Agro-food Chain Research Articles

Carbon Footprint of Honey in Different Beekeeping Systems

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) has been increasingly used for the improvement of the environmental performance of products and services, including agro-food chains. Pollination by honeybees can be regarded as one of the functions of an apicultural system and is of utmost importance for both natural ecosystems and agriculture. Furthermore, the beekeeping chain can represent an instrument for the protection and conservation of honeybee diversity when local subspecies are used. The Carbon Footprint of honey evaluates greenhouse gas emissions throughout the Life Cycle Assessment—more specifically, emissions of carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and methane. To this aim, data from beekeeping farms were collected, including data on annual honey production, other hive products, the geographical locations of the apiaries, processing plants, technologies used, and fuel and energy consumption. Based on the ISO 14040 method for the use of Life Cycle Assessment, the Carbon Footprints that were calculated for honey ranged from 1.40 to 2.20 kg CO2e/kg of honey for migratory beekeeping and from 0.380 to 0.48 kg CO2e/kg of honey for non-migratory beekeeping. The movements for the management of migratory beehives (on average, 44 km/hive for farm 1, 32 km/hive for farm 2, and 13 km/hive for farm 3) represented the main impact in migratory beekeeping systems, and they were quantified as 1.234, 1.113, and 0.68 CO2e/kg of honey. However, electricity represented the main impact of systems without migratory practices.

Implications for Agricultural Producers of Using Blockchain for Food Transparency, Study of 4 Food Chains by Cumulative Approach

In agro-food, Blockchain has been recently implemented in order to improve transparency. Blockchain raises great expectations of data decentralization and better efficiency–cost ratio, integration speed, and data protection that appear as promises of gains in all areas. The fundamental assumption was that transparency prevents or reduces illegitimate forms of power. However, discussions are emerging about how digitization is likely to exacerbate power inequalities in food systems, as transparency can become tyrannical when it contributes to the proliferation of audits, evaluations, and assessment measures. The objective of this research is to contribute by providing knowledge about the implications of this digitization for farmers. For a first exploratory study, we conducted 53 interviews with actors of digitalization of agri-food, and we used 9 press releases, 3 webinars, and 1 article published in a specialized French journal. These materials evoke 12 different agro-food chains recently equipped with blockchain in France. From this pool of chains, we focused on four through in-depth analysis of interviews and literature readings using NVivo software. The first results highlight that the use of blockchain for transparency rarely delivers on its promises. Blockchain tends to centralize control since few actors have access to the distributed ledger, and the visibility brought to farmers, at the consumer level, tends to become a form of control. While blockchain seems to provide some benefits to producers, it raises the issue of overloaded technology and the problem of their data privacy.

Influences of a Highly Reflective Mulching Membrane on Heat Propagation throughout the Soil

Agro-food chain impacts global greenhouse gas emissions by around 30%. To reduce this score without worsening food crops’ yield, new and more sustainable technologies (i.e., mulching membranes, advanced irrigation systems) were implemented. Within this framework, the present study aims to assess the influences on heat propagation throughout the soil of a highly reflective mulching membrane. An experimental facility was implemented in which the surface temperatures of both the soil and the membrane were monitored together with the temperature of the soil (at three depths). Five statistical days were defined by considering the same amount of percentiles of the monitored temperatures (0th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 100th percentiles). Then, the attenuation and the phase shift of the thermal wave throughout the soil and the cooling potential of the membrane were calculated. Although negligible variations from the uncovered soil were observed in surface temperature, the membrane enables a greater attenuation of the thermal wave throughout the soil. This can be up to 16 °C cooler than the surface, with potential benefits for plant growth. Furthermore, the membrane optical properties permit to offset carbon emissions from agriculture activities by around 0.1 tCO2-eq m−2.

Market Expansion of Caffeine-Containing Products: Italian and Argentinian Yerba Mate Consumer Behavior and Health Perception.

