ONLINE FIRST
Italian Review of Agricultural Economics (REA) publishes Online First Articles. This feature allows final revision articles to be hosted online prior to their inclusion in a final print and online journal issue.
Insights into the Agroecological Transition: the case of two Italian Bio-districts
Giovanni Dara Guccione, Laura Viganò, Alberto Sturla, Alessandra Vaccaro, Tiziana Pirelli, Francesca Varia
CREA - Research Centre for Agricultural Policies and Bioeconomy, Italy
Luca Colombo
FIRAB Italian Foundation for Research in Organic and Biodynamic Agriculture, Italy
Accepted: 2023-12-29 | Published Online: 2024-04-22
DOI: 10.36253/rea-14241
ABSTRACT
Bio-districts are a specific form of aggregation which are particularly effective in implementing a multi-stakeholder, environmentally conscious and place-based approach to food system sustainability. Bio-districts may facilitate the agroecological transition of local food systems. The aim of this paper is to provide recommendations on how to promote the adoption of the agroecological approach through bio-districts, by analysing farmers’ propensity towards agroecology, framing the level in the transition pathway, and shedding light on barriers to the broader diffusion of agroecology. A qualitative comparative case study approach is developed in two bio-districts in Italy.
Findings show that farmers show propensity to adopt the agroecological approach, However, to date a series of barriers have prevented reaching the top level of agroecological transition. Especially, the need for adaptation of machinery, a shortage of skilled advisors for knowledge transfer and poor community awareness. Findings suggest that there is an urgent need to face policy, governance-related and market-related challenges. This study lays the groundwork for integration of the agroecological approach in the implementation of key policy instruments such as the Italian CAP Strategic Plan and the EU Action Plan for the Development of Organic Production.
Economic analysis of irrigation services. An application of the hedonic price method on the FADN data
Eleonora Tauro, Simone Russo, Giacomo Giannoccaro
Department of Soil, Plant and Food Science, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Bari, Italy
Laura Mirra
Water Research Institute - National Research Council (IRSA-CNR), Bari, Italy
Grazia Valentino, Donato Carone
CREA - Research Centre for Agricultural Policies and Bioeconomy, Bari, Italy
Accepted: 2024-04-17 | Published Online: 2024-04-22
DOI: 10.36253/rea-14361
ABSTRACT
The economic valuation of water uses, as the Water Framework Directive (EC/60/2000) suggests, should support policymakers in water management. Aiming to assess the economic value of irrigation water services, a hedonic price analysis was conducted on the value of farmland. Specifically, we examined the differences between collective and self-supply irrigation services, with the hypothesis that each reflects different water supply qualities that are capitalized into land value. A homogeneous sample of olive farms in the Apulia region was analysed using data from the Farm Accountancy Data Network. The results confirm the hypothesis that different economic values are assigned to water services. A higher value of self-supply service with respect to collective ones might be associated with the greater security and reliability of the service provided. Finally, our analysis points out that the Farm Accountancy Data Network database can provide policymakers with a harmonized dataset for the economic evaluation of irrigation water. This can help them to develop evidence-based policies, as required in the Water Framework Directive.