From the AKAP to AKAIE model to assess the uptake of technological innovations in the aquaculture sector

The purpose of this study is to explore the adoption of innovation in the aquaculture sector through the Awareness Knowledge Adoption Implementation Effectiveness (AKAIE) sequence. The AKAIE is an extension of the Awareness Knowledge Adoption Product (AKAP) model in order to better investigate the post-adoption phases. Using the ‘Implementation’ and ‘Effectiveness’ phases, this study aims to further the under- standing of both the different levels of adoption and the impact of innovation in terms of environmental, economic and social benefits produced. The proposed sequence is contextualised in light of the multidimensional scenario of on-farm and off-farm factors acting alongside the adoption of new technologies in the aquaculture sector. In this paper, the perspective of aquaculturists is represented with the con- cept of perceived complexity as the central node of the adoption process. The pro- posed tool could support policy makers in understanding and disseminating innovation in aquaculture

The Common Agricultural Policy 2021-2027: a new history for European agriculture

Contributing to the ongoing debate on the future of European agriculture and rural areas, the study states that, in the light of the present historical contingen- cy, the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) will need to support the reconciliation between the target objective of competitive agriculture with that of a resilient agri-food system able to develop constant benefits for the entire EU community. Historically, flexibility has been the main incremental feature of the European CAP reforms. For the programming period 2021-2027, the European Commission has presented a com- pletely new model of CAP governance characterized by less detailed rules and more attention to performance, which implies a greater freedom of action for each Member State, but also greater responsibility. The CAP has evolved over time and so today the criticized limits of the European intervention can be considered outdated

Gender differences in farm entrepreneurship: comparing farming performance of women and men in Italy

Gender differences in rural enterprise are a relevant field of analysis which calls for a deeper investiga- tion concerning key variables affecting farm\u2019s performance and on the basis of gender. This paper tries to explore eventual gender gaps in the farms of Italy. Two variables are investigated: \u201cWho\u201d variable discriminate farm\u2019s manager on the basis of gender under a constituent perspective of female entrepre- neurship. \u201cWhere\u201d context is articulated in business, social and spatial context, with the aim of excavat- ing the multiple dimensions of farm entrepreneurship. In order to bring out the differences between male and female condominium farms in Italy, an econometric model was applied, with the aim of identifying context-related differences. The results confirm gender gaps related to farm performance, networking, diversification strategies and access to rural policies, by enlightening diverse paths of development in rural enterprises on the basis of explanatory variables. Therefore, adopted methodology reveals its utility in explaining gender gaps and addressing targeted policy implication at the beginning of a new program- ming era for the Common Agricultural Policy of the EU

Do Rural Development Policies Really Help Small Farms? A Reflection from Italy

Although research and political intentions both recognise the crucial role of small farms in Rural Development (RD) strategies, in actual practice they are left out of the benefits of agricultural policies. This is not established by legislative or regulatory prescriptions. It is the result of consolidated practices driven by the productivist approach to agricultural development, overtaken by the concept of multifunctionality, which has inspired European intervention in the agricultural sector and rural areas for more than twenty years. This is particularly evident in Italy, where the weight of small farms is extremely significant in terms of numbers, farmland area and work generated. The continuity of small farms in Italy is of fundamental importance due to their economic, environmental and social relevance to the objective of reconnecting agriculture and territories in a circular vision of RD. Despite this crucial role, these farms have historically had great difficulty accessing RD programmes due to the national or regional implementation of these plans, which set access thresholds and procedural constraints that effectively exclude small farmers. The construction of a national strategy for rural areas requires specific attention to the universe of small farms, which should be included within the perimeter of the potential beneficiaries of RD policies

Geographical Indication to Build up Resilient Rural Economies: A Case Study from Ghana

This paper deals with Geographical Indications (GI) as a critical strategy aimed to boost agri-food local supply chain and rural development. The main concern of this work, therefore, is to verify how the identification of these products and establishment of GI systems can propel sustainable development in local areas in Africa. Two assumptions are at the basis of our paper: viable GI systems can be established in Africa, and the establishment of a GI system can stimulate rural development. In order to clarify the process of GI setting up and valorization, we will test GI virtuous circle and the rural web, with the purpose of exploring the multiple dimensions (endogeneity, social capital, sustainability, novelty, institutional arrangements, governance of markets) interfering in the process at both the agri-food supply chain and rural context levels of analysis. The analysis is applied to the shea butter production in Ghana and will employ primary data. Questionnaires and interviews were administered in the study area (Yendi Municipality of Ghana) to gather both qualitative and quantitative data. Our analysis confirms the potentialities of the shea butter as GI, by underlying its engine for the development of local rural communities

Assessing the Integrated Impact of Sustainable Innovation on Organisational Performance: An Empirical Evidence From Manufacturing Firms

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have gained importance and the world is moving on a sustainability trajectory, which requires organisations to balance financial, environmental, and social dimensions of management. Companies are encouraged to adopt sustainable innovations that include resource efficiency, waste reduction, energy use, responsible behavior etc., to overcome environmental issues and incorporate societal aspects. However, the types of innovations that embrace the so-called triple bottom line philosophy have been tenuously investigated in relation to organisational performance of firms. Through an empirical study, this work investigates the relationship between sustainable innovation in its three dimensions and organisational performance, including stakeholder management, human resource management and process measures, in the context of Italian manufacturing companies. The results show that a greater emphasis on sustainable innovations has a positive impact on the organisational performance and competitive advantage of firms, revealing the key role of human capital and portraying important avenues for future research

