-structured expert interviews were carried out to review the future role of the legal acts. Results show that reporting in the agri-food sector on circular economy has increased considerably as of 2016, but it is still lacking in terms of the two new legal acts. Although the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) can be seen as a good basis for reporting, there is a large number of new obligations, which means that companies should start preparing at an early stage. This is especially true for those agri-food companies that have not yet been subjected to any reporting obligations. Experts have agreed with this view, considering the legal acts as an important vehicle for promoting the concept. However, they also recognize the weaknesses, such as the existing scope for interpretation, which still need to be addressed before the final publication of the standard and the technical criteria. Future research should analyze the final commitments of the reports (including for small and medium-sized companies), compare them with established reporting standards, seek expert opinions on them, and quantitatively examine sustainability reports in this and other industries

MOTIVFORSCHUNG IN BIO-GASTRONOMIE-BETRIEBEN MIT HILFE QUALITATIVER EXPERTENINTERVIEWS IN WIEN UND NIEDERÖSTERREICH

In Österreich sind von 41.974 Gastronomie-Betrieben nur 323 bio-zertifiziert. Somit ist hier ein wesentliches Entwicklungspotential vorhanden. Dieses Potential wird jedoch von einem höheren Wareneinsatz und von höheren Verarbeitungskosten überschattet. Ein Bioverband kann hier ansetzen und die Bio-Gastronomen unterstützen. Durch qualitative Experteninterviews wurden die Erwartungen an den Bioverband und dessen zukünftige Herausforderungen hinsichtlich der Unterstützung von Bio-Gastronomen identifiziert. Aus den Interviews ging hervor, dass die befragten Bio-Gastronomen durchaus offen für eine Kooperation mit dem Bioverband sind und sie sich vor allem mehr Unterstützung bei der Suche nach geeigneten Lieferanten bzw. Bio-Landwirten wünschen. Die Mehrheit der interviewten Bio-Gastronomen setzen biologische Lebensmittel aus Überzeugung ein und achten dabei auf Regionalität und Saisonalität. Die befragten Bio-Gastronomen sind der Meinung, dass der steigende Preisdruck in Zukunft die größte Herausforderung darstellen wird

Risikoeinstellung und Risikowahrnehmung von Milchproduzenten in Österreich

Maßnahmen des Risikomanagements zur Sicherstellung einer erfolgreichen strategischen Planung und langfristigen Einkommensstabilisierung gewinnen für landwirtschaftliche Betriebe zunehmend an Bedeutung. Der Umgang mit Risiken und die Zahlungsbereitschaft für Maßnahmen der Risikosteuerung sind stark vom Ausmaß der subjektiven Risikoeinstellung und -wahrnehmung abhängig. Vor diesem Hintergrund untersucht der vorliegende Beitrag die Risikoeinstellung und -wahrnehmung von österreichischen Landwirten am Beispiel der Produktionssparte Milch. Datengrundlage bildet eine Online-Befragung von 109 Milchproduzenten. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass die Risikoeinstellung – bei der Anwendung unterschiedlicher psychologischer (subjektive Selbsteinschätzung, unternehmensbezogene Statements) und ökonomischer Methoden (Holt-and-Laury Lottery) – vorwiegend risikoneutral ausgeprägt ist. Die Messung der subjektiven Risikowahrnehmung belegt, dass für österreichische Milchproduzenten Politik- und Marktrisiken im Vordergrund stehen

Agrar- und Ernährungswirtschaft im Umbruch

47. Jahrestagung der Gesellschaft für Wirtschafts- und Sozialwissenschaften des Landbaues e.V. und 17. Jahrestagung der Österreichischen Gesellschaft für Agrarökonomie vom 26. bis 28. September 200

Being a Farmer in Austria during COVID-19—A Qualitative Study on Challenges and Opportunities

To assess the effects of COVID-19 on Austrian farmers, a qualitative study design including computer-aided, qualitative content analysis was applied. Interviews with 34 Austrian farmers covering a broad spectrum of the sector were conducted to identify the impacts, obstacles, and opportunities during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. The results show that the diverse and heterogeneous impacts of COVID-19 on farms created significant challenges but also opportunities. Negative impacts included sales difficulties due to the closure of the hospitality industry and farmers markets, the ban on non-agricultural activities, the disrupted availability of workers and agricultural inputs, and the related additional workload. Mitigation of negative effects through political measures and interest groups showed limited effectiveness. Nevertheless, the functionality of the agricultural sector was maintained. During the initial phase of the pandemic, direct impacts on agricultural production were minimal and adjustments were adequate. There were also positive effects on parts of the agricultural sector, such as a boost in direct sales, increased demand in the food retail sector, and improved public perception of agriculture and farmers. Long-term changes in farms have been triggered and/or reinforced by the COVID-19 pandemic, mainly driven by digitization, investments in product and/or process innovations, and adjustments concerning marketing

Zukunft Landwirtschaft 2030: Ein partizipativer Strategieprozess für die oberösterreichische Landwirtschaft

Land- und forstwirtschaftliche Leistungen stellen unentbehrliche Werte für die Gesellschaft dar. Um diese auch in Zukunft zu sichern, initiierte das Land Oberösterreich den Strategieprozess „Zukunft Landwirtschaft 2030“

Assessment of sustainability in Austrian wine production

The aim of the project was to find out whether environmental sustainability can be measured not only with regard to climate change and carbon consumption but also as to other criteria concerning material consumption, energy, soil, biodiversity and water. We investigated which measures in the vineyard and wine cellar can lead to “better” sustainability while ensuring a high quality standard. 343 activities were identified to fulfill 61 quality objectives. Of the 2,191 sustainability assessments that were determined the measurements of the individual sustainability criteria vary and are in some cases even negatively correlated. Nevertheless, it was still possible to differentiate sustainably managed wineries from others in all of the Austrian wine producing areas. In our approach, a specifically developed online tool can calculate the expression of ecological, economic and social sustainability and show the effects in a spider diagram in the form of a traffic light rating system. Moreover, an algorithm suggests adequately which quality improvements can be achieved. If part of the management system is changed the online tool will show the positive and negative sustainability effects

Assessment of sustainability in Austrian wine production

The aim of the project was to find out whether environmental sustainability can be measured not only with regard to climate change and carbon consumption but also as to other criteria concerning material consumption, energy, soil, biodiversity and water. We investigated which measures in the vineyard and wine cellar can lead to “better” sustainability while ensuring a high quality standard. 343 activities were identified to fulfill 61 quality objectives. Of the 2,191 sustainability assessments that were determined the measurements of the individual sustainability criteria vary and are in some cases even negatively correlated. Nevertheless, it was still possible to differentiate sustainably managed wineries from others in all of the Austrian wine producing areas. In our approach, a specifically developed online tool can calculate the expression of ecological, economic and social sustainability and show the effects in a spider diagram in the form of a traffic light rating system. Moreover, an algorithm suggests adequately which quality improvements can be achieved. If part of the management system is changed the online tool will show the positive and negative sustainability effects

Assessment of sustainability in Austrian wine production

The aim of the project was to find out whether environmental sustainability can be measured not only with regard to climate change and carbon consumption but also as to other criteria concerning material consumption, energy, soil, biodiversity and water. We investigated which measures in the vineyard and wine cellar can lead to “better” sustainability while ensuring a high quality standard. 343 activities were identified to fulfill 61 quality objectives. Of the 2,191 sustainability assessments that were determined the measurements of the individual sustainability criteria vary and are in some cases even negatively correlated. Nevertheless, it was still possible to differentiate sustainably managed wineries from others in all of the Austrian wine producing areas. In our approach, a specifically developed online tool can calculate the expression of ecological, economic and social sustainability and show the effects in a spider diagram in the form of a traffic light rating system. Moreover, an algorithm suggests adequately which quality improvements can be achieved. If part of the management system is changed the online tool will show the positive and negative sustainability effects