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Food and Agriculture Economics: A Perspective of Sustainability

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Agriculture".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 October 2023) | Viewed by 32387

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Prof. Dr. Samuele Trestini

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Guest Editor

Department of Land, Environment, Agriculture and Forestry, University of Padova, 35122 Padova, Italy
Interests: agricultural economics; agricultural policy; rural development policy; food policy; consumer preferences and behaviour; agri-food marketing; risk management; risk analysis; farmers' behaviour

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Feeding the fast-growing population based on the current production system is now the biggest hurdle for sustainable growth. In fact, agriculture and food production has a relevant role in polluting air, water, and soil and being a source of misuse of natural resources, loss of biodiversity, and climate change (IPCC, 2019). However, it plays a fundamental role in guaranteeing food security and is, at the same time, an important source of livelihood for rural and marginal areas. Therefore, reaching a sustainable agriculture and food system, in all its dimensions (economic, environmental, and social), is the principal objective of worldwide agricultural and food policies (Matthews, 2020) in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development of the United Nations.

In this context, in 2020, the European Commission adopted the comprehensive “Farm to Fork Strategy” (COM/2020/381 final) and the “Biodiversity Strategy” (COM/2020/380 final) within the framework of the so-called “European Green Deal” (COM (2019) 640). With the aim of reaching a more challenging target compared to the Paris Climate Agreement, the abovementioned strategies should contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, preservation of biodiversity and rural livelihoods, reduction of the pesticide use and risk and pressure on water quality, and better consumer information and animal welfare, and the first policy targets have been set for 2030.

In this context, there is a clear need for an open debate to understand if and how this framework of policies will be able to support a sustainable agricultural and food system, with specific attention focused on the interaction with the economic and social sustainability of the agricultural and food system and market.

Although the call promotes papers on various themes, this Special Issue aims at collecting high quality contribution that analyse, in more depth, the following issues of food and agricultural economics and policy from the sustainability perspective:

The propensity of farms to adopt sustainable practices, including organic agriculture.
The role of policy incentives to promote sustainable practices.
The value of the ecosystem services furnished by sustainable practices.
The impact of massive adoption of sustainable production on the local and global agricultural and food markets.
Risk perception of sustainable practices and its role in influencing their adoption.
The impact on agricultural production risks of sustainable practices.
The relation between food loss and waste and food supply chain sustainability.
The short- and long-term costs and benefits of sustainable transition in agriculture.
The relationship between sustainability and agricultural and food trade.
Consumer preferences towards sustainable foods, including economic and social barriers to their purchase.
The implication of more sustainable diets for the agricultural and food market.
The long-term economic impact of consumers choosing to buy sustainable foods.
The role of information and the labelling system (environmental and nutritional) on consumers’ purchasing choices.
The interplay among different agriculture and food policies and sustainability.

Prof. Dr. Samuele Trestini
Guest Editor

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Keywords

agriculture and food policy
agricultural and food economics
agricultural and food market
farmer behaviour
consumer behaviour
sustainable food system
organic agriculture
food labelling
agricultural and food trade
agriculture productivity
food quality
ecosystem services
eco-schemes
rural development
risk management
European green deal
farm to fork strategy
biodiversity strategy

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Published Papers (14 papers)

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25 pages, 4892 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Contribution of the Agricultural Labour Force in Romania to the Sector’s Economic Performance

by Ana Ursu, Maria Cristina Sterie and Ionut Laurentiu Petre

Sustainability 2023, 15(24), 16700; https://doi.org/10.3390/su152416700 - 9 Dec 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1632

Abstract

This study aims to assess the quantitative and, above all, the qualitative potential of the agricultural labour force in Romania. In the first part of this paper, analyses will be carried out on the agricultural labour force to identify the potential of countries that attach particular importance to the subject studied and the inter-relationships between them, where agriculture is a major employer. In the second part of the paper, an empirical analysis of labour force statistics will be carried out to assess its potential, both quantitatively and qualitatively. Finally, we want to determine the influence of certain population characteristics on the qualitative potential of the labour force. The bibliometric analysis provides a historical, contextual and evolutionary perspective on previous research and problematic factors in the field, linking the “agricultural labour force” to other issues such as climate change, economic growth, sustainability, education and income. It provides a comprehensive framework and links between the various elements influencing the agricultural sector, strengthening the understanding of the interconnections between labour force and other key variables in the sector. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Food and Agriculture Economics: A Perspective of Sustainability)

