BOOKS BY ELENA VIGANÒ

L’articolo si concentra sullo sviluppo di alcune filiere socialmente sostenibili emer-se negli ultimi dieci anni come forma di risposta dal basso allo sfruttamento del lavoro migrante. Si tratta, in particolare, di modelli di produzione-scambio-consumo che si inseriscono nell’ambito delle più ampie pratiche di resistenza alle trasformazioni del sistema agroalimentare, che fanno delle condizioni di lavoro dei braccianti di origine straniera un elemento centrale della "qualità" dei prodotti e della sostenibilità delle supply chain. A partire da uno studio realizzato nell’ambito di un progetto Fami, adottando un approccio qualitativo, il contributo ne analizza il ruolo degli attori coinvolti, le strategie adottate, le opportunità e i limiti dal punto di vista della creazione di lavoro sostenibile e dell’emancipazione dei lavoratori dallo sfruttamento.

This article aims to analyse the European pig sector and its transformations (e.g. vertical integration and phase specialization).In particular, we will both explore the specialization and territorial concentration of pig production, and the significant changes which have taken place in the trade among European Union countries. Using the network analysis (betweenness centrality, node strength and community detection) applied to Eurostat and fao datasets on production and trade in the period 2000-2016, we will show the emergence of national players and international connections that lead to a larger continental market. Finally, this evidence will be used in the discussion and conclusion to raise wider concerning the working of agrifoodvalue chains, in terms of social, economic and environmental sustainability, as well as regulation. This calls for more interdisciplinary analyses of value chains.

The central role of quality agri-food production in the promotion of a given territory is actually widely recognized by both the economic and marketing literature and the stakeholders involved in the enhancement process of rural systems. On this basis, this work analyzes one of the finest Italian agri-food products: the truffle. This work tries to point out the main problems characterizing the current regulatory framework, the trade and the production of the Italian truffle sector, emphasizing their causes, consequences and possible solutions.

This paper investigates the governance system of 12 Italian Organic Districts (ODs) with the purpose of evaluating the extent to which it adheres to Ostrom’s model (1990) concerning Common Pool Resources (CPRs) management. Starting from the definition of territory as a CPR, ODs can be defined as selforganized and governed communities, able to manage it in the three dimensions (environmental, social, and economic) of sustainability. Results show a partial adaptation of the OD model to Ostrom’s design principles. An exact match is not possible, as some of the features required to comply with these principles are not within the competence of the ODs. In fact, there is still a lack of an adequate control/monitoring and sanction system that limits their capability of governing the commons, i.e. the territory in this case. However, the participatory approach, that is inherent to the governance system of ODs, allows for a certain degree of adherence to Ostrom’s model of CPRs management. Two levels of adherence of the ODs to this model have been identified. The first one is implied in their nature and finds its legitimacy in the framework of rules and laws that regulates organic farming; the second level of adherence is a consequence of the ODs socio-institutional maturity.

La ristorazione scolastica costituisce uno strumento molto efficace per valorizzare le scelte operate dalle Amministrazioni in tema di sostenibilità. Le buone pratiche adottabili nell’organizzazione delle mense, a partire dalla funzione di approvvigionamento dei prodotti alimentari, possono avere, infatti, un notevole impatto in termini di sostegno ai sistemi economici locali, tutela dell’ambiente (salvaguardia delle risorse naturali e della biodiversità, controllo della produzione di rifiuti e dell’emissione di gas serra) e sviluppo rurale. Inoltre, se la gestione delle mense è accompagnata da attività di educazione alimentare mirate alla promozione del consumo consapevole, i comportamenti degli utenti possono modificarsi considerevolmente, contribuendo a diffondere modelli alimentari corretti, indispensabili per contrastare i fenomeni di obesità e di sovrappeso e per l’affermarsi di una cultura di responsabilità socio-ambientale.La realizzazione di una mensa scolastica che presenti requisiti di sostenibilità economica, sociale e ambientale rappresenta, tuttavia, per le amministrazioni pubbliche un compito assai complesso, a causa dei molteplici vincoli introdotti dalla normativa e dalle disposizioni economico-finanziarie e dell'ambiente socio-culturale, spesso ostile all’introduzione di innovazioni.In questo contesto, l’obiettivo del presente lavoro è quello di offrire un contributo alla diffusione di pratiche di sostenibilità nel public procurement e, in particolare, nelle mense scolastiche. Dopo aver definito il quadro teorico di riferimento, considerando la realizzazione di un progetto di mensa sostenibile come un wicked problem, il cui orientamento può essere agevolato mediante la realizzazione di un business model, vengono individuate alcune possibili pratiche relative alla progettazione di una mensa scolastica più sostenibile. Successivamente, vengono illustrati gli elementi costitutivi di un Business Model Canvas, ritenuto uno strumento efficace per le amministrazioni pubbliche (anche di Comuni di modeste dimensioni), interessate a implementare un servizio di refezione scolastica che sia in grado di coniugare lo sviluppo locale, con la tutela dell’ambiente e della salute dei bambini.

