Template-type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Gervasio Antonelli Author-Name: Maurizio Canavari Author-Name: Annalisa De Boni Author-Name: Concetta Nazzaro Title: Editoriale Abstract: Classification-JEL: Keywords: Note: Pages:7-9 Volume: 15 Year: 2013 Issue:2 File-URL:http://www.francoangeli.it/riviste/Scheda_Rivista.aspx?IDArticolo=49558&Tipo=Articolo PDF File-Format: text/HTML Handle: RePEc:fan:ecaqec:v:html10.3280/ECAG2013-002001 Number: 1 Template-type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Claudia Bazzani Author-Name: Maurizio Canavari Title: Alternative Agri-Food Networks and Short Food Supply Chains: a review of the literature Abstract: This paper is a literature review that focuses on the development of AlternativeAgri-Food Networks (aafns) and, in particular, on the development of Short FoodSupply Chains (sfscs). In the first part of the article we give a description of the social-cultural and environmental aspects which define aafns. aafns are generallythought of as a "turn" from industrialized and standardized systems to the "domestic" world, where quality is interpreted in terms of food localization, proximity relations,trust, tradition and place, and as a new form of rural development and an instrumentto revitalize rural areas. We verified that mainly two factors mostly influencethe characterization of the alternative food streams: embeddedness and food localization.The concept of embeddedness integrates social, environmental and health issues,while re-localization defines the tendency to build networks based on productionand consumption of local food and the development of a "local culture", basedon the valuation of food origin, community traditions and food habits. The secondpart of the paper is focused on the description of sfscs, as Farmers? Markets or CommunitySupported Agriculture, which aim at reducing the number of transactionsalong the food supply chain and the distance between the production and consumptionof food products. The development of sfscs may help to provide various benefitssupport of the local economy, the strengthening of relations between consumersand their food traditions, the supply of fresher food products in comparison to conventionalfood networks, the re-valuation of the small-scale farmer?s role in the foodsystems, the use of sustainable production methods and the reduction of co2 emissions.This supposition has been contradicted by several recent pieces of research,and we have pointed out further criticisms of sfscs, such as the costs farmers have tobear when selling directly to the public. The article ends by setting out our considerationsregarding the development of aafns and sfscs and offers some suggestions,for starting points for future research. Classification-JEL: Q01, Q12, Q13, Q18, Q56, Q57 Keywords: Note: Pages:11-34 Volume: 15 Year: 2013 Issue:2 File-URL:http://www.francoangeli.it/riviste/Scheda_Rivista.aspx?IDArticolo=49559&Tipo=Articolo PDF File-Format: text/HTML Handle: RePEc:fan:ecaqec:v:html10.3280/ECAG2013-002002 Number: 2 Template-type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Anna Maria Di Trapani Author-Name: Filippo Sgroi Author-Name: Riccardo Testa Title: La filiera corta: una possibile strategia per migliorare la competitivit? dell?azienda agraria Abstract: The paper aims to determine the possible competitive advantage for farms thatadopt a short supply-chain strategy. In particular, by carriying out an analysis of asample of fruit and vegetable farms, we wanted to find out how the business relatesto the market and the reasons that induced the entrepreneur to move into a shortsupply-chain set up. The study was prompted by the wish to determine, empirically,the economic benefits arising from the adoption of the short supply chain. In fact,there is a vast literature on the economic benefits produced by the short supply chainsuch as the demand stability due to customer loyalty and the ability to influencedirectly the price through the reduction of production costs, especially oftransportation and packaging ones. In addition, the farmer may obtain greaterremuneration of production factors, re-appropriating a portion of the value thatusually gets eaten up during the various stages of the supply chain system, thusbecoming price-maker (Saccomandi, 1999). In particular, we focused our analysis ondetermining the net income of the entrepreneur who decides to pursue a shortsupply-chain strategy by comparing it, using the same parameters, with farms wherethere is not a short supply chain. From this empirical analysis it emerges that theshort supply-chain cannot be the only way to sell farm products, as it absorbs only apart of production. Nevertheless, it enables the entrepreneur the recoup a greaterproportion of production costs. Classification-JEL: Q12, Q31 Keywords: Note: Pages:35-49 Volume: 15 Year: 2013 Issue:2 File-URL:http://www.francoangeli.it/riviste/Scheda_Rivista.aspx?IDArticolo=49560&Tipo=Articolo PDF File-Format: text/HTML Handle: RePEc:fan:ecaqec:v:html10.3280/ECAG2013-002003 Number: 3 Template-type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Lucia Briamonte Author-Name: Raffaella Pergamo Title: Il social banking per le filiere corte: aspetti etici e fiscali Abstract: The relationship between the banking system and the agricultural sector ismarked by several difficulties related to firm size, variability in agriculturalincomes, technical risks and strict evaluation rules