Mate is the most consumed beverage in South America. There is interest in expanding yerba mate sales into the old and new markets by promoting its health properties and energizing effects. The research study aims to explore Argentinian and Italian purchasing and consumption behavior and perception of yerba mate. The exploration includes agro-food chain stakeholders’ views, and consumers’ habits, perception, knowledge of yerba mate in relation to other market positioning caffeine-containing products. Data collection includes qualitative method, such as interviews with agro-food chain stakeholders, that is producers, processors, consumers, and quantitative consumer survey. Data collection was carried out in Argentina and in Italy. Results show that in Argentina yerba mate consumption is driven by habit and tradition, and in Italy yerba mate is mostly unknown. Consumers tend to drink yerba mate in Argentina and other caffeine-containing beverages in Italy to socialize, and as source of energy. Consumers have little awareness of yerba mate antioxidant properties. Yerba mate provides the energy of coffee drinking, and the taste and pleasure of tea drinking. Italian consumers’ key challenge to yerba mate drinking is the longer time it takes, compared to the usual espresso. Italians perceive it as an energetic or relaxing beverage, with a consumption experience similar to tea and infusions. There is need to update commercialization strategy of yerba mate in Italy.

Adoption of ICTs in Agri-Food Logistics: Potential and Limitations for Supply Chain Sustainability

A major challenge of Sustainable Development Goal 12 “Responsible Consumption and Production” is to reduce food losses along production and supply chains. This is particularly critical for fresh food products, due to their perishable and fragile nature, which makes the coordination of the actors all the more crucial to avoid wastes and losses. The rise of new technologies, referred to as “Industry 4.0” powered by the internet of things, big data analytics and artificial intelligence, could bring new solutions to meet these needs. Information and communication technologies (ICTs) allow for frequent exchanges of huge amounts of information between actors in the agrofood chains to coordinate their activities. The aim of the chapter is to provide a state-of-the-art analysis on ICTs used in agrofood supply chains, with a special focus on the case of fresh fruits and vegetables, to analyze the potential and weaknesses which exist in different forms of supply chains for ICTs becoming a “resource” (precious, rare, non-imitable, and nonsubstitutable) prospect and to suggest promising ICTs in this context.

Price Fairness of Processed Tomato Agro-Food Chain: The Italian Consumers' Perception Perspective.

Food consumers are increasingly searching for emotions and values when purchasing and consuming food. They search for products that ensure social and environmental sustainability, in addition to more common extrinsic product attributes, such as price, packaging, origin, and brand. In particular, there is increasing interest towards product price fairness. The current study aims at exploring consumers’ perception and understanding of price fairness, focusing on the processed tomato products agro-food chain. The study interviewed 832 people. Data were collected through an online questionnaire with the support of Qualtrics software, and data elaboration was carried out with Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). The elaboration includes an Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) to identify existing latent factors in the consumers’ perception of enabling agro-food system elements influencing farmers’ reception of fair prices. Then, factor mean values were cross-analysed with socio-economic characteristics and processed tomato consumption habits with Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Results support the idea that consumers are limitedly aware of the processed tomato agro-food chain dynamics and consider farmers as the most unfairly remunerated partner. Women and frequently purchasing consumers of processed tomato products believe farmers should be treated more fairly. There is a difference between what consumers perceive as fair price distribution and actual price distribution among processed tomato chain actors. Further studies may focus on how fairness attribute impacts on consumer purchasing behaviour.

Features of agro-food chains formation in foreign markets

The article is devoted to the study of the peculiarities of the formation of agri-food chains in foreign markets and the calculation of value added losses in export-import operations of agri-food. It is established that the share of the agricultural sector in the GDP of Ukraine is 10.2% at the lowest value added per employee 4801.4 dollars. USA. It is estimated that in 2010–2019, in the structure of Ukraine's exports, agricultural products provided 19% of foreign exchange earnings in 2011 and 40% in 2019, which is evidence of the strengthening of export positions of the studied sector of the economy in foreign markets. It was revealed that in 2019 the share of agri-food products was 44.3%, or 22.2 billion dollars. US, or increased by 19% compared to 2018, while total exports from the country during this period increased by only 6%. It is determined that in the structure of exports of agri-food products the share of plant products is 58%, and in the commodity structure of exports the largest share falls on cereals - 74%, as well as oilseeds - 20%. It is concluded that the export of agricultural food in 2010–2019 is formed by raw materials, while the value added of processed products - sunflower oil, poultry meat - is higher than that of grain. Threats to the functioning of agri-food supply chains to foreign markets caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and government actions of the world and Ukraine to ensure food security are systematized. It is substantiated that the structure of Ukraine's foreign trade is rational, as raw materials predominate in supplies to foreign markets, and technically complex products dominate in the structure of imports. It is estimated that the foreign trade balance of goods and services in 2019 is negative in the amount of 3.7 billion dollars, but improved by 2.5 billion dollars. relative to the 2018 figure. It is substantiated that in order to achieve a positive value of the foreign trade balance of Ukraine it is necessary to stimulate the development of food industries, ie products with high added value. It is analyzed that the increase in exports of agricultural raw materials leads to a shortfall in value added, and, consequently, the state budget loses significant revenues in the form of value added tax (processed agricultural products are subject to VAT on its exports), tax on profit, export duty (rate 18%, for the export of live farm animals). It was found that the value structure of agricultural imports is dominated by the group of "finished food products" (45%); the second position of agri-food imports is occupied by products of plant origin, the share of which is 31%; third - products of animal origin, whose share in the structure of imports is about 18%. It is suggested that state support instruments, such as VAT refunds, should only be used to stimulate high value-added industries. Key words: agri-food supply chains, export, import, foreign markets, value added.

