Agro-Environmental Practices and Business Performance in the Wine Sector

Svetlana Ignjatijević,Sandra Brkanlić,Duško Petrović,Vladimir Tomašević,Irena Milojević,Radivoj Prodanović,Jelena Vapa Tankosić,Nemanja Lekić,Bojan Vapa,Nikola Puvača

doi:10.3390/agriculture12020239

Svetlana Ignjatijević, Sandra Brkanlić + Show 8 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12020239

Copy DOI

Abstract

Wine production is directly related to the environmentally responsible production. In recent years, due to demands for an environmentally responsible wine production in the Republic of Serbia, wine producers have become aware of the environmental responsibilities and are taking measures to prevent environmental problems. The objective of this research was to investigate attitudes of winery owners/managers on business performance of the wineries concerning the environmental behavior and its disclosure. The research has been conducted in the period from July to the end of October 2021 on a sample of 330 small wineries in the Republic of Serbia. The data were processed in the Smart PLS software v.3.2.7. The findings show a positive connection between of both service and financial performance with an ethical environmental behavior and environmental disclosure. However, no positive connection between innovative performance and ethical environmental behavior or ethical environmental disclosure has been determined. The positive attitudes of managers on the environment influence the business performance of wineries and indirectly on environmental behavior and disclosure. The current study should contribute to the relevant literature, as it investigates not only firm behavior in the wine sector, but also the impact of firm performance on the environment.

Highlights

Due to its geographical position and favorable soil factors, the Republic of Serbia has a longstanding tradition of winegrowing
The findings have shown that wineries are aware of the importance of the environmentally responsible production and of the effects that can be achieved in this way
No research in Serbia has investigated the interplay of factors of environmental disclosure, business performance, brand performance, service performance, financial performance, innovative performance, and environmental attitudes and norms in the wine sector

Summary

Introduction

Due to its geographical position and favorable soil factors, the Republic of Serbia has a longstanding tradition of winegrowing. Data from SORS (Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia), from 2018, show that the areas under grapes are increasing and are maintained at the level of approximately 20.5 thousand ha. According to the SORS, the production of grapes, in 2018 amounted to 149,595 t, which is about 10% lower in relation to 2017 as well as in relation to the 10-year average (2009–2018). In the period (2009–2018), the total average annual grape production was 167,363 t [1]. [2] pointed out, that the wine production in Serbia is still at a relatively low level, which annually amounts to about 37.6 million liters, but in recent years, an optimistic growth trend has been registered [3] Prodanovicet al. [2] pointed out, that the wine production in Serbia is still at a relatively low level, which annually amounts to about 37.6 million liters, but in recent years, an optimistic growth trend has been registered [3]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion