This page has only limited features, please log in for full access.
In recent years, after the publication of Regulation (EU) 2018/848 on organic production and the labelling of organic products, all stakeholders have been considering threats and opportunities in the development of the organic food and beverage sector. The aim of the study outlined in this paper was to analyse the development prospects of the Italian organic wine sector in light of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) environmental and climate objectives. Specifically, the study focussed on applying a System Dynamics Approach (SDA) and a Network Analysis in order to explain how the most relevant social–economic determinants of the national organic wine sector are in all likelihood influencing the hoped-for shift from conventional to organic production. Such conversion appeared to be worth exploring because, despite the increasing global demand for organic wine, the economic effects on the entire system are still somewhat unclear from a dynamic perspective. The results of the study clearly demonstrated that public policies and regulatory actions at the national and European level will continue to be very influential for the future of the national organic wine system. Different development pathways, such as groups of operators and the adoption of the new national certification system for the sustainability of the entire wine supply chain, should be undertaken by Italian “small wine operators” in order to gain international markets.
Francesca Varia; Dario Macaluso; Ida Agosta; Francesco Spatafora; Giovanni Dara Guccione. Transitioning towards Organic Farming: Perspectives for the Future of the Italian Organic Wine Sector. Sustainability 2021, 13, 2815 .
AMA StyleFrancesca Varia, Dario Macaluso, Ida Agosta, Francesco Spatafora, Giovanni Dara Guccione. Transitioning towards Organic Farming: Perspectives for the Future of the Italian Organic Wine Sector. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (5):2815.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFrancesca Varia; Dario Macaluso; Ida Agosta; Francesco Spatafora; Giovanni Dara Guccione. 2021. "Transitioning towards Organic Farming: Perspectives for the Future of the Italian Organic Wine Sector." Sustainability 13, no. 5: 2815.
The agriculture sustainability assessment is a difficult issue for the coexistence of conflicting objectives and the multidimensionality of the performances. The environmental, economic and social pillars need to be simultaneously considered in an assessment to evaluate potential synergies and trade-offs of the agricultural processes within and among the attributes of the dimensions in both implemented systems (ex-post analysis) and potential options (ex-ante analysis). Among several sustainability assessment methods, tools based on multi-criteria analysis (MCA) are increasingly adopted in evaluating sustainability in agriculture. The aim of this work was to present the MCA tool developed in the framework of the BioDurum project for the sustainability assessment of organic farms located in southern Italy and characterised by durum wheat-based crop rotations. The tool was entirely designed through a participatory process and it was realised using the open-source DEXi software that have demonstrated to be particularly suitable for creating qualitative multi-criterial hierarchic models with the engage of stakeholders. The hierarchic structure of BioDurum_MCA tool was resulted composed by 64 indicators and 45 aggregated attributes articulated in three branches representing the agro-environment, economic, and social sustainability pillars. The articulated structure of the tool reflected the complexity and the sustainability issues and priorities expressed by the involved stakeholders. The tool was tested in four Italian organic farms presenting different agro-environmental and socio-economic patterns for their ex-post evaluations and in three different ex-ante production systems identified in compliance with the Italian regulation concerning the requirements of the rotations to be implemented in organic farming. The results highlighted the well discriminatory power of the tool. The best overall sustainability scores were reached in both ex-post and ex-ante analysis by the well diversified cereal farming systems with processed products sold through short supply chain mechanisms. BioDurum_MCA has proved to be a feasible tool to identify strengths and weaknesses of organic durum wheat-based production systems. Its adoption can support the definition of specific interventions for the sector in the Italian Strategic National Plan of the Common Agricultural Policy. Further improvements in the threshold classes of some indicators by using the tool in a wider number of Italian durum wheat based organic farms will increase model sensitivity and reliability of the results. Highlights - BioDurum_MCA is an effective tool for sustainability assessment of durum wheat organic Italian production systems. - Hierarchic structure of the tool reflects the sustainability issues and priorities expressed by involved stakeholders. - MCA tools can support a holistic evaluation of farm sustainability performances in the frame of post-2020 CAP.
Ileana Iocola; Luca Colombo; Giovanni Dara Guccione; Pasquale De Vita; Massimo Palumbo; Vincenzo Ritunnano; Fabiola Sciacca; Nino Virzì; Stefano Canali. A multi-criteria qualitative tool for the sustainability assessment of organic durum wheat-based farming systems designed through a participative process. Italian Journal of Agronomy 2021, 16, 1 .