Determinants of formation of agro-food chains in the environment of households of Ukraine

The article is devoted to the study of the determinants of the formation of agri-food chains in the households of Ukraine and the substantiation of the directions of their integration into competitive supply chains. It is argued that the developments in both scientific and practical aspects of creating conditions and prerequisites for the integration of PF in the competitiveness of the supply chain and increasing value added at each level of its participants are relevant. It is highlighted that local supply chains in foreign practice are considered as tools for generating income of the rural population, the implementation of the principles of sustainable development of rural areas, as well as considered as short, local and "smart chains". It is substantiated that it is the promotion of the development of local agricultural chains with the involvement of PF in domestic practice that will contribute to the sustainable development of rural areas, ensuring food security of the country. It is argued that in order to create preconditions and conditions for the development of rural households for crop production, it is necessary to develop measures to streamline sales channels and include them in competitive supply chains. It is established that a significant part of agricultural products grown by households is used for self-sufficiency of the family, feed for farm animals and poultry, and surplus products, especially in remote rural areas, are lost due to spoilage and unclaimed. It is clear that the informal relationship between the distribution and exchange of crop products produced in PF is not a tool to maximize the profits of their members. and, therefore, it is advisable to create favorable economic conditions for their inclusion in the supply chain of agricultural production. The characteristic properties of commodity parties, PF are systematized, namely: small volumes of production, low technological standards, limited production resources, which limits the opportunities to use the potential opportunities to return capital on a scale. It was found that a certain part of the grown crop products is sold by PF through a network of retail food markets, the sale of fruits and vegetables and potatoes is carried out through retail organizations, wholesale markets for agricultural products and trade intermediaries. Measures are proposed to integrate PF into value chains on the basis of creating a network of regional wholesale and distribution centers and organizing units for purchasing surplus agricultural products, deepening the development of agricultural cooperation. Key words: agricultural sector, employment, rural households, small farmers, competitive supply chains.

Methodological bases of priority directions of scientific researches in the agrarian sector of Ukraine

The article systematizes the methodological principles and highlights the priority areas of research in the agricultural sector of the economy, taking into account the factors of external and internal environment of its development. The key challenges facing the world and national agricultural sphere are analyzed and systematized, among which the starvation of a large part of the world's population and its poverty, which are also inherent in Ukraine, are considered in detail. It is emphasized that the common challenges of food security in the world and in individual countries imply differences in approaches to their solution. It is proved that solving problems and overcoming challenges is mediated through transformations and changes that have taken place and will continue to take place in the agricultural sector of Ukraine. The main ones are: global climate change, the COVID-2019 pandemic, elections to local governments, regional councils and councils of enlarged districts and local councils of united territorial communities, the opening of the land market, etc. The priority directions of scientific researches in the agrarian sector of economy are substantiated, which are first of all connected with the following tasks: food security, increase of stability in the conditions of development turbulence, maintenance of innovative and sustainable development, increase of competitiveness of agro-food chains, sustainable development of united territorial communities. agricultural production, improving the quality of the rural population life and others. It is established that modern science has formed a powerful methodological and methodological potential, which allows to successfully solve the problem of creating models to support decision-making on the strategic development of any economic system, including agricultural sector of the economy. It is argued that rational scenarios for the long-term development of the agricultural sector can be obtained only on the basis of a reasonable combination of different methodological approaches, models and methods of research in the agricultural sector. The main models of support and decision-making for the strategic development of the agricultural sector as a socio-economic system are identified: data analysis methods (Data Mining), scenario method, simulation models, Monte Carlo method, data mining methods, methods of intellectual and cognitive modeling. Keywords: agricultural sector, methodology, priority scientific researches, territorial communities, agriculture, food industry.

