Social Capital and the Food System: Some Evidences from Empirical Research

The paper stresses that in order to understand the current re-organizational processes in the food system, two kinds of social capital should be taken into account, trust and network-based social capital. Stemming from a case study, concerning the Italian processing tomato industry, it demonstrates that while trust seems to enhance social welfare, by reducing transaction costs and promoting cooperative behavior, network-based social capital mainly affects firm competitive behavior, with unpredictable effects on social welfare.social capital, trust, networks, Institutional and Behavioral Economics,

Amilly – Les Monts-d’Ouerray, Pôles ouest (phase 1)

Contrairement aux diagnostics voisins réalisés en 2014, l’opération réalisée cette année n’a pas apporté de nouvelles découvertes datant du Paléolithique. Les traces d’occupation du secteur commencent au Néolithique moyen et plus précisément au Chasséen septentrional, c’est-à-dire au Ve millénaire av. J.‑C. Les vestiges se composent de mobilier lithique et céramique dans des remblais ou colluvions tardifs au nord, mais également présents dans des limons peu perturbés (zones 2 et 3 au centre e..

Mainvilliers – L’Enclos, la Couture

Les fouilles des lieux-dits l’Enclos et La Couture, à Mainvilliers, font partie d’un projet d’aménagement sur environ 200 ha aux portes de Chartres. Lors des diagnostics réalisés dans le secteur depuis 2004, de nombreux sites ont été découverts. Les fouilles portent sur une surface de 6,5 ha et sont réalisées en collaboration entre l’Inrap et la direction de l’archéologie de Chartres Métropole. En plus d’une petite occupation du Paléolithique qui reste à fouiller et de deux fosses en Y découv..

Champhol – Zac des Antennes

Le diagnostic réalisé Zac des Antennes à Champhol a permis d’identifier trois occupations anciennes malgré de très importantes destructions consécutives aux intenses bombardements du secteur lors de la seconde Guerre mondiale. Un petit bâtiment sur six poteaux daté des vie-ve s. av. J.‑C. (Hallstatt final (Ha D2/D3) a été identifié au sud-ouest du diagnostic. Il pourrait être associé à une petite dizaine de structures, fosses et trous de poteaux distribués de manière assez distendue en direct..

Naturalness and Consumer Choices: The Case of Microfiltered Milk

Food is a very sensitive area and the most intimate form of consumption. Consumer choice is known to be strongly affected by emotional factors usually not taken into account in economic analysis. At the same time it is clear that such emotional factors can affect consumer behaviour and market reactions above all when there are scandals and concerns.One of the emotional aspects that seems to dominate consumer behaviour in the food sector is so ‐called magical thinking which leans on two different pillars: the contagion principle and the similarity principle. The contagion principle affects the concept of naturalness which, according to cognitive psychologists, is a key factor in determining consumer preferences. The main element stemming from this psychological approach is the generalised superiority which characterises those foods which are perceived as natural by consumers. It has also been observed that the specific kind of processing as well as the adding or subtracting of unnatural elements can modify the perception of naturalness and the degree of acceptability for food products.A survey which bore all such considerations in mind was conducted on a sample of 180 people interviewed shortly after their shopping trip to super markets and hyper markets in the province of Naples. A questionnaire was submitted to sample in winter 2009. The questionnaire collected information about the perception of naturalness and its role in determining consumer preferences for different food products and different kinds of processing.A specific section of the questionnaire covered a case study and gathered information about the willingness to buy a specific food product: pasteurized and microfiltered fresh cow’s milk. This product has the same nutritional qualities and the same taste as fresh pasteurized cow’s milk, but has a longer shelf life due to specific technology.On the basis of the results and by using a binary model, consumer willingness to purchase the specific milk was estimated. The findings permit an analysis of the role that both different types of product processing or manipulation and the various forms of innovation can play in determining levels of trust and modifying the discrepancy between objective and perceived quality

Courville-sur-Eure – L’Orme des Mûriers

Quelques pièces en silex taillé suggèrent la présence d’un site préhistorique à proximité et confirme la forte occupation de la vallée de l’Eure et de ses coteaux durant la Préhistoire. La première occupation pérenne attestée au lieu-dit L’Orme des Mûriers est datée avec réserve de La Tène moyenne (-250 à -120). Il s’agit d’un bâtiment à parois rejetées, d’un type connu mais rarement identifié en région Centre. Les dimensions de 180 m2 pour 17,5 x 11,5 m en font un bâtiment de grande taille. ..

Nogent-le-Roi – Déviation routière (tronçon AB, zone 3), Le Pierrier

Quelques éléments mobiliers trouvés dans les structures gallo-romaines et dans les limons établissent la présence de l’homme sur le plateau dès la Préhistoire. Un tesson de céramique peu roulé, une hache polie, une lame microdenticulée, etc. pourraient indiquer qu’un site néolithique se trouve à peu de distance de l’emprise de la fouille. Les prospections aériennes réalisées sur le plateau de Nogent-le-Roi ont permis de localiser des occupations protohistoriques en enclos fossoyés en bord de ..

Validation of a Psychometric Scale to Measure Consumers’ Fears of Modern Food Technologies

 The main consumer trends in food sector are two: on the one hand there is a growing demand for modernity (functional foods, convenience foods, healthy foods such as low calories and low-sodium foods), on the other hand there is a increasing demands for naturalness (organic foods, natural foods, local products and typical products). Moreover, in recent years consumers’ fears of novel food technologies are well documented and several psychometric scales were tested for the analysis of consumer’s attitude towards new technology. Therefore the ability to identify population segments that have greater or lesser neophobia/neophilia, thus enabling identification of early adopters of innovative products, would be more and more useful.A survey which bore such considerations in mind was conducted on a representative sample of 355 people interviewed shortly after their shopping trip to super- and hyper-markets in Campania region. A questionnaire was submitted to sample in spring 2010. The questionnaire collected information about the perception of new food technologies, the perception of naturalness and their roles in determining consumer preferences for different food products. To collect information about consumers perceptions we adopted the FTNS scale (Food Technology Neophobia Scale) which represents a useful tool for assessing receptivity to foods produced by novel technologies.A specific section of the questionnaire covered a case study and gathered information about the willingness to buy food products that consumers can associate to a greater or lesser use of modern technologies and belonging to a specific set of six food categories: functional foods, low calories foods, convenience foods (ready to eat) typical foods, organic foods, short chain products.First findings confirm that FTNS scale is a good instrument for predicting individuals’ willingness to try foods produced using modern technologiesMoreover first results are consistent across the different types of products and technologies tested and thus provide consistent evidence of predictive validity

Edible insects and global food security

Starting in 2008 and lasting up until 2011, the crisis in agricultural and, in particular, cereal prices triggered a period of riots that spread from the Mediterranean basin to the rest of the world, reaching from Asia to Central America and the African continent. [...]