AMA StyleIleana Iocola, Luca Colombo, Giovanni Dara Guccione, Pasquale De Vita, Massimo Palumbo, Vincenzo Ritunnano, Fabiola Sciacca, Nino Virzì, Stefano Canali. A multi-criteria qualitative tool for the sustainability assessment of organic durum wheat-based farming systems designed through a participative process. Italian Journal of Agronomy. 2021; 16 (1):1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleIleana Iocola; Luca Colombo; Giovanni Dara Guccione; Pasquale De Vita; Massimo Palumbo; Vincenzo Ritunnano; Fabiola Sciacca; Nino Virzì; Stefano Canali. 2021. "A multi-criteria qualitative tool for the sustainability assessment of organic durum wheat-based farming systems designed through a participative process." Italian Journal of Agronomy 16, no. 1: 1.
Italy is the leading European rice producer. The transition to organic farming of rice farms could represent a solution for environmental protection, as well as for their economic sustainability, consumer safety, and as a measure of climate mitigation. However, there are currently several weaknesses in the control and certification system. The objective of the current study was to propose advice for improving the control and certification scheme in the organic rice sector. The goal was achieved by adopting a qualitative methodology based on participant observation at stakeholder meetings and community-led workshops, and information collected in focus groups and deep interviews with relevant local actors. The findings show that there are some solutions to mitigate the weakness of the Italian certification scheme. The study also contributes to improving the Italian organic rice sector by highlighting that a revision of procedures and sanctions alone is not enough, and that an ethical and cultural change is also needed along the whole value chain.
Giovanni Dara Guccione; Elena Pagliarino; Ilaria Borri; Alessandra Vaccaro; Patrizia Borsotto. A Participatory Analysis of the Control and Certification System in the Italian Organic Rice Value Chain. Sustainability 2021, 13, 2001 .
AMA StyleGiovanni Dara Guccione, Elena Pagliarino, Ilaria Borri, Alessandra Vaccaro, Patrizia Borsotto. A Participatory Analysis of the Control and Certification System in the Italian Organic Rice Value Chain. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (4):2001.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGiovanni Dara Guccione; Elena Pagliarino; Ilaria Borri; Alessandra Vaccaro; Patrizia Borsotto. 2021. "A Participatory Analysis of the Control and Certification System in the Italian Organic Rice Value Chain." Sustainability 13, no. 4: 2001.
The adoption of rare, traditional crops represents a good example of enhancing functional agrobiodiversity, not only to provide benefits for farmers but also for society as a whole. The study outlined in this paper aims to verify how and under local social-ecological conditions the combination of organic cereal farming and growing of durum wheat landraces can be profitably applied. Focusing on Sicily as one of the most developed cereal systems existing in southern Italy, the study deployed a comparison between data from the regional dataset by the Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN) and the data provided by the Association of farmers called Simenza. Thereafter, we used a System Dynamics Approach (SDA) for a better understanding of the main drivers which will most likely affect the profitability of the system in the medium and long term. The results clearly demonstrated how the durum wheat organic system under investigation might still develop under the push of an increasing relative economic advantage between standard varieties and landraces.
Francesca Varia; Dario Macaluso; Alessandra Vaccaro; Paolo Caruso; Giovanni Guccione. The Adoption of Landraces of Durum Wheat in Sicilian Organic Cereal Farming Analysed Using a System Dynamics Approach. Agronomy 2021, 11, 319 .
AMA StyleFrancesca Varia, Dario Macaluso, Alessandra Vaccaro, Paolo Caruso, Giovanni Guccione. The Adoption of Landraces of Durum Wheat in Sicilian Organic Cereal Farming Analysed Using a System Dynamics Approach. Agronomy. 2021; 11 (2):319.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFrancesca Varia; Dario Macaluso; Alessandra Vaccaro; Paolo Caruso; Giovanni Guccione. 2021. "The Adoption of Landraces of Durum Wheat in Sicilian Organic Cereal Farming Analysed Using a System Dynamics Approach." Agronomy 11, no. 2: 319.
Italy is the leading European producer of rice. The transition to organic farming could represent a solution for environmental protection, as well as for the economic sustainability of farms, consumer safety and as a measure of climate mitigation, but it currently displays several weaknesses in the control and certification system. The objective of the current study is to propose advice for improving the control and certification scheme in the organic rice sector. To achieve this aim, we adopted a qualitative methodology based on participant observation at stakeholders’ meetings, focus groups, community-led workshops and deep interviews with relevant local actors. Findings show that there are some solutions to mitigate the weakness of the Italian certification scheme. The study also produces managerial implications to improve the Italian organic rice system.
