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Significant detrimental effects of agricultural intensification and specialization are becoming increasingly evident. Reliance on monocultures, few varieties, and intensive use of agrochemicals is a major factor in climate change, biodiversity decline, soil health deterioration, and pollution, putting our food system at risk. This requires sustainable agricultural processes, such as crop diversification, to be more rapidly and effectively tested, adopted, and scaled. While these processes are typically introduced at niche level, they often struggle to scale and to induce broader sustainability transitions. In this study, we investigate how scaling may occur, focusing on institutional logics, their changes, and realignment over time. In particular, we applied an abductive research strategy to collect empirical evidence from two in-depth, longitudinal case studies of innovation niches related to crop diversification. Doing so, we show for the first time that, despite their many differences, scaling processes of crop diversification in both niches converge, presenting similar progressions in terms of institutional dimensions, and facing similar obstacles when it comes to value chain formation. While initial experimentation could still be implemented using organizational forms familiar to the lead actors, we discover that a systemic lack of adequate value chain arrangements obstructed the scaling process of crop diversification in both cases. These findings have been used to reflect on the role of value chain relations in scaling processes in sustainability transitions in agriculture.

Background and Objectives: Over the last few decades, the European mountain environment has been characterized by the progressive abandonment of agro-pastoral activities and consequent forest expansion due to secondary succession. While woody encroachment is commonly considered as a climate change mitigation measure, studies suggest a still uncertain role of the soil organic carbon (SOC) pool in contributing to climate change mitigation during this process. Therefore, the objective of the study is to investigate the possible SOC variations occurring as a consequence of the secondary succession process at the provincial level in an Alpine area in Italy. Materials and Methods: A chronosequence approach was applied to identify, in five different study areas of the Belluno province, the land use/land cover change over four different stages of natural succession, from managed grazing land to secondary forest developed on abandoned grazing land. In each chronosequence stage, soil samples were collected down to the bedrock (0&ndash, 60 cm depth) to determine the changes in the SOC stock due to the woody encroachment process. Results: In all areas, small or no significant (p &lt, 0.05) SOC stock changes were observed during the secondary succession in the upper 30 cm of mineral soil, while significant changes were evident in the 30&ndash, 60 cm compartment, with the SOC stock significantly decreasing from 30% to 60% in the final stage of the succession. This fact indicates the great importance of considering also the subsoil when dealing with land use/land cover change dynamics. Conclusions: The recorded trend in SOC has been proved to be the opposite in other Italian regions, so our results indicate the importance of local observation and data collection to correctly evaluate the soil contribution to climate change mitigation during woody encroachment.

The depletion of forest resources in developing countries affects more than 1 billion people who depend on forests for their livelihoods. Support to forest conservation initiatives is increasing, as well as the interest in studying the drivers underpinning projects' success. In this multidisciplinary article, we analyse how and to what extent the wealth of household assets, defined following the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework, influences the long-term outcomes of initiatives aimed at promoting improved forest management practices. Based on a unique dataset from household survey data collected in Guinea, an economic-statistical analysis is conducted in order to determine how such assets influence the achievement of projects' long-term outcomes. The results reveal that human, social and financial capitals greatly affect the attainment of positive results related to planned interventions. As a main outcome of the study, every project should consider, in the design phase, the status of the households' livelihood assets within the target area, as they are shown to be crucial for projects' success.