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17 pages, 1000 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Regenerative Agriculture as a Sustainable System of Food Production: Concepts, Conditions, Perceptions and Initial Implementations in Poland, Czechia and Slovakia

by Michał Dudek and Anna Rosa

Sustainability 2023, 15(22), 15721; https://doi.org/10.3390/su152215721 - 8 Nov 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3103

Abstract

In order to produce agri-food products in a sustainable way, a new and pro-environmental farmer attitude to soil is of key importance. In a situation of significant degradation of agricultural land as a result of the spread of intensive farming, there has been growing interest in regenerative agriculture. Based on a literature review as well as quantitative and qualitative primary data, the authors aim to analyse various ways in which regenerative agriculture is defined, understood and implemented, with selected countries, namely Poland, Czechia and Slovakia, serving as examples. The objective of the study is also to recognise how and to what extent the concepts and practices of regenerative agriculture meet the principles of sustainable food production. An examination of the literature shows that regenerative agriculture is a relatively new and diversely described concept drawing on many models of agriculture. The results of a bibliometric and webometric analysis suggest that the scientific, expert and public perceptions of regenerative agriculture are still limited. In the countries under consideration, regenerative agriculture is often identified with the concept of biological farming (biologisation of agriculture), and the conscious implementation of its practices at farms is infrequent, usually only taking place at large farms. The study was conducted from the point of view of the social sciences and agricultural economics, is comparative in character, and includes recommendations for agricultural policy as well as guidelines for possible future research. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Food and Agriculture Economics: A Perspective of Sustainability)

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16 pages, 1311 KiB

Open AccessArticle

How to Break the Bottleneck of Potato Production Sustainable Growth—A Survey from Potato Main Producing Areas in China

by Runqi Lun, Qiyou Luo, Mingjie Gao, Guojing Li and Tengda Wei

Sustainability 2023, 15(16), 12416; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151612416 - 15 Aug 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1474

Abstract

China is the world’s largest potato producer, and the potato’s role in ensuring food security and rural development is irreplaceable. Therefore, how to achieve sustainable growth in potato production has attracted widespread attention from academia. However, few existing studies have analyzed how to achieve sustainable growth in main potato-producing areas based on farmers’ micro perspectives in terms of both technical efficiency and output elasticity of input factor. This paper investigates the output elasticities of input factors, technical efficiency, and its influencing factors among 398 potato farmers from China’s main potato-producing regions in 2021 to fill this knowledge gap. The stochastic frontier production is applied to calculate the technical efficiency and elasticities of input factors in main potato-producing areas. The Tobit model is utilized to analyze influencing factors of technical efficiency. Our findings indicate that the technical efficiency of the main potato production regions is 0.67, with an efficiency loss of 0.33. And, the output elasticity of land input and labor input is negative, and the output elasticity of capital input is positive. Moreover, the factors that affect the technical efficiency in main potato-producing areas include age, whether to be a village leader, income from other crops, labor input, potato price, and disaster impact. Our findings suggest that the agricultural authorities should strengthen the cultivation of potato producers, control the scale of potato production, and optimize the allocation of input factors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Food and Agriculture Economics: A Perspective of Sustainability)

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14 pages, 846 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Pig Farmers’ Preferences for the Adoption of Good Animal Husbandry Practices in Vietnam: A Choice Experiment

by Mai D. Quy and Dang T. Ha

Sustainability 2023, 15(13), 10545; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151310545 - 4 Jul 2023

Viewed by 2375

Abstract

As the need for food safety rises, consumers are becoming more interested in certified safe pork products, such as those with safety certification or traceability. Implementing GAHP guidelines for pig farming is one potential approach to achieving food safety in Vietnam. Nevertheless, since GAHP requires a relatively substantial initial investment, its adoption is mostly determined by the economic feasibility of pig farming. A choice experiment was used in this study to investigate farmers’ preferences for adopting GAHP in pig farming in Vietnam. The findings show that pig farmers are strongly inclined to adopt GAHP if specific conditions are met. The presence of guaranteed output contracts, increased yields, and price premiums are important variables influencing their decision to implement GAHP. The findings could be used by policymakers to develop and implement supportive regulations to encourage GAHP adoption, while buyers, processors, and retailers can capitalize on pig farmers’ preferences by establishing and publicizing market channels for GAHP-certified products. Furthermore, these findings could be used to assist pig farmers in making informed choices about their farming practices, allowing them to analyze the possibility of getting output contracts, implementing productivity-boosting initiatives, and exploring market potential for GAHP-certified pigs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Food and Agriculture Economics: A Perspective of Sustainability)

