Toward an evaluation model for transnational cooperation activities in rural areas: a case study within an EU LEADER project

Cooperation activities between Local Action Groups (LAGs) have been introduced into EU LEADER (Liaison Entre Actions de Développement de l’Économie Rurale) initiative to provide rural areas the opportunity to exchange experiences and best practices, as well as to realize common activities by pooling human and financial resources. The main purposes are to overcome isolation and add value to local development strategies. The benefits of cooperation are widely recognized but, undeniably, it can be also a difficult and time-consuming process. For this reason, evaluation is a necessary tool to measure the success of cooperation and to help actors address their strategies for the future. In this paper, an evaluation methodology is proposed and applied to an EU LEADER+ case study, the ‘Integrated Project for Rural Tourism: Environment and Qualified Hospitality’, a transnational cooperation experience led by LAG Aspromar, based in the province of Reggio Calabria, Southern Italy. Quantitative and qualitative data have been collected through the integration of three typical methods of social research: two techniques based on surveys, namely interviews with privileged actors, and a semi-structured questionnaire, and a technique based on non-survey data and the study of documents. Results can be useful to highlight pros and cons of the management of a cooperation project and to stimulate projects’ leaders on activating improvement processes

Toward an evaluation model for transnational cooperation activities in rural areas: a case study within an EU LEADER project

Abstract Cooperation activities between Local Action Groups (LAGs) have been introduced into EU LEADER (Liaison Entre Actions de Développement de l'Économie Rurale) initiative to provide rural areas the opportunity to exchange experiences and best practices, as well as to realize common activities by pooling human and financial resources. The main purposes are to overcome isolation and add value to local development strategies. The benefits of cooperation are widely recognized but, undeniably, it can be also a difficult and time-consuming process. For this reason, evaluation is a necessary tool to measure the success of cooperation and to help actors address their strategies for the future. In this paper, an evaluation methodology is proposed and applied to an EU LEADER+ case study, the 'Integrated Project for Rural Tourism: Environment and Qualified Hospitality', a transnational cooperation experience led by LAG Aspromar, based in the province of Reggio Calabria, Southern Italy. Quantitative and qualitative data have been collected through the integration of three typical methods of social research: two techniques based on surveys, namely interviews with privileged actors, and a semi-structured questionnaire, and a technique based on non-survey data and the study of documents. Results can be useful to highlight pros and cons of the management of a cooperation project and to stimulate projects' leaders on activating improvement processes

The role of individual knowledge in functional olive oil preferences: Does self-coherence lead to different health attributes perception?

This study examined whether health cues influence the choices of olive oil consumers with different degrees of knowledge about the nutritional properties of olive oil. To this end, a direct survey on the consumption of healthy extra-virgin olive oil was implemented by examining the stated preferences of a sample of consumers. Two econometric analyses were carried out to identify the drivers of the consumption of olive oil with high polyphenol content. The logisticmodel was chosen as the most suitable method to answer the research questions. The results revealed a general consensus among consumers regarding the beneficial properties of olive oil consumption. Moreover, the findings show that different degrees of individual knowledge act as distinctive drivers in influencing the health perception of olive oil consumers. Finally, this study verified that, even for healthy foods, consumers' choices are strongly dependent on their own self-coherence. As a consequence, consumers' knowledge or beliefs that orientate their attitudes are influenced by different motivations and attributes

profitability analysis of small scale beekeeping firms by using life cycle costing lcc methodology

Increasingly, beekeeping sector attracts attention due to its potentialities linked to several aspects: Environmental benefits, commercial value and of promotion of rural development. Indeed, among the small-scale agro-food chains, beekeeping plays a significant role, especially in rural context, where the diversification of farms activities can be provide a relevant integration of income. However, frequently, apicultural activities are characterized by several weaknesses ascribable to the fragmented production, difficulty of marketing actions and lack of training of operators. These problems are particularly present in Calabria region in South Italy where, anyway, thanks to several suitable climatic conditions, high quality standards of honey are obtained. So, in order to achieve the efficiency of firms and to improve the business beekeeping production it is necessary to arrange a production system that takes into account the real availability of material resources. The economic behavior of beekeepers and their investment choices are fundamental to accomplish a successful business that, more and more today, needs to high productivity of labor and adequate equipment, guaranteed by optimization of production factors. This paper has a two-fold purpose: Firstly, it aims to conduct an economic analysis of beekeeping activities, as significant small-scale agri-food chain in southern Italy, by analyzing the production, processing and packaging of honey in farm realities of Calabrian region. The second objective of this paper is to evaluate the profitability of investments realized in beekeeping firms. For this purpose, a joint use of Life Cycle Costing (LCC) methodology and economic indicators was applied in order to analyze in detail cash outflows linked to each phase of honey production system (planning, management and disposal) and to identify key elements that can improve the farm management. Results showed the economic viability of the investment and a suitable level of profitability. Furthermore, the analysis carried out confirms these methodologies as useful tools to support investment choices and to improve economic performances of management strategies of agro-food producers

Artichoke Industrial Waste in Durum Wheat Bread: Effects of Two Different Preparation and Drying Methods of Flours and Evaluation of Quality Parameters during Short Storage