Giovanni Dara Guccione; Elena Pagliarino; Alessandra Vaccaro; Ilaria Borri; Patrizia Borsotto. A Participatory Analysis of the Control and Certification System in the Italian Organic Rice Value Chain. 2020, 1 .
AMA StyleGiovanni Dara Guccione, Elena Pagliarino, Alessandra Vaccaro, Ilaria Borri, Patrizia Borsotto. A Participatory Analysis of the Control and Certification System in the Italian Organic Rice Value Chain. . 2020; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGiovanni Dara Guccione; Elena Pagliarino; Alessandra Vaccaro; Ilaria Borri; Patrizia Borsotto. 2020. "A Participatory Analysis of the Control and Certification System in the Italian Organic Rice Value Chain." , no. : 1.
Although hemp cultivation is increasingly perceived as a promising option in terms of crop diversification, especially in semi-arid conditions such as in the Mediterranean region, its adoption remains limited thus constraining the development of hemp value chains at a larger scale. Our objective was to explore suitable conditions, at farm and downstream levels, for organic hempseed oil production in Sicily, taking on an action-research perspective that involves local actors. Based on a preliminary characterisation of barriers to organic hemp development at different value chain levels, we carried out targeted complementary investigation: (i) assessment on agroenvironmental performances of integrating hemp in durum wheat-based rotations; (ii) chemical analysis of local hempseed oil; (iii) exploration of marketing opportunities and value chain development. Our results showed that the lack of technical and economic knowledge as well as the deficiencies of suitable cultivars and adequate machinery were the main barriers for the organic hemp value chain development in Sicily. The analysis of agroenvironmental performances also revealed both strengths and weaknesses of hemp introduction in durum-wheat based rotations. Despite the identified limitations, we demonstrated that the organic hemp value chains represent interesting perspectives for the Sicilian farming sector, particularly in case of substantial barriers removal or adaptation.
Luca Colombo; Giovanni Dara Guccione; Stefano Canali; Ileana Iocola; Clémentine Antier; Kevin Morel. An action-research exploration of value chain development from field to consumer based on organic hempseed oil in Sicily. OCL 2020, 27, 56 .
AMA StyleLuca Colombo, Giovanni Dara Guccione, Stefano Canali, Ileana Iocola, Clémentine Antier, Kevin Morel. An action-research exploration of value chain development from field to consumer based on organic hempseed oil in Sicily. OCL. 2020; 27 ():56.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLuca Colombo; Giovanni Dara Guccione; Stefano Canali; Ileana Iocola; Clémentine Antier; Kevin Morel. 2020. "An action-research exploration of value chain development from field to consumer based on organic hempseed oil in Sicily." OCL 27, no. : 56.
Crop diversification represents a key lever to support the development of sustainable agri-food systems. Knowledge on trade-offs and carry over effects from different crop diversification strategies is essential to inform agricultural stakeholders of potential costs and benefits. This knowledge is limited by existing data and performance measures predominantly focused on single crops, rather than complete rotations. Moreover, sustainability performance indicators are often used for assessment purposes, rather than supporting stakeholder learning and actions. A new set of 32 indicators was developed to address these needs, and used to evaluate the environmental, economic and social sustainability of the diversified agricultural systems highlighted in the case studies, which are often characterized by data availability constraints. This approach was tested in France, Germany and Italy to determine a critical ex-post diagnosis of the existing systems, and for the assessment of ex-ante innovative scenarios. The results will be used to support these case studies in the identification and design of more sustainable agricultural systems. Although the framework is based on feasible and proxy indicators, the assessment outcomes have allowed local actors to reflect on the effects generated by the implemented crop diversification strategies. Key issues include trade-offs occurring between optimizing economic and environmental performance.
Ileana Iocola; Frédérique Angevin; Christian Bockstaller; Rui Catarino; Michael Curran; Antoine Messéan; Christian Schader; Didier Stilmant; Florence Van Stappen; Paul Vanhove; Hauke Ahnemann; Jérémy Berthomier; Luca Colombo; Giovanni Dara Guccione; Emmanuel Mérot; Massimo Palumbo; Nino Virzì; Stefano Canali. An Actor-Oriented Multi-Criteria Assessment Framework to Support a Transition Towards Sustainable Agricultural Systems Based on Crop Diversification. Sustainability 2020, 12, 5434 .