Obiettivo del paper : Applicare un modello innovativo (stock e flussi) basato sul paradigma bioeconomico per identificare i sistemi economici locali, caratterizzarli in termini ambientali e sociali e cogliere le relazioni a scala territoriale fra sviluppo economico, benessere sociale e sostenibilita ambientale. Metodologia : Individuazione del modello territoriale attraverso le componenti strutturali dei processi di produzione e consumo (stock) e i flussi in ingresso e uscita dal sistema. Quantificazione dei flussi con indicatori di benessere e sostenibilita ambientale; caratterizzazione degli stock con indicatori di dimensione e funzionalita produttiva. Risultati : Il modello e stato applicato agli 8 sistemi economici locali della provincia di Viterbo. Partendo dalla valutazione degli indicatori di flusso e di stock sono state analizzate le relazioni fra sviluppo economico, benessere e sostenibilita ambientale a livello locale. Limiti della ricerca : Studio basato su di un modello innovativo che richiede ulteriori validazioni. Soggettivita nella scelta e nelle modalita di calcolo degli indicatori. Applicazione empirica su uno specifico caso di studio che limita le possibilita di generalizzazione dei risultati. Implicazioni pratiche : Definizione di una metodologia strutturata finalizzata allo studio delle relazioni a livello locale fra sviluppo economico, benessere e sostenibilita ambientale. Disponibilita di dati per indirizzare specifiche azioni di sviluppo locale da parte delle istituzioni e del sistema delle imprese. Originalita del lavoro : Approccio metodologico innovativo basato sul paradigma bioeconomico. Definizione di un modello integrato per lo studio e l’analisi quantitativa dei sistemi economici locali in una chiave territoriale. Evidenze empiriche scaturite dai risultati dell’applicazione del modello. Parole chiave: sistemi economici locali; bioeconomia; modello stock e flussi; sviluppo locale; benessere eudaimonico; sostenibilita ambientale

This study tackles the quantification of in-store food waste, with a specific focus on the distinction between the edible and inedible fraction. A meta -analysis of the studies dealing with retail food waste quantification is provided to identify the results obtained so far. Then, the mass and value of food waste produced in 2015 at one retail store in Italy is analysed, basing on the store's food waste records and on the reports of a redistribution initiative involving the edible fraction of the food waste produced. In one year, 70.6 tons of food (for a value of nearly 170,000 €) are wasted, mostly bread and fresh fruit and vegetables. The edible fraction accounts for 35% of the total food waste, mostly from fresh meat and bakery departments. Results also disclose a significant amount of unrecorded food waste, confirming that many gaps exist in the food waste recording procedure at retail stores.

The European political framework of the last decade aims to drive agriculture towards economic and environmental sustainability. Thus, European institutions have paid great attention to environmental impact assessment and to the definition of a complex indicator capable of restoring the multidimensional nature of environmental sustainability. In this work, a possible methodology for assessing the environmental sustainability of European national cropping systems by a synthetic indicator is provided. More specifically, the environmental impact of agriculture is assessed through a synthetic indicator, whose definition is based on a methodological improvement of the ecological footprint approach, which quantifies the balance between exploitation and availability of natural resources used in agriculture. The analysis shows how national cropping systems can contribute to Europe’s environmental impact through agriculture. To assess an eventual relationship between agriculture’s environmental performance and the ability to support more sustainable agriculture at the national level, the results are then compared with the subsidies for agro-environmental measures provided by the second pillar of the CAP. In addition, the synthetic indicator chosen for the study, giving the possibility of quantifying the dynamic of the environmental impact of agriculture between two different periods, permits the analysis of the possible causes that may have generated the observed changes. The implications of this approach should stimulate new reflections on the significance of the ecological relationships embodied into agricultural production and the environmental role of farmers.

Farmers' cultivation choices affect the natural cycles of crops and impact their production. By assessing the farming activities, as influenced by crop types, land suitability and cultivation choices, the effectiveness of agricultural practices in terms of environmental impact can be evaluated. The study of the relationships between agriculture, environment and economic performance should be deepened, by considering the connection between agricultural activities and the use of natural resources beyond the economic issues, which are often taken as the unique or, at least, the main goal of human activities. The aim of this paper is to assess and to analyse in a comparative way the environmental and economic results of a crop production system at farm level. The methodology for the evaluation of environmental performance is based on a modified version of the Ecological Footprint account, used to measure the demand for natural resources linked to the farm's operations, which is compared with the Biocapacity of the crop system itself. The economic performances are assessed by means of crops' analytical budgets. The results provided by the case study analysis show that the considered farm cropping system reports an overall positive ecological balance (+ 2.4 gha) together with an acceptable gross margin (16,200 €). It emerges that crops with negative environmental performances sustain farm income, while the crops with a positive ecological balance bring a very limited contribution to economic profitability. Such results lead to some considerations about the importance of carefully considering the trade-off between economic and environmental consequences of farming activities in order to drive farmers towards a more sustainable behaviour.

