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Sustainability
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Sustainability in the Food System and Consumption
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Sustainability in the Food System and Consumption

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (29 February 2024) | Viewed by 13009

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Luigi Bollani

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Economics, Social Studies, Applied Mathematics and Statistics, University of Turin, 10134 Turin, Italy
Interests: sustainability; social surveys; social statistics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Alessandro Bonadonna

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
Department of Management, University of Turin, Corso Unione Sovietica 218 Bis, 10134 Turin, Italy
Interests: food quality system; food sustainability; land management
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Maria Giuseppina Lucia

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Guest Editor
Department of Management, University of Turin, 10134 Turin, Italy
Interests: economical sustainability; social sustainability; environmental sustainability
Prof. Dr. Egidio Dansero

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Guest Editor
Department of Cultures, Politics and Society, University of Turin, 10153 Turin, Italy
Interests: international development cooperation; territoriality of food

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The concept of sustainability in the food system is very complex because it does not only concern the food itself, but all phases of the process, from production to packaging, distribution and consumption patterns.

A sustainable food system encompasses food security, food safety, environmental and cultural issues. Hence, there is a great need for effective global and local policies to achieve food sustainability. Food is more than just what we eat; it also encapsulates the history, tradition and identity of a population. Consequently, one of the pillars of sustainable food systems is the concept of food sovereignty, i.e., the right of peoples to decide on their own food and production system, as stated by the International Forum on Food Sovereignty held in Mali in 2007.

Achieving the goals of sustainability in the food system requires the joint effort of numerous actors, from agricultural producers to all components of the food chain, and from consumers to public institutions at different levels for the development of rules and the monitoring of their application.

The attention that recent geopolitical and climatic events have brought back to the globalised food system leads us to make a contribution to the already extensive literature on the subject.

The following topics are suggested for the Special Issue (but other topics that relate to the proposed subject will also be accepted):

  • Globalisation of the food system and food security;
  • Globalisation of the food system and geopolitical implications;
  • Agribusiness and economic, social and environmental impact;
  • Ethics and health in the agri-food system;
  • Consumer behaviour and protection;
  • From homologation of food systems to local food and short supply chains;
  • Localised agri-food systems;
  • The food system in the 2030 Agenda goals.

Dr. Luigi Bollani
Dr. Alessandro Bonadonna
Prof. Dr. Maria Giuseppina Lucia
Prof. Dr. Egidio Dansero
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • sustainability
  • food system
  • food supply chain
  • consumer behaviour