The concept of the ‘postmodern consumer’ plays a central role in the debate, started in the early 80s, about economic, social and cultural changes in developed countries in the years following the end of the second world war. These changes were interpreted as a passage from modern to postmodern society. According to this literature, postmodern conditions have had a significant impact on the consumer, especially with regard to his/her psychological characteristics. In this new framework the consumer is viewed as someone more interested in the symbolic or cultural value of products and services than in their functional and utility value. At the same time, he/she is represented as an active player in the market scenario, exercising the freedom to move in search of trademarks, symbols and experiences through which he/she can communicate his/her own identity. The figure of the postmodern consumer is difficult to place in the framework of standard neoclassical theories on consumerism, which highlights the shortcomings of this theoretical approach in studying the behavior of the postmodern consumer. These shortcomings are likely to be more relevant when considering the consumer of food products, given the strong nexus between consumption and the well-being of the consumer and the symbolic and cultural value that food products project. The main goal of the paper is to provide an interdisciplinary overview of the postmodern consumer of food products by means of an analysis of scientific literature, mainly in the areas of behavioral economics, sociology and psychology. Following this, the paper focuses on questions regarding information and the rational behavior of consumers as being the main hypothesis upon which standard neoclassical theories are based, adding to the traditional approach to consumer choice the new insights provided by this different perspective. Finally, the implications of this type of analysis for food safety and quality policies are considered, together with a discussion on further research needed to define more effective policies.

This paper aims to discuss Fair Trade as an alternative economic model, that aims to help producers in developing countries to make better trading conditions and promote sustainability, enforceable in economic and social contexts other than its traditional scope. The paper analyzes the critical issues facing developing countries in their participation in international trade. It then describes the key elements of the Fair Trade and its main impact. Finally the working principles of Fair Trade which could be properly implemented in domestic food systems of developed countries are underlined.

The present paper shows the results of a research carried out on a particular alternative food channel - the Organised Demand and Supply Groups (godo) of Umbria (Italy) managed by the Italian Association for Organic Agriculture (aiab). It is very interesting in terms of management, size (number of firms and consumers members involved) and relative growth rates. The analysis was carried out by systematising data and quantitative information available at godo and by administering questionnaires to consumers members in order to collect information about socio-economic characteristics and consumer behaviour. Then, the consumer profiles have been identified by the application of the Cluster Analysis. At last, the consumer profiles analysis has allowed us to formulate some suggestions in order to improve godo’s organization.

Il volume approfondisce alcuni aspetti di rilievo in materia di “misure di gestione per lo sfruttamento sostenibile delle risorse della pesca nel mar Mediterraneo”. La Politica Comunitaria per la Pesca, difatti, intende fissare nuove regole per la protezione e la conservazione delle specie marine e per la sostenibilità ambientale e sociale. Alla luce di ciò nasce l’esigenza di individuare strumenti innovativi di gestione sostenibile delle risorse e comportamenti responsabili.

Il volume presenta un’analisi degli strumenti di gestione e di pianificazione del paesaggio, definiti ai diversi livelli di governo del territorio, e i risultati di una ricerca sulle politiche messe in atto dalla regione Marche per la conservazione e la valorizzazione del paesaggio rurale. In questo quadro, fornisce elementi di riflessione sui criteri da seguire per aumentare la “qualità” paesaggistica e la desiderabilità sociale delle misure proposte per la valorizzazione del paesaggio.

The goal of the present study is to examine the extent and the nature of vertical coordination between small and medium food firms and their agricultural inputs suppliers. In particular, we attempt to verify the extent to which single solution depends upon organisational structures, innovative processes and market strategies. To do this, in the first part of the paper, the main elements of the vertical integration and its causes are presented and discussed, with particular attention to the implications for the agro-food system. A theoretical grid is used to interpret, in the second part of the paper, the behaviour of firms. The study has been carried out by means of a survey. A questionnaire was given to a sample of firms operating in the food industries of the region Marche in the sectors of processing pork and poultry meat as well as in wine production. The results show in recent years a growing concern in all of the cases considered on contractual relationships with the suppliers of raw materials, mainly farms. Although these results highlight different solutions across different industries and across the firms of the same industry, in all the cases they show as vertical coordination tends to represent a reference scheme for the management of quality at various stages of the supply chain. In particular, the paper shows that the growing emphasis of consumers on quality and food safety has led to the development of marketing relationships with suppliers of agricultural products. Such a relationship, built with "selected" groups of suppliers, relies mainly on trust and incentives the growth of cooperative solutions which allow to reduce the cost of transactions. Furthermore, such a cooperative solution enables the firms to adjust their offering to changing market environment and to develop competetive strategies based on higher quality and other quality characteristics perceived.