Retailers are increasingly concerned with the sustainability of their business. Food waste is a major sustainability issue: 90 million tons of food are wasted in the EU every year. The production of much of this waste is directly linked to the food chain operations, included those performed at the retail stage. The literature on food waste has mainly focused so far on the quantification of the total food lost along the supply chain. However, the stage of retail has long been neglected. This paper attempts to partly fill this research gap, with the aim of measuring the extent of food waste in retailing as well as its environmental, social and economic value. To do so, we analyse the results of a food waste recovery project held in an Italian supermarket and, by drawing on the data collected in this case study, we perform an evaluation of the value of the food wasted. The results show that the extent of food waste in retailing is certainly considerable, both in terms of quantity and economic value. Moreover, we found evidence that it may be greatly reduced, with a significant limitation of its environmental impact and, through the mechanism of recovery, it may even generate social benefits. Despite the many limitations of such preliminary research, the results provide useful information for retailers aiming to develop strategies against food waste in the context of improving the sustainability of their business.

Retail food waste represents a minor fraction of the total amount of food waste produced along the food supply chain (tenfold lower than the quantity of food disposed of by consumers at home). However, the role of retailers is crucial in shaping both the behavior of upstream food chain actors and the preferences of consumers. This paper studies the causes of food waste in retail stores and discusses potential mitigating actions based on the results of nine focus groups held in 2017 with 67 foods category managers. Participants used sticky notes to outline both the causes of in-store food waste and potential actions to address it. Sticky notes reporting 228 causes and 124 actions were collected during the study. Data were analyzed across thematic macro-categories and linked to the responsibility of supply chain actors, including managers at all store management levels. Results revealed that food category managers consider in-store operations (which include their actions and those of their subordinates) to be most responsible for retail food waste. However, when it comes to proposing actions against food waste, they believe that store managers are mainly responsible for the implementation of waste reduction actions. This study suggests that food category managers are key actors to involve in the fight against retail food waste. Greater effort should also be put towards informing and encouraging store managers to take action against food waste in supermarkets.

The organic sector has been subject to great attention for long time, both from a regulatory point of view as well as from a research one. More recently, starting to think about the territorial connotation of organic farming and the benefits it can generate, the opportunity of organic districts emerged. The main objective of this paper is to discuss what should be the goals of an organic district, how to geographically characterize it and what are the conditions so that it can effectively contribute to promote organic farming, local development and the territory. In order to create a real added value, in the broadest sense of the term, it should be created a brand that is able to translate the identity of the area in an image, which is clearly perceived by the target audience. This result requires a governance model and a strategic approach, which is well exemplified by the Marche region case, where a process of identification of potential districts and activation of local partnerships for the establishment and management of the areas has been carried out

Consumers’ decisions are increasingly influenced by ethical issues. In the food domain it has led to the spread of alternative food supply chains. These innovative food networks, deaply embedded in the local domain, are characterized by a strong focus on food sustainability. Among them, the initiatives promoted and selforganized by consumers are particularly interesting as they disclose a high potential of fostering wider social changes. In this context, Solidarity Purchase Groups (called gas after the Italian acronym) emerge as spontaneous associations of consumers with strong ethical motivations including environmental, economic and social issues, which are fast-spreading in Italy. The aim of this paper is twofold. On the one hand, looking at consumers, we analyze the profile of the Italian consumers who participate to gass, in order to more precisely identify the target of these experiences, on the base of a large survey held in Italy on short food chain consumers; on the other hand, from a strategic and operational level, we discuss how these innovative supply chain models are organized, drawing from data retrieved for the 117 gas s operating in the city of Rome. The results show that gas participants have some specific features compared to consumers shopping in other alternative food chains, both in the socio-demographic profile and in their purchasing behavior, which is characterized by a strong ethical motivation. Looking at the organizational models of the gas s of Rome, the results of the survey confirm that the social dimension is very important in the management of these groups, as well as the principles at the base of their constitution, which very often refer to environmental concerns about farming techniques, social commitment to the local community and trust-based relations with the producers. Nevertheless, beside the social and environmental concerns, the economic dimension is still very important, as shared purchases most of the time results in a significant reduction in prices. The evidences confirm that the gas model represents a very interesting object of analysis for economists. Indeed, gas s are an unique example of completely demand-pull innovative food chain. Besides, they are able to involve consumers with specific needs and a strong ethical motivation underpinning the food purchase.