Bioactive Compounds from Vine Shoots, Grape Stalks, and Wine Lees: Their Potential Use in Agro-Food Chains.

The winemaking sector is one of the most productive worldwide, and thus it also generates large amounts of by-products with high environmental impacts. Furthermore, global market trends and government regulations promote industrial alternatives based on sustainable production processes. As a result, several studies have focused their attention on the reuse of grape by-products in the agro-food chain. Vine shoots, grape stalks, and wine lees, although produced to a lesser extent than grape pomace, have increasingly been receiving attention for their applications in the food sector, since they are a good source of functional and bioactive compounds. In this framework, our review highlights the promising results obtained by exploiting the antioxidant and/or antimicrobial activity of vine shoots, grape stalks, and wine lees or their extracts to replace the most common oenological additives and to assay the activity against food pathogens. Further, innovative functional foods and sustainable food packaging have been formulated by taking advantage of polyphenols and fiber, as well as plant bio-stimulants, in order to obtain grapes and wines with high quality characteristics. Overall, these by-products showed the potential to be recycled into the food chain as functional additives for different products and applications, supporting the sustainability of the winemaking sector.

Resolving the disconnect between market actors, agents and brokers and small-holder fresh produce farmers in Agribusiness

Farming contributes a good portion of African GDP and employs a substantial percentage of Africa’s labour force. African farming is characterised by smallholder farmers who sell to market actors’ agents and brokers. As a result, farmers complain of low returns on investments and cartel behaviour which discourage younger generation in venturing into farming or taking farming as business. The objective of this paper is to review the literature and suggest a model that could address the disconnect, based on the collective entrepreneurship theory. Keywords: small-holder farmers, market actors’ agents and brokers, cartel behaviour, collective entrepreneurship theory, African farming, agri-business, agro-food chains

Supercritical CO2 Extraction of Phytocompounds from Olive Pomace Subjected to Different Drying Methods.

Olive pomace is a semisolid by-product of olive oil production and represents a valuable source of functional phytocompounds. The valorization of agro-food chain by-products represents a key factor in reducing production costs, providing benefits related to their reuse. On this ground, we herein investigate extraction methods with supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) of functional phytocompounds from olive pomace samples subjected to two different drying methods, i.e., freeze drying and hot-air drying. Olive pomace was produced using the two most common industrial olive oil production processes, one based on the two-phase (2P) decanter and one based on the three-phase (3P) decanter. Our results show that freeze drying more efficiently preserves phytocompounds such as α-tocopherol, carotenoids, chlorophylls, and polyphenols, whereas hot-air drying does not compromise the β-sitosterol content and the extraction of squalene is not dependent on the drying method used. Moreover, higher amounts of α-tocopherol and polyphenols were extracted from 2P olive pomace, while β-sitosterol, chlorophylls, and carotenoids were more concentrated in 3P olive pomace. Finally, tocopherol and pigment/polyphenol fractions exerted antioxidant activity in vitro and in accelerated oxidative conditions. These results highlight the potential of olive pomace to be upcycled by extracting from it, with green methods, functional phytocompounds for reuse in food and pharmaceutical industries.

Innovative Digital Technologies for Purchasing and Consumption in Urban and Regional Agro-Food Systems: A Systematic Review

The use of digital technologies in the agro-food sector is growing worldwide, and applications in the urban and regional food systems represent a relevant segment of such growth. The present paper aims at reviewing the literature on which and how digital technologies support urban and regional agro-food purchasing and consumption, as well as their characteristics. Data collection was performed on Scopus and Web of Science. Articles were selected using a research string and according to specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) flow approach was adopted to explain data screening and selection. The 57 resulting studies were included in the final qualitative analysis, which explored the characteristics of the research studies and of the digital technologies analysed. Most of the studies analysed concerned the implications of digital technologies on local food consumption, especially focusing on consumption, primary production and hotel-restaurant-café-catering sector (HORECA), and to a limited extent on the retail sector. Consumers and farmers are the main targets of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) tools, whose principal aims are providing information on agro-food products and enhancing networking along the food supply chain. Analysing digital technologies allows a better understanding of their most popular features in order to support their spread among citizens. Digital technologies, and particularly Apps, can be a valuable instrument to strengthen agro-food chain actor relations and to promote urban and regional food systems.