for creditworthiness. On theother hand, a progressive distancing of production from consumers is observedwithin the main production chains, with weakening of product identity and ofproduction with respect to other actors in the chain. The rediscovery, in the nineties,of integration among operators has brought under the spotlight the concepts oftraceability and sustainability of productions and the "principle of proximity",making purchase directly, from the producer one of the consumer?s main objectives.Widespread awareness of this factor has contributed to an increase in localproduction and consumption circuits and has awoken interest in some banks, whichhave set out social banking instruments for farming concerns which face difficultiesin accessing ordinary bank loans.The analysis refers to Toscana, a regional context in which short chain examplescoexist with a particular microcredit system. In particular, the aim is evaluatingapproaches to social banking adopted by short chains and identifying the mainentrepreneurial advantages and socio-economic results.The methodology, therefore, took as reference the short chain entrepreneurialforms found in Tuscany and carried out focused interviews with Banca Etica andConsorzio Fidi Toscana in order to comprehend their vision of the overall businessmodel, even though it may not be strictly agricultural. The aim was also to identifyspecial needs and expectations as expressed by the short chain entrepreneurs as wellas their motivation in changing the boundaries of their area of operation. The finalaim of the analysis was to understand what banking services are available and howthey might help in establishing short supply-chains and making them morewidespreads in their region.The starting point was to identify the main manifestations of existing shortsupply-chain operations (direct sales to consumers, solidarity purchase groupsamongst producers and markets). The main characteristics of banking servicesoffered to them were also investigated. Were they responding to the idea itself ofsocial banking for food processing and not merely offering of banking services tomarginal customers? Was this a targeted approach specially adopted for the shortsupply-chain market: a segment characterized by low levels of income and by theneed for innovative financial solutions which are, at the same time, both accessibleand inexpensive. The results enabled us to highlight the key role of social banking inlocal production and consumption circuits in terms of both start-up activities and thesupply of technical assistance and training services. Moreover, they indicated thatshort supply-chain operations are not only associated with shorter distances, but alsowith greater transparency and responsibility in production-consumption relationships. Classification-JEL: Q13, Q14, R51 Keywords: Note: Pages:51-72 Volume: 15 Year: 2013 Issue:2 File-URL:http://www.francoangeli.it/riviste/Scheda_Rivista.aspx?IDArticolo=49561&Tipo=Articolo PDF File-Format: text/HTML Handle: RePEc:fan:ecaqec:v:html10.3280/ECAG2013-002004 Number: 4 Template-type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Simona D'Amico Author-Name: Anna Irene De Luca Author-Name: Giovanni Gulisano Title: Circuiti di produzione e consumo "alternativi" per l?organizzazione del sistema agro-alimentare calabrese: un quadro introduttivo Abstract: The work aims at formulating hypothesis on the actual alterity (Kirwan, 2004) ofthose realities that either define themselves or have been considered in the Calabriapolitical, social and scientific contexts as examples of "filiere corte", that is as foodpractices characterised by the afn (Alternative Food Networks) features, in the waythey have been defined by the international scientific literature. The study rises fromthe need to avoid the "conceptual conflation" (Tregear, 2011), which biased the fncomprehension at the international level and is finding a fertile land within theItalian scientific and empiric reality where scholars discuss the "filiere corte" initiativesin the frame of the afn studies although warning on the possibility ofoverlapping existing practices typical of an agri-food system that is not completelymodernised (Malassis & Ghersi, 1998; Rossi et al., 2008). Concerning this last pointCalabria doesn?t lag behind requiring an investigation on the actual nature andalterity of those realities framed among the "filiera corta" initiatives.Favouring a theoretical frame that allows considering the existing realities asdynamically interacting, rather than opposing each other, Convention Theory is thetheoretical starting point operationalized through the Granovetter (1985) concept of "emebeddedness": "filiere corte" are identified as one of the possible conventionsorganizing the Calabria agri-food system and shaping in the relation with the otheragri-food, political and social systems. After an empiric analysis, three generaltypologies have been identified among those either self-defined or recognised as"filiere corte": Farmer?s Market, GAS and GODO. Moreover three hypothesis ontheir technical, social and political "alterity" have been introduced: in the first case itcould derive from their ability to close the food chain, merging supply and demand;secondly it could be founded on their capacity to stimulate local form of socialcooperation; third they seem to require an innovative participatory approach in orderto be politically framed. Each of the three hypothesis