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22 pages, 831 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Combined Application of a Multi-Objective Genetic Algorithm and Life Cycle Assessment for Evaluating Environmentally Friendly Farming Practices in Japanese Rice Farms

by Kiyotaka Masuda

Sustainability 2023, 15(13), 10059; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151310059 - 25 Jun 2023

Viewed by 1455

Abstract

When organic practices may have negative environmental effects, understanding the trade-offs between the economic and environmental outcomes of organic agriculture is essential in its promotion. This paper examines whether organic rice was planted in Japanese rice farms using the combined application of a multi-objective genetic algorithm and life cycle assessment. A modeled farm with 30 hectares (ha) of paddy fields is constructed using information from an agricultural management handbook. The planted crops considered are environmentally friendly rice with reduced use of chemical fertilizers and synthetic pesticides, organic rice, conventional wheat, and conventional soybeans. A bio-economic farm model with both economic and environmental objectives is created. The Pareto-optimal solutions indicate that the planted area of organic rice is 2.3 ha, at best, in the modeled farm. The cultivation of organic rice is likely to be constrained compared with that of environmentally friendly rice, and even though it produces an increase in income, it does not necessarily exert positive effects on the environment. The findings suggest that when organic farming has negative impacts, countermeasures against problems that emerge through its practice should be included in the essential requirements for subsidization. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Food and Agriculture Economics: A Perspective of Sustainability)

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13 pages, 1831 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Improving Economic Welfare through Capital Development: Case Study of Smallholder Dairy Farmers in Pujon District

by Nanang Dwi Wahyono, Niswatin Hasanah, Rita Parmawati and Wing-Keung Wong

Sustainability 2023, 15(11), 8453; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15118453 - 23 May 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2265

Abstract

Developing the economic welfare of smallholder dairy farmers is an important strategy for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in regions such as Pujon District, a major dairy producer in the Malang Regency. Enhancing the economic stability of these farmers contributes to community welfare and promotes aspects of the SDGs such as “Good Health and Well-Being” and “No Poverty”. This study delves into the relationships among five types of capital—human, social, natural, physical, and financial—and their influence on the welfare of dairy farmers in Pujon District. A questionnaire was distributed to 110 respondents in January and February 2022 for the purpose of this research. After the data were collected, Smart-PLS was used to analyze the structural-equation model (SEM). According to the findings, these five types of capital have a significant and positive impact on the welfare of farmers. As a result, these five capitals provide a tangible framework for enhancing and measuring farmer welfare in Pujon District, thus providing a strategic path for optimizing community resources to boost economic welfare and contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals. The study findings provide valuable insights into the strategies that can be adopted to promote sustainable agriculture and enhance the well-being of farmers in Pujon District. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Food and Agriculture Economics: A Perspective of Sustainability)

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17 pages, 16295 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Opportunities or Risks: Economic Impacts of Climate Change on Crop Structure Adjustment in Ecologically Vulnerable Regions in China

by Mingying Ma, Delin Huang and Syed Shoyeb Hossain

Sustainability 2023, 15(7), 6211; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15076211 - 4 Apr 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1815

Abstract

Global warming by 2 °C or above will frequently see weather beyond the critical tolerance threshold for agricultural extreme high temperatures. If so, people will have to more accurately evaluate the opportunities and risks posed by future climate change while adjusting the structure of agricultural production. However, accurate assessment results of the impacts of climate change on crop yield are absent in the current studies on the impact of climate change on the agricultural economy. To address this gap, this paper sets forth a comprehensive evaluation method using a crop model coupled with a computable general equilibrium model. According to research findings, future climate change may continue with the trend of the continued decline of grain planting areas and the continued growth of cash crop planting areas in ecologically vulnerable regions. This will make grain security more difficult. On one hand, perennial crop planting broadens the eco-space for future economic and social development in ecologically vulnerable regions. Therefore, attention should be paid to grain security. The cash crop planting area should not be excessively expanded. On the other hand, it is advised to plant perennial crops in those areas which are unsuitable for planting cash crops. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Food and Agriculture Economics: A Perspective of Sustainability)

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16 pages, 1370 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring the Influence of Work Integration Social Enterprises on Consumers through Differentiated Customer Value Proposition

by Saki Morita, Keiji Jindo and Petros Maliotis

Sustainability 2023, 15(7), 5630; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15075630 - 23 Mar 2023