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 3228 KiB  
Article
Towards Sustainable and Sufficient City Region Food Systems: Reflections from the Case Study of Turin, Italy
by Karl Krähmer, Luca Battisti, Giaime Berti, Riccardo Giovanni Bruno and Egidio Dansero
Sustainability 2024, 16(19), 8569; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16198569 - 2 Oct 2024
Viewed by 945
Abstract
The City Region Food System (CRFS) approach has emerged in recent years as a framework for shaping urban food governance and policies that overcome the methodological cityism of approaches limited to urban territories defined by administrative boundaries. This article critically analyses the concept [...] Read more.
The City Region Food System (CRFS) approach has emerged in recent years as a framework for shaping urban food governance and policies that overcome the methodological cityism of approaches limited to urban territories defined by administrative boundaries. This article critically analyses the concept referring to the case study of the metropolitan city of Turin, Italy, as part of action research contributing to ongoing efforts to establish food policies. The discussion focuses on three dimensions: (1) the spatial definition of the city region; (2) the relation between the support of short and the re-assessment of long supply chains, with reference to a relational understanding of space; (3) the tensions between the CRFS as an analytical concept and a transformative framework. Results suggest that there is no linear path to define the spatial limits for a CRFS analysis and that a pragmatic approach can best serve policies; that long supply chains should not be ignored but integrated into local food policies; that there are contradictions in the transformative dimension of the CRFS literature when investigating the underlying sustainable development framework from a growth-critical perspective; and that separating the analytical more clearly from the normative dimension could make the discussion more productive. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability in the Food System and Consumption)
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17 pages, 1019 KiB  
Article
Ecomuseums in the Mediterranean Area and the Promotion of Sustainable Food Systems
by Nunzia Borrelli, Lisa N. R. Pigozzi and Giulia Mura
Sustainability 2024, 16(18), 7891; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16187891 - 10 Sep 2024
Viewed by 847
Abstract
In recent years, the growing interest in food as a central component of heritage preservation has been paired with a reflection on the sustainability of food systems. At the same time, place-based food governance has undergone processes of hybridization, opening up to a [...] Read more.
In recent years, the growing interest in food as a central component of heritage preservation has been paired with a reflection on the sustainability of food systems. At the same time, place-based food governance has undergone processes of hybridization, opening up to a wider range of stakeholders. We argue that ecomuseums can positively contribute to the promotion of sustainable food systems that can preserve cultural heritage without undermining the development of healthy food systems. To discuss this hypothesis, we conducted an exploratory study to assess the current diffusion and food-related practices of ecomuseums in the Mediterranean area. Integrating the information of existing databases with online research of new institutions, we mapped a large sample of ecomuseums and carried out a Web Content Analysis. The main results of the research are a geolocalized map of Mediterranean ecomuseums and their activities and an index assessing their capacity to engage users on relevant topics through their webpages. The results highlight the existence of an unbalanced distribution of experiences, and the potential for growth, especially in the east and south of the Mediterranean countries. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability in the Food System and Consumption)
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15 pages, 3522 KiB  
Article
Amazon Deforestation and Global Meat Consumption Trends: An Assessment of Land Use Change and Market Data from Rondônia That Shows Why We Should Consider Changing Our Diets
by Veronica Garcia Donoso, Mayumi C. M. Hirye, Christiane Gerwenat and Christa Reicher
Sustainability 2024, 16(11), 4526; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16114526 - 27 May 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1913
Abstract
This paper seeks to elucidate the interrelationship between global meat consumption and deforestation in the Amazon region. To this end, empirical research is conducted to investigate land use changes in Rondônia and the expansion of pasture areas and beef production. Brazil is one [...] Read more.
This paper seeks to elucidate the interrelationship between global meat consumption and deforestation in the Amazon region. To this end, empirical research is conducted to investigate land use changes in Rondônia and the expansion of pasture areas and beef production. Brazil is one of the largest beef producers in the world, with products destined for local and global markets. Based on bibliographical research, the paper analyzes maps of land use change between 1985 and 2021, using Landsat satellite imagery and the MapBiomas methodology for Landsat mosaic and classification. The research shows that beef from Rondônia is primarily purchased and consumed in Brazil, but it is also bought and sold on the international market. Landsat imagery analysis shows the predominance of forest conversion to pasture in Rondônia. The results show that deforestation in the Amazon is directly linked to the growth of cattle ranching. Land use change from native forest to pasture for beef cattle production is a reality in the Brazilian Amazon, especially in Rondônia. It suggests the urgent need for more conscious consumption and production practices as well as ethical and sustainable eating habits. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability in the Food System and Consumption)
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27 pages, 3772 KiB  
Article
Tourist Itineraries, Food, and Rural Development: A Critical Understanding of Rural Policy Performance in Northeast Italy
by Luca Simone Rizzo, Raffaela Gabriella Rizzo and Antonella Trabuio
Sustainability 2024, 16(7), 2638; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16072638 - 22 Mar 2024
Viewed by 1291
Abstract
The tourist itinerary concept refers to initiatives combining activities/attractions under a theme and stimulating business opportunities by developing products and services, in accordance with the cultural context and the interaction with the territory. Rural Development Policy serves as example. While not intended to [...] Read more.
The tourist itinerary concept refers to initiatives combining activities/attractions under a theme and stimulating business opportunities by developing products and services, in accordance with the cultural context and the interaction with the territory. Rural Development Policy serves as example. While not intended to promote tourism directly, it encourages the creation/rediscovery of tourist itineraries, including those that are food-related. We undertook a case study in northeastern Italy. Using a mixed research method, we aimed to appreciate the role played, within the EU Rural Development Programme of the Veneto region, by tourism and the tourist itinerary as a tool for territorial and traditional foods valorisation. Our first objective was to identify the correlations between the choice of certain types of tourism interventions and the territorial characterization by tourism. Through a correspondence statistical analysis, two analyses on the funding beneficiaries were carried out in particular on the period 2014–2020, depending on whether the issuing organization was the Veneto Region or a Local Action Group. The types of intervention on information and infrastructures for tourism, as well as on the redevelopment of cultural heritage, emerged of interest, in particular to public entities. Focusing on the LEADER areas, we examined, through semi-structured interviews, critical issues associated with the implementation of the Policy to grasp the degree of incisiveness of the examined Measures which place the tourist itinerary at the centre of the rural development. Our work shows that in the territories analysed, tourism is a driving force. There emerges, though, a need to refocus the Measures. This is to ensure that their effects are more durable, that eligible actors are more involved, and that there is less strategic redundancy in relation to other policies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability in the Food System and Consumption)
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26 pages, 5573 KiB  
Article
Food for Thoughts: The District Approach to Rural Areas Development—A Case Study in Campania
by Giorgia Iovino, Eleonora Guadagno and Daniele Bagnoli
Sustainability 2023, 15(23), 16263; https://doi.org/10.3390/su152316263 - 24 Nov 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1211
Abstract
The district approach has become increasingly important for the analysis and planning of local agro-food systems. In this paper, we analyse the role and potential of Italian food districts, spaces of governance where a plurality of actors share practices and knowledge and jointly [...] Read more.
The district approach has become increasingly important for the analysis and planning of local agro-food systems. In this paper, we analyse the role and potential of Italian food districts, spaces of governance where a plurality of actors share practices and knowledge and jointly elaborate local development strategies. After a first section aimed at illustrating the theoretical background and the regulatory framework, we examine the food districts of Benevento, an inland Province of the Campania Region, in order to: (i) reconstruct the characteristics, actors and strategies of these local food systems and critically discuss the criteria used for their creation and spatialisation; (ii) investigate the contribution that districts can make to the goals of social cohesion and sustainability. As for the methods, we use a mixed approach that integrates documentary analysis and geostatistical information with a qualitative survey (based on semi-structured interviews and questionnaires) to explore the governance model adopted and the degree of participation and interest generated among stakeholders. We conclude that the district approach can, under certain conditions, be a key tool for territorial enhancement, especially for those internal areas marked by depopulation and economic decline. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability in the Food System and Consumption)
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29 pages, 1435 KiB  
Article
Assessing the Sustainability of the Consumption of Agricultural Products with Regard to a Possible Reduction in Its Imports: The Case of Countries That Import Corn and Wheat
by Olexandr Yemelyanov, Tetyana Petrushka, Lilia Lesyk, Anatolii Havryliak, Nataliya Yanevych, Oksana Kurylo, Volodymyr Bodakovskyy, Iryna Skoropad, Taras Danylovych and Kateryna Petrushka
Sustainability 2023, 15(12), 9761; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15129761 - 19 Jun 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1759
Abstract
The main goal of this study is to develop and apply a toolkit for assessing the sustainability level of countries that import certain types of agricultural products with regard to a possible reduction in the volume of such imports. An indicator was proposed [...] Read more.
The main goal of this study is to develop and apply a toolkit for assessing the sustainability level of countries that import certain types of agricultural products with regard to a possible reduction in the volume of such imports. An indicator was proposed for evaluating sustainability. A model of its decomposition was built, which made it possible to reveal the hierarchy of factors of the formation of the specified sustainability. The concept of sustainable growth in consuming a certain agricultural product by a group of importing countries was developed. In particular, such growth conditions were formalized. Approbation of the formed methodological principles was carried out on two groups of countries that import corn and wheat. In particular, it was established that an increase in the relative vulnerability level of countries to a reduction in imported food supplies is negatively correlated with an increase in the relative level of adaptation of countries to such a reduction. It was also found that as of 1 January 2023, the resistance level of the studied countries to a reduction in corn and wheat imports has significantly decreased. Proposals are developed to increase the resilience level of food-importing countries to possible disruptions in their import supplies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability in the Food System and Consumption)
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Review