are theoretically elaborated andrequire further empirical tests. Classification-JEL: Q10, Q13, Z13 Keywords: Note: Pages:73-96 Volume: 15 Year: 2013 Issue:2 File-URL:http://www.francoangeli.it/riviste/Scheda_Rivista.aspx?IDArticolo=49562&Tipo=Articolo PDF File-Format: text/HTML Handle: RePEc:fan:ecaqec:v:html10.3280/ECAG2013-002005 Number: 5 Template-type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Francesco Bimbo Author-Name: Rosaria Viscecchia Author-Name: Gianluca Nardone Title: L?effetto della "filiera corta" sul livello di obesit? in Italia Abstract: Obesity rate worldwide have more than doubled since the 1980s, reachingunprecedented level, it has exceeded 30% in the U.S. while in some EuropeanCountries the population being overweight and obese has reached 50% (oecd, 2010).In Italy about 1 over 10 adults are obese, below the oecd average of 1 over 6, butthese data come from-self reported individuals weight and height and could alreadybe severely underestimated (Hansstein et al., 2009; oecd, 2010). Lastly, Italy is thethird largest spender among the eu-15 in terms of direct health-care and indirect costdue to the obesity, around its ? 4.7 billion (Fry and Finley, 2005).Our study aims to evaluate the impact of local food retail systems such asfarmers? market and farmers who sell directly from farm, on adult obesity level inItaly since preliminary evidence demonstrated that buying local food in farmers?markets has positive influence both on food habits both on health (Pascucci S. et al.,2011).We use a cross-section of individual-level data on bmi and others individualcharacteristics, from the Multipurpose Survey of Households: Aspect of Daily Lifeof the Italian National Institute of Statistics (istat), year 2009, matched withregional-level data on food outlets density such as farmers? market, and farmers whosell directly from farm (Fondazione campagna amica - Coldiretti, OsservatorioNazionale del Commercio, 2009). Food store location endogeneity was accounted foradopting an IV estimation method exploiting variation in supply-side factorsimpacting the location decision of different food retailers.The study shows the evidence that the having access to local food is associated toa reduction in obesity rate. In particular, we found that the having access to farmers?market and farmers who sell directly from farm reduce the bmi of "0.55 and "0.12respectively. These evidences confirm the importance to promote "direct saleformat" in order to improve not only farmers? profitability but also consumers? wellbeingwith consequent reduction of obesity health-care costs. Classification-JEL: I18, Q18 Keywords: Note: Pages:97-110 Volume: 15 Year: 2013 Issue:2 File-URL:http://www.francoangeli.it/riviste/Scheda_Rivista.aspx?IDArticolo=49563&Tipo=Articolo PDF File-Format: text/HTML Handle: RePEc:fan:ecaqec:v:html10.3280/ECAG2013-002006 Number: 6 Template-type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Rosa Anna Ciccone Author-Name: Costanzo Di Maria Title: Valorizzazione energetica dei sarmenti di un territorio in un?ottica di filiera corta Abstract: The farming sector has been showing increasing interest in the possibility to setup bio-energetic chains and the benefits that can be obtained from the valorisation ofrenewable energy sources available in the primary sector (Rosa, 2007).Vine shoots produced during the vine trimming process usually represent aproblem for the farm since it needs to deal with and pay to dispose of them; the maincosts are related to the processes of shredding and burying. Those vine shoots caninstead be exploited and provide an additional income (Cotana et al., 2008).The process for the valorisation of the waste material deriving from the trimmingconsists in treating the residual agricultural biomass (trimmed shoots) by utilising theprocesses of shredding and drying. This allows obtaining a biofuel (chips or pellet) thatcan be used in the same farm to meet its energy demands (heating, cooling, electricity).From the Foggia area, an estimated 31,755 ha of vineyards can provide in total88,121 t of biomass per year. This gives the possibility to create in this area 7biomass power plants of variable size up to a limit of 1 MW.The exploitation of biomass from agroforestry sources to produce electric energycan provide an opportunity in terms of both energy availability and technologicaldevelopment. Moreover, it can revitalise the agricultural, forestry and zootechnicalactivities which represent one of the main components of the local economy inPuglia and help with the preservation of the territory. In this study, a method hasbeen developed to estimate the energy production that can be obtained from thebiomass available in a certain territory. The planning has been optimised on the basisof the number, size, location, and the basin of interest of the plants. The valorisationof the biomass deriving from the viticulture sector can provide and distribute benefitsthroughout the chain, making profit from what currently represent only an additionalcost for the farms. This argumentation demonstrates that supporting the entrance ofthe viticulture sector into the agrinergy world is of paramount importance. Classification-JEL: Q24, Q42 Keywords: Note: Pages:111-126 Volume: 15 Year: 2013 Issue:2 File-URL:http://www.francoangeli.it/riviste/Scheda_Rivista.aspx?IDArticolo=49564&Tipo=Articolo PDF File-Format: text/HTML Handle: RePEc:fan:ecaqec:v:html10.3280/ECAG2013-002007 Number: 7