Viewed by 1697

Abstract

In the endeavour towards an inclusive society, work integration social enterprises (WISEs) play an important role in workplaces and labour market. Customers of WISEs are an underexplored field, and thus, this study looked at the influence of WISEs on customers using the concept of customer value. It deployed qualitative and quantitative study of two cases of WISEs in the Dutch agriculture and food industry. Market basket analysis was conducted to find interactions between customer characteristics and customer values. The results of our study show that taste as a functional value is a minimum requirement as well as a unique selling proposition for these two cases. The fact that they are a WISE was presented at different explicitness levels to customers: sometimes with a direct statement, other times with a phrase or visual hinting at this social aspect. Customers not always received this message or misinterpreted it as the WISEs intended. The results also indicate that products from these two cases are not associated with lower quality despite findings by earlier studies on socially oriented organisations. However, it is yet to be explored how the general Dutch population perceives the products and services of WISEs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Food and Agriculture Economics: A Perspective of Sustainability)

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20 pages, 1612 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Lean Farm: Application of Tools and Concepts of Lean Manufacturing in Agro-Pastoral Crops

by Adriano de Oliveira Martins, Fernando Elemar Vicente dos Anjos and Debora Oliveira da Silva

Sustainability 2023, 15(3), 2597; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15032597 - 1 Feb 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 5286

Abstract

Agriculture must find new ways to reduce costs and increase efficiency to meet the rising demand for products, avoiding waste due to potential food scarcity. Through the systematic literature review methodology, this study analyzes and synthesizes the existing literature on lean manufacturing (LM) applied in agro-pastoral production, its impact on reduction in losses and waste, and productivity increases considering production function mechanism (PFM), connecting to a sustainability model based on triple bottom line (TBL). A comprehensive search strategy was used to identify relevant studies and critically evaluate them using pre-determined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The findings provide insights into LM applied in agro-pastoral production and inform future research in the field, highlighting the potential of using LM concepts by reducing losses and waste and increasing productivity. The potential for TBL impacts from application of lean concepts in agro-pastoral production suggests a tendency for growth in this area of research. A theoretical understanding of how lean tools and techniques can be applied to improve productivity and profitability in the agricultural sector is provided, as well as practical examples and recommendations for implementing lean practices in agricultural operations, aligning sustainability and LP tools and concepts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Food and Agriculture Economics: A Perspective of Sustainability)

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12 pages, 2480 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Pro-Environmental Viticulture: Status Quo and Perspectives from Prosecco Winegrowers in Italy

by Elisa Giampietri and Samuele Trestini

Sustainability 2023, 15(2), 1073; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15021073 - 6 Jan 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2039

Abstract

In the last few decades, criticisms arose in society over sustainability in viticulture, due particularly to environmental and health concerns about pesticide use. The presence of social conflicts is well documented in some renowned wine areas as the Bourgogne in France and the Prosecco in Italy. As a novel contribution, this paper provides empirical insights into winegrowers’ commitment and will and related motivations towards environmental sustainability in the Prosecco Hills area, where social conflicts are well documented around this relevant facet, but little is known on the part of producers. This study aims to explore the pro-environmental behavioral intention of Prosecco winegrowers, focusing on its behavioral determinants, namely knowledge, responsibility, and self-identity. Data collection was held from August to December 2021 through a structured online questionnaire sent to Prosecco winegrowers. We obtained 87 completed questionnaires and data were analyzed through Partial Least Square Structural Equation modeling using SmartPLS software. The results suggest that, on average, winegrowers in our sample show a high pro-environmental behavioral intention. Moreover, the results associate a higher intention to adopt pro-environmental behavior and a higher responsibility towards sustainable viticulture with winegrowers’ having a good knowledge of farming practices beneficial for the environment. Moreover, winegrowers who feel more responsible for acting sustainability towards the environmental in the area and those who view themselves as pro-environmental farmers intend to farm more sustainably. Our results have implications to support the design of locally adapted strategies and policies aimed at improving the diffusion of more sustainable farming practices and resolving local conflicts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Food and Agriculture Economics: A Perspective of Sustainability)

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19 pages, 2495 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sustainable Food Production from a Labor Supply Perspective: Policies and Implications

by Na Xu, Liqin Zhang and Xiyuan Leng

Sustainability 2022, 14(23), 15935; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142315935 - 29 Nov 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1871

Abstract

Sustainable food production is an important foundation for a country’s development. With the accelerated pace of China’s economic development, many farmers are relocating to cities. This change in farmers’ part-time employment may lead to a shortage of agricultural labor supply and can result in insufficient food production. Therefore, the government implemented grain subsidies to promote food production. This study investigates the impact of grain subsidies on the labor supply of farm households, using panel data from fixed observations in rural China. The results show that grain subsidies increase the agricultural labor time of incompletely divided part-time farmers, especially the time spent growing food. This increase is because the members of these households are more likely to be engaged in temporary-seasonal-nonfarm work, and they can switch between nonfarm and agricultural work more easily. Moreover, this study finds that as the total amount of subsidies received by farmers increases, the effect of per-unit subsidies becomes more pronounced. These findings may provide evidence of subsidy effects and present policy implications for ensuring adequate food supply and sustainable agricultural development in the future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Food and Agriculture Economics: A Perspective of Sustainability)

