This paper uses a qualitative marketing research technique to explore in-depth sensory experiences, expectations, and perceptions of organic consumers when purchasing and eating organic food. Five focus-group interviews supported by semi-structured questionnaire were performed in Italy during...

This study proposes to evaluate the environmental sustainability of certain productive processes, which may be of interest for the enhancement, and economic development of specific hill and mountain areas of northern Italy. In order to make a comprehensive appraisal of the impact of the various...

Generally the Italian food chains suffer problems caused mainly by internal low efficiency standards or qualitative aspects. This paper would offer a methodological/ applicative framework for a food chain’s analysis in order to evaluate its internal functioning and connection mechanisms and to...

In 1991 the eu implemented the Nitrates Directive (Council Directive 91/676/eec) concerning the protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources. The compliance to its requirements represent today a critical step for the Italian farms, particularly those...

The paper focuses on the competitiveness of organic horticultural farms implementing short food supply chain (SFSC), by analysing the organisational structures adopted by farmers and their economic performance. The collection of data based on face to face interviews with farmers and the review...

The food chain concept is an increasingly common theoretical instrument for food and rural development policy and many countries adopt the so-called “new rural paradigm”, so to integrate different sectoral policies. This paper aims at adopting the food chain paradigm in order to analyse the...

In order to measure agriculture sustainability, the efficient use of inputs becomes a crucial issue. In this perspective, the analysts concentrate their attention on the total factor productivity index (TFP). In this view, Lynam and Herdt (1989) proposed the TFP as a suitable assessment of the...

This paper discusses how environmental indicators and multicriteria methodologies can support the ex post evaluation of Agri-Environmental Schemes. The paper is based on information from the Mid term evaluation of the Rural Development Programmes and develops around an example that compares...