This research is a first attempt to assess the economic, social and environmental impacts related to the diffusion of an eco-innovation in the durum wheat sourcing and supply chain. Barilla Sustainable Farming is taken as a case study to describe the process of the introduction and diffusion of an innovative practice whose benefits could be transferred to all sourcing and supply chain actors. The eco-innovation is described and analysed, from its origin through its development into ‘theoretical’ and ‘in-field experimentations’, to get to the final empirical analysis (via focus groups), aimed at assessing the possible impact of the initiative in economic and environmental terms, as well as at understanding the main drivers of success of the eco-innovation in terms of increase in value across the sourcing and supply chain.

Innovation is a key issue in the discussion about the links between agriculture, food production and sustainability. Indeed, the creation, adoption and exploitation of innovations can interact with all three dimensions of sustainability – environment, society and economy. Despite the increasing support for innovation practices in the agrifood sector from institutions and public policies, innovation in this sector has spread quite slowly. Indeed, the diffusion of innovations strongly depends on the social, institutional and productive system behind the technological/structural features of the farms. The analysis of the drivers underpinning the innovation diffusion dynamics in agriculture is therefore a very interesting topic for studies in this domain. This paper aims to provide a map of the diffusion of innovations in the Italian agricultural sector, highlighting differences and territorial specificities. We try to explain the drivers and factors influencing such specificities, drawing from data on the agricultural sector as well as information on the institutional and regulatory framework. Data on the diffusion of product, process, organizational and marketing innovations in agriculture have been gathered for the 110 Italian provinces, drawing from the 2010 Agricultural Census survey. Maps of the diffusion of the different types of innovations have then been constructed and analysed. Results show that the diffusion of the different innovation types is not uniform within the country. Some are typical to specific areas where productive or market opportunities occur. Others are not territorial-specific but are linked to the features of the single farms. The influence of the regulatory context also seems to play a significant role. By analysing the local expenditure in rural development intervention, we analyses how the synergies among the productive and institutional systems may act as a driver for innovation diffusion in agriculture.

The relationship between farming management and the overexploitation of natural resources is often a theme of discussion in the environmental sciences. Moreover, farmers’ choices – driven by consumer demand – have a significant effect on the agricultural production system. The Ecological Footprint methodology as it currently implemented assumes that all cropland activities are sustained by the capacity of the ecosystem, basing both demand and capacity calculations on the exact same flow accounting. This causes some confusion in the evaluation of the ecological performance of farming because it appears that this activity has no consequences on the planet. This paper proposes a solution to this duality caused by the current methodological assumption about croplands, and investigates the influence of different farming techniques on Ecological Footprint results. Starting from the concept of an embodied footprint in production, we propose a new approach for the evaluation of farming performance. This approach permits an estimation of the impact of farming activity, linked to the farmers’ technique, and a calculation of the crop Footprint in reference to the production capacity of the natural system. Building on the central methodology of the Ecological Footprint, we provide a different evaluation system and show case study results for comparison.

This work is part of a well-established strand of study about quality of life (QoL) and the different methodologies for its quantitative evaluation. The study focuses on a specific dimension of QoL, that of the eudaimonic well-being (EuWB), with two main objectives. On the one hand, we try to clarify how EuWB can be framed in the systematizations of QoL proposed in the literature. Its relation to the concept of subjective well-being is discussed, and the need to distinguish such approach from the so-called hedonic dimension of QoL is highlighted. On the other hand, the paper aims to investigate the link between the perception of EuWB and individual socio-demographic characteristics through a quantitative analysis based on the results of a survey. The survey carried out in Central Italy in 2010, involved a sample of 1,134 individuals, which are classified according to their perception of EuWB. An analysis of the socio-demographic characteristics within the EuWB groups is then performed in order to investigate the association between these variables and the perception of EuWB. Results are discussed with respect to the evidences from similar surveys found in the literature. The analysis confirms the influence of some variables on the perception of EuWB, yet it underlines the difficulty in comparing different studies on QoL without clarifying to which of the different declensions of this concept the survey methodology refers to.