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15 pages, 268 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Evaluation of Chinese Rapeseed Production Efficiency Based on Three-Stage DEA and Malmquist Index

by Qing Li and Cong Wang

Sustainability 2022, 14(23), 15822; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142315822 - 28 Nov 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1924

Abstract

As a widely grown oil crop in China, rapeseed accounts for 38.6% of China’s total oil crop production. In order to ensure the sustainable and healthy development of the rapeseed industry, this essay uses the input-output panel data of 15 central rapeseed-producing provinces (cities) in China from 2011 to 2019. The reasons for the change of the index were further studied using three-stage data envelopment analysis (DEA) and the Malmquist method. The three-stage DEA results show that the scale efficiency of rapeseed production increases in other provinces, except in Qinghai Province and Gansu Province, and that scale efficiency can be improved through additional investment. Planting enterprises can improve their efficiency by improving the efficiency of scientific and technological progress. On the other hand, government expenditure has a positive impact on rapeseed production efficiency. The Malmquist index shows that the technical progress efficiency index has the most significant impact during this period and the rapeseed total factor productivity can be improved by improving technological progress efficiency. In addition, according to the measured results, corresponding suggestions are put forward. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Food and Agriculture Economics: A Perspective of Sustainability)

19 pages, 3185 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Market Analysis of Characteristic Agricultural Products from the Perspective of Multi-Source Data: A Case Study of Wild Edible Mushrooms

by Guize Luan, Fei Zhao, Yanwen Jia, Jisheng Xia, Yao Yan, Yutong Wang, Ziyu Huang and Sujin Zhang

Sustainability 2022, 14(21), 14381; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142114381 - 3 Nov 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2360

Abstract

Wild edible mushrooms are a characteristic product in Yunnan, but no quantitative evaluation system yet exists for them. This study puts forward a sustainable development potential index of characteristic agricultural products (SDPI) based on various methods. It also performs a correlation analysis of multi-source points of interest (POI) and online shopping data related to wild edible mushrooms in Yunnan from a quantitative point of view, to understand the economics of wild edible mushrooms and to explore the sustainable development potential of such mushrooms in Yunnan from the perspectives of the tourism and sales markets. The results show that Dêqên Tibetan and the central region dominated by Kunming dominate both the tourism and sales markets and have a high SDPI. In contrast, the current situation and development prospects of the wild edible mushroom market in cities such as Lincang and Nujiang Lisu are poor. Yunnan Province has a large wild edible mushroom market and a promising development prospect. This paper provides comprehensive reference information for the development of Yunnan wild edible mushroom production economics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Food and Agriculture Economics: A Perspective of Sustainability)

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Review

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14 pages, 764 KiB

Open AccessReview

Collaborative Approach for Achieving Ambitious Sustainability Goals: The Prosecco Sustainability Project

by Valentina Di Chiara, Andrea Battistella, Vasco Boatto, Sandra Furlan, Luca Giavi, Silvia Liggieri, Anna Paiola, Eugenio Pomarici and Stefano Stefanucci

Sustainability 2024, 16(2), 583; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16020583 - 9 Jan 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1114

Abstract

Despite attention to sustainability growing in the last decade in the wine sector, the rate of association with wine sustainability programs still appears to be limited. This is mainly related to the uncertainty about the economic benefits related to the implementation of sustainable best practices. In this regard, some studies highlighted that the presence of professionals capable of managing the requirements promoted by the standards generally leads to a positive perception of their impact on the economic performances of companies. Therefore, to encourage participation in sustainability programs, the adoption of a collaborative approach to share the skills and knowledge necessary to manage the transition from a conventional organization to a sustainable one seems to be a functional strategy. This paper presents the Prosecco Sustainability Project as a case study to investigate how a structured set of activities must be deployed through a participatory/collaborative approach to significantly improve the level of sustainability of a wide and heterogeneous community of grape and wine producers. The case study highlights that the collaboration between different actors and the guidance from a coordinating figure capable of fostering dialogue and cooperation among the various stakeholders represent key elements to the large-scale deployment of a sustainable management system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Food and Agriculture Economics: A Perspective of Sustainability)

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