In this study, we examined the roles of foreign direct investment (FDI), skilled labour, and technical efficiency in determining the exports of the food and beverage industries in Indonesia. To address this issue, we utilised data from industry micro firms for the period 2010-2015. We applied the maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) technique to the logistic model and the stochastic frontier analysis (SFA). Findings revealed that the food and beverage industries are operating below the possible technical efficiency (TE). However, foreign direct investment, skilled labour, technical efficiency, and industrial concentration assert a significant positive effect on the probability of firms' exports. In the food and beverages sector and the beverages industry, firm size promotes exports; however, in the food industry, firm size has the opposite effect, reducing exports. The imported raw materials have an insignificant effect on the firms' probability of exporting. Interestingly, findings on the mediating roles of technical efficiency and industrial concentration, as well as technical efficiency and firm size, revealed an increasing influence on the probability of exporting. Skilled labour and firm size only positively promote exports in the foods and beverages sector and the food industry, but not in the beverages industry. These findings are novel and present an important pathway for policy-making related to the food and beverage industry, potentially shaping future strategies and initiatives in the Indonesian food and beverage sector.

The sustainability of the agricultural sector is closely linked to the ability of territorial system to effectively address the challenges of water resource management in the context of climate change. The reuse of treated wastewater is increasingly recognized as a key strategy for ensuring a sustainable water supply in agriculture. This study proposes an innovative methodological approach aimed at identifying the Utilised Agricultural Area (UAA) potentially irrigable with treated wastewater, with particular attention to high value crops certified as PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) and PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) in the Campania region. The methodology is based on the integration of data from three main sources: SIGRIAN, for mapping irrigated areas; EEA/SINTAI, for classifying wastewater treatment plants; and AGEA, for identifying land use in irrigated areas. This approach enables the association, in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2020/741, of the water quality class required for each crop with that one potentially available from wastewater treatment plants, also taking into account the existence of suitable distribution infrastructures. The results of the analysis highlight that the proposed methodology, applied to agricultural sector in Campania, with a focus on high-quality production, can effectively guide public policies in promoting targeted infrastructure investments. These investments aim to protect areas most vulnerable to drought and support high value crops, particularly certified ones, through the adoption of advanced technological solutions and integrated water resource planning, which are key to ensuring the resilience and long-term prosperity of the regional agricultural sector.

This article aims to examine the scenario of credit granting and default among rural producers in the state of Rondônia between the years 2020 and 2024. The research is quantitative and descriptive, based on secondary data and document analysis concerning the management and operations of Banco da Amazônia (Bank of the Amazon) related to the Constitutional Fund for Financing the North (FNO). The results show that approximately 4.5 billion reais and 16,689 loans were granted during the period under study, of which 9,239 were allocated for operating expenses and 5,116 for investment purposes. It was found that default rates are low, since only 282 contracts (1.69% of the total) had overdue installments. It is also noteworthy that 10 municipalities in Rondônia, out of a total of 52, concentrate 48.48% of the credit contracts and 62.75% of the total credit amount granted. The study concludes that rural credit provides producers with resources to finance their activities and invest in infrastructure, innovation, and technology, enabling them to increase production, productivity, employment, and income, as well as improve living conditions in rural areas. These findings contribute to the understanding of the dynamics of rural credit allocation and default, providing insights for future research and for policies aimed at improving the rural credit system in the state.

Food insecurity persists in rural Indonesia despite agricultural abundance, disproportionately affecting women in farming households. This study investigates the interplay of food security, gender inclusion, and women's empowerment among 296 pineapple farming households in East Kotawaringin Regency, Central Kalimantan. Employing a cross-sectional design, data were collected via structured questionnaires and analyzed using the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS), a Localized Women's Empowerment in Agriculture Index (LWEAI), and Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). Results reveal that access to credit and market information significantly reduces food insecurity, while larger household sizes increase vulnerability. Gender inclusion strongly predicts empowerment, enhancing women's autonomy and leadership, though food insecurity undermines both. The LWEAI, tailored to local contexts, and PLS-SEM's robust analysis offer novel frameworks for understanding these dynamics. Findings advocate for gender-responsive policies – such as women-targeted microcredit and extension services – to strengthen food security and equity, aligning with Indonesia's national development goals and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2 and 5.

In this study, we examined the roles of foreign direct investment (FDI), skilled labour, and technical efficiency in determining the exports of the food and beverage industries in Indonesia. To address this issue, we utilised data from industry micro firms for the period 2010-2015. We applied the maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) technique to the logistic model and the stochastic frontier analysis (SFA). Findings revealed that the food and beverage industries are operating below the possible technical efficiency (TE). However, foreign direct investment, skilled labour, technical efficiency, and industrial concentration assert a significant positive effect on the probability of firms' exports. In the food and beverages sector and the beverages industry, firm size promotes exports; however, in the food industry, firm size has the opposite effect, reducing exports. The imported raw materials have an insignificant effect on the firms' probability of exporting. Interestingly, findings on the mediating roles of technical efficiency and industrial concentration, as well as technical efficiency and firm size, revealed an increasing influence on the probability of exporting. Skilled labour and firm size only positively promote exports in the foods and beverages sector and the food industry, but not in the beverages industry. These findings are novel and present an important pathway for policy-making related to the food and beverage industry, potentially shaping future strategies and initiatives in the Indonesian food and beverage sector.

This study explores the factors that influence Vietnamese university students' food choices when it comes to products containing non-nutritive sweeteners (NNSs). Drawing on consumer behavior theory and insights from focus group discussions, a conceptual model was developed with five independent variables – Health Perception, Acceptance, Product Properties, Beliefs, and Availability – and one dependent variable – Food Choice. A survey was then conducted both online and offline with 1,849 responses and further reduced to 936 valid responses after two rounds of data cleaning. Data from the survey were analyzed for reliability, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and structural equation modeling (SEM). The results confirmed a good model fit with strong convergent and discriminant validity. Three factors significantly influenced food choices were: Acceptance (ß = 0.463), Health Perception (ß = 0.235), and Availability (ß = 0.141), with Acceptance being the most influential. These findings offer valuable insights for businesses and organizations aiming to promote NNS-containing products more effectively. Understanding the key drivers behind students' food choices can help stakeholders tailor their products and communication strategies to better meet consumer needs and encourage healthier dietary habits.

The paper investigates the determinants of consumers' willingness to pay a price premium for extra virgin olive oil with health claims on its label. Drawing on a multidimensional framework, the research explores the role of subjective and objective knowledge of the product, the importance attributed to the sensory attributes, the attention given to the health information, and the impact of socio-demographic variables on consumers' willingness to pay. Data were collected via an online questionnaire administered to 405 consumers in Sicily (Italy), a region with a strong olive oil tradition. Using a logistic regression model, the results show that subjective knowledge, the value assigned to health information, average expenditure for extra virgin olive oil, and household size significantly affect the willingness to pay. Conversely, flavour profile and objective knowledge do not have a statistically significant impact. These findings offer practical implications for extra virgin olive oil producers and marketers, highlighting the need for clear health-related labelling and targeted educational strategies to enhance consumer engagement and perceived value of the product with health claims on the label.