AMA StyleIleana Iocola, Frédérique Angevin, Christian Bockstaller, Rui Catarino, Michael Curran, Antoine Messéan, Christian Schader, Didier Stilmant, Florence Van Stappen, Paul Vanhove, Hauke Ahnemann, Jérémy Berthomier, Luca Colombo, Giovanni Dara Guccione, Emmanuel Mérot, Massimo Palumbo, Nino Virzì, Stefano Canali. An Actor-Oriented Multi-Criteria Assessment Framework to Support a Transition Towards Sustainable Agricultural Systems Based on Crop Diversification. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (13):5434.
Chicago/Turabian StyleIleana Iocola; Frédérique Angevin; Christian Bockstaller; Rui Catarino; Michael Curran; Antoine Messéan; Christian Schader; Didier Stilmant; Florence Van Stappen; Paul Vanhove; Hauke Ahnemann; Jérémy Berthomier; Luca Colombo; Giovanni Dara Guccione; Emmanuel Mérot; Massimo Palumbo; Nino Virzì; Stefano Canali. 2020. "An Actor-Oriented Multi-Criteria Assessment Framework to Support a Transition Towards Sustainable Agricultural Systems Based on Crop Diversification." Sustainability 12, no. 13: 5434.
During the last decades, organic food products have become the main sustainable alternative to conventional food consumption. Among the several organic food attributes that consumers recognize in organic food, healthiness has been reported as the primary motivation to buy products certified as organic. The objective of the current study is to assess the relative weight of the health attribute among other recognized organic food attributes. To achieve this aim, a multiple price list (MPL) methodology is adopted to elicit consumers’ Willingness to Pay (WTP) for organic extra virgin olive oil (EVOO). Findings show that the contribution of the health attribute to determine the average premium price for organic EVOO is 78.9% of its total premium price. The study generates managerial implications to promote further expansion of the organic food market.
Giuseppina Rizzo; Massimiliano Borrello; Giovanni Dara Guccione; Giorgio Schifani; Luigi Cembalo. Organic Food Consumption: The Relevance of the Health Attribute. Sustainability 2020, 12, 595 .
AMA StyleGiuseppina Rizzo, Massimiliano Borrello, Giovanni Dara Guccione, Giorgio Schifani, Luigi Cembalo. Organic Food Consumption: The Relevance of the Health Attribute. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (2):595.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGiuseppina Rizzo; Massimiliano Borrello; Giovanni Dara Guccione; Giorgio Schifani; Luigi Cembalo. 2020. "Organic Food Consumption: The Relevance of the Health Attribute." Sustainability 12, no. 2: 595.
Background and Objective: Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) is the common element among the Mediterranean countries. It can be considered a nutraceutical and functional food, thanks to its bioactive compounds. It can act and modulate different processes linked to ageing and age-related diseases related to a common chronic low grade inflammation. Depending on the cultivar, the growth conditions, the period of harvesting, the productive process and time of product storage, EVOO could contain different amount of vegetal components. Of course, the same is for table olives. Methods: The aim of our review is to summarize the effects of EVOO and table olives on the immunemediated inflammatory response, focusing our attention on human studies. Results: Our report highlights the effect of specific molecules obtained from EVOO on the modulation of specific cytokines and anti-oxidants suggesting the importance of the daily consumption of both EVOO and table olives in the context of a Mediterranean dietary pattern. In addition, the different action on immune-inflammatory biomarkers, are depending on the olive tree cultivar. Conclusion: Thanks to their bioactive compounds, EVOO and table olive can be considered as nutraceutical and functional foods. The beneficial effects analysed in this review will help to understand the potential application of specific olive components as therapeutic adjuvant, supplements or drugs.
Caterina Maria Gambino; Giulia Accardi; Anna Aiello; Giuseppina Candore; Giovanni Dara Guccione; Mario Mirisola; Antonio Procopio; Giusi Taormina; Calogero Caruso. Effect of Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Table Olives on the ImmuneInflammatory Responses: Potential Clinical Applications. Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Disorders - Drug Targets 2017, 18, 14 -22.
AMA StyleCaterina Maria Gambino, Giulia Accardi, Anna Aiello, Giuseppina Candore, Giovanni Dara Guccione, Mario Mirisola, Antonio Procopio, Giusi Taormina, Calogero Caruso. Effect of Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Table Olives on the ImmuneInflammatory Responses: Potential Clinical Applications. Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Disorders - Drug Targets. 2017; 18 (1):14-22.
Chicago/Turabian StyleCaterina Maria Gambino; Giulia Accardi; Anna Aiello; Giuseppina Candore; Giovanni Dara Guccione; Mario Mirisola; Antonio Procopio; Giusi Taormina; Calogero Caruso. 2017. "Effect of Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Table Olives on the ImmuneInflammatory Responses: Potential Clinical Applications." Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Disorders - Drug Targets 18, no. 1: 14-22.
Anna Aiello; Giovanni Dara Guccione; Giulia Accardi; Calogero Caruso. What olive oil for healthy ageing? Maturitas 2015, 80, 117 -118.
AMA StyleAnna Aiello, Giovanni Dara Guccione, Giulia Accardi, Calogero Caruso. What olive oil for healthy ageing? Maturitas. 2015; 80 (2):117-118.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAnna Aiello; Giovanni Dara Guccione; Giulia Accardi; Calogero Caruso. 2015. "What olive oil for healthy ageing?" Maturitas 80, no. 2: 117-118.
Social embeddedness, defined as the interaction of economic activities and social behavior, is used in this study as a conceptual tool to describe the growing phenomenon of food community networks (FCNs). The aim in this paper was to map the system of relations which the FCNs develop both inside and outside the network and, from the number of relations, it was inferred the influence of each FCN upon the formation of new socially embedded economic realities. A particular form of FCN was taken under consideration: solidarity purchase groups (SPGs). Performed with the aid of social network analysis on a sample of SPGs in Sicily (a region in southern Italy), the study allowed us to identify a relational (internal) social embeddedness, in which groups of consumers and farmers are directly influenced by reciprocal interactions, giving rise to more or less numerous links of reciprocity and trust depending on the number of interactions. It was also identified a structural (external) social embeddedness, generated by the nature of relations that the SPGs undertake with the\ud various social actors. From the results of our analysis it emerges that SPGs lie at the\ud intersection of many social realities, influencing them and in turn being influenced by\ud such realities. We highlight the major role played by consumer and environmental associations in affecting the phenomenon of social embeddedness
Giuseppina Migliore; Giorgio Schifani; Giovanni Dara Guccione; Luigi Cembalo. Food Community Networks as Leverage for Social Embeddedness. Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics 2013, 27, 549 -567.
AMA StyleGiuseppina Migliore, Giorgio Schifani, Giovanni Dara Guccione, Luigi Cembalo. Food Community Networks as Leverage for Social Embeddedness. Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics. 2013; 27 (4):549-567.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGiuseppina Migliore; Giorgio Schifani; Giovanni Dara Guccione; Luigi Cembalo. 2013. "Food Community Networks as Leverage for Social Embeddedness." Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics 27, no. 4: 549-567.
This research analyses the main structural factors of the organic olive oil sector in Sicily, and the effects of the European sustainable development policy (EEC Regulation 2092/91, EEC Regulation 2078/92). It examines the trade marketing of organic producers of olive oil like the initiatives to exploit European branding, typicalness, and European recognition of PDO (protected denomination of origin).
M. Crescimanno; S. Di Marco; G. Guccione. Production and trade marketing policies regarding organic olive oil in Sicily. British Food Journal 2002, 104, 175 -186.
AMA StyleM. Crescimanno, S. Di Marco, G. Guccione. Production and trade marketing policies regarding organic olive oil in Sicily. British Food Journal. 2002; 104 (3/4/5):175-186.
Chicago/Turabian StyleM. Crescimanno; S. Di Marco; G. Guccione. 2002. "Production and trade marketing policies regarding organic olive oil in Sicily." British Food Journal 104, no. 3/4/5: 175-186.
This paper aims at a better knowledge of the organic wine sector in Sicily. In the last few years regulations 2078/92 and 2092/91 have had a wide diffusion in the agricultural regional context; a rapid increase of areas and farms justify the attention paid by the European union policies. Two aspects of the sector have been examined: the influence on the implementation of Reg. 2078/92 with regard to diffusion of the organic wine sector in Sicily; and a group of farms in the west of Sicily have been analysed to verify the scenario of organic wine, and the strategy used in the commercialization of organic production. The results show a very interesting framework for organic wine. This is a sector in the process of major expansion, especially with regard to the trade profile, mainly because of increasing demand from markets abroad.
M. Crescimanno; G.B. Ficani; Giovanni Dara Guccione. The production and marketing of organic wine in Sicily. British Food Journal 2002, 104, 274 -286.
AMA StyleM. Crescimanno, G.B. Ficani, Giovanni Dara Guccione. The production and marketing of organic wine in Sicily. British Food Journal. 2002; 104 (3/4/5):274-286.
Chicago/Turabian StyleM. Crescimanno; G.B. Ficani; Giovanni Dara Guccione. 2002. "The production and marketing of organic wine in Sicily." British Food Journal 104, no. 3/4/5: 274-286.