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28 pages, 4510 KiB  
Review
A Visual Knowledge Map Analysis of Cross-Border Agri-Food Supply Chain Research Based on CiteSpace
by Gaofeng Wang, Shuai Li, Zihao Zhang, Yanning Hou and Changhoon Shin
Sustainability 2023, 15(14), 10763; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151410763 - 8 Jul 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3832
Abstract
How to reshape the cross-border agricultural supply chain is a common concern in the global agricultural field. Using the bibliometrics method, 761 studies in the literature were selected from the core database of WOS (Web of Science) to explore research hotspots and development [...] Read more.
How to reshape the cross-border agricultural supply chain is a common concern in the global agricultural field. Using the bibliometrics method, 761 studies in the literature were selected from the core database of WOS (Web of Science) to explore research hotspots and development trends in this field, clarify the historical context, and explore future trends. Using the knowledge map visualization software CiteSpace, an in-depth review and visualization analysis of hot topics in this field were conducted. The results showed that since 2017, research in this field has shown a strong development trend. The United States and the University of Wageningen are the field’s most influential country and research institution, respectively. Sustainability is the journal with the highest number of publications in the field. Research hotspots included cross-border agricultural product safety, cross-border agricultural supply chain systematization, and technology integration, and gradually evolved towards the high-quality development of digital intelligence with informatization, digitization, and big data as the main focus. The sustainability of cross-border agricultural supply chains and the resilience of the global food supply system have become the main lines of research in this field. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability in the Food System and Consumption)
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