The Knowledge and Perception of Sustainability in Livestock Systems: Evidence from Future Professionals in Italy and Argentina

The preference of consumers for more sustainable consumption patterns has a great impact on what and how food is produced. Consumers’ interest in sustainable agricultural products can drive this type of production, and the primary sector should take advantage of this opportunity to propose new paradigms in the supply of livestock products. Although sustainable alternatives can be imposed through rules or regulations, it is important that market forces act through consumer choices so that the development of the sector may have long-lasting effects. Professionals involved in the primary sector and, in particular, in livestock production must be trained to face the new challenges of the sector and meet market demands. Improving production with a view to sustainability is one of the challenges that need to be addressed at a global level. The present study investigated the perception and knowledge of sustainability of some future professionals in the sector to understand whether the academic training delivered to them is suitable. The results show that respondents have partial knowledge of sustainability, especially of its environmental dimension. Their idea of sustainability is particularly linked to the extensification of production rather than sustainable intensification, and only marginally do they consider the social and economic dimensions of sustainability. Less knowledge of the social and economic components is particularly relevant if sustainability is pursued through an extensive approach that leads to an inevitable reduction in production. The academy must act to improve the knowledge of sustainability in its three main components in an essential balance

Health risk perception, consumption intention, and willingness to pay for pig products obtained by immunocastration

Surgical castration without the use of anaesthesia and/or analgesia is considered to be detrimental for the welfare of pigs and for this reason its abandonment is advocated. Immunocastration is a more welfare-friendly alternative method; however, stakeholders in the pork sector fear consumer rejection due to perceived safety issues of immunocastrated meat. This work aimed to analyse whether Italian consumers perceive a health risk arising from the use of this technique and, if so, how the perceived risk may influence the purchase choices and the willingness to pay for products derived from immunocastrated animals. To achieve this objective, a survey was carried out on a representative sample of the Italian population. The results highlight that consumers perceive different levels of risk related to the use of immunocastration and that this influences purchasing behaviour and willingness to pay. Moreover, it should be noted that the willingness to pay is also influenced by certain demographic factors, since this is positively associated with younger respondents with lower incomes and less knowledge of farming systems, who live in rural areas and have a greater sensitivity to animal welfare. Given the concerns expressed by consumers, particular attention must be paid to the information transmitted if this technology will be widely implemented in pig husbandry

Precision farming: what do Italian farmers really think? An application of the Q methodology

Precision farming (PF) is a term that is now widespread throughout agricultural systems worldwide. It is studied in many ways, from its strictly technical connotation of a farm management strategy that uses information technology to support decision-making processes to the steppingstones and the dissection of the factors involved in the complex scenario of adopting related tools. Starting from the statement "In my opinion, precision farming is…", the present work investigates the perspective of the agricultural entrepreneur in conceptualising PF. Some researchers have highlighted the role of the sphere of the self in adoption, but few efforts have been made to better understand the role played by farmers’ perceptions in the formation of their thinking about innovative tools. This work aims to deepen the sphere of the self and, in particular, the role played by farmers’ perceptions when faced with the innovation adoption choice. The study presents a new conceptual framework identifying key stages for analysing adoption processes, focusing on the relationships between behaviour, structural dimensions and adoption, interpreted from the farmer perspective. The Q methodology (QM) was used with a targeted sample of 23 farmers to identify prevailing discourses. In the first step, the socio-structural dimensions were analysed through descriptive analysis, and in the second step, the discourses were extracted by an intercorrelation matrix through the centroid procedure, translating the solution using varimax rotation. This paper highlights that the QM is an appropriate technique for exploring and studying farmers’ attitudes when challenged with innovation. The results reveal discourses that summarise three macro perspectives: the “proactive approach”, which represents farmers who perceive PF as having a key role for agricultural enterprises; the “conservative approach”, which characterises those who distrust innovations; and the “doubtful approach”, which is the more sceptical vision

Perceptions and Attitudes of Argentine Zoomers towards Sustainable Food Production

Young people are concerned about climate change. Their activism has attracted the attention of the media and politicians. Some of them are entering the market as consumers for the first time and can express their preferences without parental guidance: they are the Zoomers. Do these new consumers have enough knowledge about sustainability to be able to make choices in line with their concerns? Are they able to push the market towards change? A sample of 537 young Zoomer consumers were interviewed face-to-face in the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires. They were asked to indicate their level of concern for the planet and the first word they associated with sustainability, to rank in order of importance sustainability-related concepts and to indicate their willingness to buy sustainable products. The results of this study underline a high concern for the health of the planet (87.9%) and for unsustainable production methods (88.8%). However, the respondents perceived sustainability as consisting of a single main pillar, the environmental dimension (with 47% of the terms referring to sustainability), and two accessory pillars, the social (10.7%) and economic (5.2%) dimensions of sustainability. Respondents also showed a high interest in products obtained through sustainable agriculture, with a high percentage of them willing to pay for these products (74.1%). However, a substantial correlation was found between the ability to comprehend the notion of sustainability and the determination to purchase sustainable items, and vice versa, between those who reported difficulty comprehending the concept and their determination not to purchase these products. Zoomers believe that the market must support sustainable agriculture through consumer choices without paying a premium price. Clarifying the concept of sustainability, enhancing knowledge and assisting consumers in identifying sustainable products, as well as marketing them at reasonable prices, are essential actions for fostering a more ethical agricultural system