'Violetto di Ramacca' is a local variety of artichoke grown in Sicily (Southern Italy), known for its purple color with green streaks. In this study, the effects of two different preparation and drying methods (method A, fresh sample oven-dried at 40 °C for 48 h then mixed and ground into flour; and B, minced and frozen sample oven-dried at 40 °C for 24 h then blended and ground into flour) for flours from different parts of the artichoke (bracts, stems, and mix), used at different percentages of integration (5, 7.5, and 10%), in combination with re-milled semolina, have been evaluated. The polyphenol contents of the flours produced with the two methods were measured. The results showed significant differences between the methods and samples, with a range from 9.09 mg GAE/g d.m. (bracts 100%, method A) to 2.62 mg/g (mix 100%, method B). The values were then lowered in the flour products with supplements ranging from 0.96 mg GAE/g (bract flour 10%, method A) to 0.11 mg GAE/g (mixed flour 7.5%, method B). As the amounts of polyphenols increased, the antioxidant activity increased, with a range that varied in the pure flour from 8.59 mg trolox eq/g d.m. (bract flour, method A) to 3.83 mg trolox eq/g d.m. (mixed flour, method B). These flours were also analyzed for color, highlighting a clear difference between methods A (greener) and B (browner). The flours thus obtained were used to produce breads, which were evaluated for their physicochemical characteristics during 4 days of storage. The results showed a reduction in volumes and heights, an increase in the percentage of integration of the artichoke flours, a greater quantity of moisture in the integrated breads, and a lower reduction in the structural characteristics during storage compared to the control breads. The TPA was conducted on the breads from T0 to T4, highlighting that, although initially more compact, the integrated breads offered less alteration of the values during storage. The aw ranged from 0.63 (mix flour 5%, method B) to 0.90 (bract flour 5%, method B). The amounts of polyphenols (from 0.57 mg GAE/g in bread with bracts at 10% (method A) to 0.13 mg GAE/g in bread with mix 5% (method B)) and the antioxidant activity (from 0.55 mg trolox eq/g d.m. in bread with bract flour 10% (method A) to 0.14% mg trolox eq/g d.m. in bread with mix flour) were also evaluated, showing a trend similar to the values obtained in the flours. Colorimetric tests highlighted a color more similar to wholemeal bread in the loaves produced with method B. Statistical factor analysis and cluster analysis were conducted for all trials

Economic and environmental sustainability analysis of guar (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L.) farming process in a Mediterranean area: two case studies

Guar ( Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L.) is a spring-summer legume with a high drought tolerance, grown mainly in India, Pakistan, United States and South Africa, whose seeds contain galactomannans. These can be used as an emollient, softening or thickening agent, a flocculant, as well as in hydraulic fracturing, and as a stabiliser in a wide range of other industrial activities: the production of cosmetics, paper, textiles, paints and varnishes, detergents, in construction, and in food products (jams, jellies, yogurt, mayonnaise, ketchup, diet foods, foods for coeliacs, etc .). In the light of a growing industrial demand for guar flour, in May 2012 a trial was carried out in southern Italy. Seeds from South Africa were sown in large plots on two farms with different soil characteristics. The crop showed yields varying between 1.8 and 2.2 t ha –1 . Agronomic results were then used to conduct an integrated sustainability analysis using the production cost analysis and the life cycle assessment, in order to assess, respectively, the cost-effectiveness and the environmental impact of the production process of guar in a Mediterranean environment. Compared to other competitive crops, guar, with less than 3000 kg of CO 2 eq. emissions, can be considered as a low-emission crop. Given the above-mentioned yield, guar growing is economically sustainable when the purchase price of seeds is not less than 0.96 € kg –1

Evoluzione delle produzioni e dei prezzi in aziende olivicole di un'importante zona della Sicilia (sudovest etneo)

Dottorato di ricerca in economia e politica agraria. 7. cicloConsiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche - Biblioteca Centrale - P.le Aldo Moro, 7, Rome; Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale - P.za Cavalleggeri, 1, Florence / CNR - Consiglio Nazionale delle RichercheSIGLEITItal

Strategie di sviluppo del settore ittico in un’importante marineria calabrese

The fishing sector in Calabria presents specific problematics according to the environmental and socio-economic differences of the various maritime compartments. Bagnara Calabra, in the Costa Viola area, plays an important role in terms of consistency of fisheries structures and professionals involved, with particular reference to catch swordfish. The aim of this study is the definition of an integrated development plan (idp) for the fishing sector of the area conducted through an interdisciplinary research. The idp, through specific analysis and with the involvement of local stakeholders, identifies possible lines of action in view of public funding sources provided at the regional level, particularly those related to eu Structural Funds. The idp includes different measures and interventions for structures and services, promoting a first integration process of the territorial interests and creating a synergy between public and private actors. The study promotes the development and diversification of the fishery activities in the area, and considers the possibility of establishing a fish production district in the Costa Viola area. Furthermore, the methodology outlines a process of territorial animation and sensibilization that could integrate the analysis already done and facilitate the definition of a broader Local Development Plan for the area carried out by a specific Coastal Action Group (cag), the public/private socio-economic partnerships introduced in the Fourth Axis of the European Fund for Fisheries in order to extend the Leader Initiative in fisheries and coastal management.