Social Impact and Sustainability in short food supply chains: an experimental assessment tool.

In recent years, as global food chains have expanded, a wide range of terms has been used in the academic, political, technical or social debate to illustrate innovative re-organisation of food supply chains aiming at re-connecting producers and consumers and re-localising agricultural and food production. These include short supply chains, alternative food networks, local farming systems and direct sales. This paper presents a research carried out during the SMARTCHAIN project (Horizon project within the research line “Innovative agro-food chains: unlocking the potential for competitiveness and sustainability”). The research aims at iden-tifying an assessment model for grasping the level of social innovation in Short Food Supply Chain (SFSC) taking into consideration the social and sustainability indicators. A specific tool, the Social Innovation Assess-ment Template (SIAT) was created for this purpose. The SIAT investigates five dimensions of SFSC: economic, environmental, socio-cultural, governance and influence (positive impact on other sectors & stakeholders) dimensions. The assessment has been tested in 9 European countries and 16th case studies. The findings show both managerial implications for the SFSC and policy implications for strengthening the SFSC ecosystem.

Critical success and risk factors for circular business models valorising agricultural waste and by-products

For a transition from a linear, ‘take-make-dispose’ economy to a sustainable usage of all constituents of renewable resources in cascading and circular pathways, new business models valorising streams that are currently considered as waste are needed.The aim of this article is to understand critical success and risk factors of eco-innovative business models that contribute to a circular economy via agricultural unavoidable waste or by-products valorisation.39 cases were studied focusing on agricultural side stream conversion into valuable products. Semi-structured interviews were performed and secondary data collected. Cases were analysed according to types of initiatives, main objectives, resources and valorisation pathways, as well as external and internal factors that have influenced the businesses over time.Following success and risk factor categories are identified: (1) technical and logistic, (2) economic, financial and marketing, (3) organisational and spatial, (4) institutional and legal, (5) environmental, social and cultural. Herein, specific factors for the agricultural sector are innovative conversion technologies, flexible in and out logistics, joint investments in R&D, price competitiveness for bio-based products, partnerships with research organisations, space availability, subsidies, agricultural waste management regulations, local stakeholder involvement and acceptance of bio-based production processes.Insights from this study can help farmers and agribusiness managers by defining and adapting their strategies within their local contexts. They also show that for shifting from linear agro-food chains to a circular system, individual businesses need to evolve towards more dynamic and integrated business models, in which the macro-environment sets the boundary conditions for successful operations.

Social capital and rural development research in Chile. A qualitative review and quantitative analysis based on academic articles

The Bourdieusian and Putnamian traditions guide scientific debate on social capital at international level. Nevertheless, the recent literature by non-Western scholars has progressively widened the discussion by investigating in what way social capital could be further studied in different cultural contexts and traditions. Among these, Chile constitutes a compelling case study. Since the 1970s, the dictatorship has dismantled enclaves of collective action, especially in rural areas where agrarian reform was progressing towards an equal distribution of assets. Moreover, since the 1990s the neoliberal model, although mitigated by the growth with equity approach , has over time attested to asymmetric power relations reflected on the unequal distribution of wealth and high level of poverty specifically in rural areas. Specifically, the twofold aims of the paper are to: (i) identify key research priorities and specific contributions of Chilean literature to the international debate and, (ii) analyse how the Bourdieusian and Putnamian theoretical traditions on social capital have influenced the Chilean discussion. Consequently, a qualitative review of selected articles is presented and complemented with a quantitative analysis performed through network graphs of authors and journals, and bibliographic ratios. The results specify the five research priorities addressing causal links between social capital and (i) the environment, (ii) indigenous communities, (iii) political demand and public policies, (iv) participation, and (v) marketing strategies and market dynamics. Furthermore, results evidence the complementary role of Bourdieusian and Putnamian traditions in the Chilean discussion, which are considered synergic by scholars. • The results specify the five research priorities addressing causal links between social capital and the enviroment, indigenous communities, political demand and public policies, participation and, marketing strategies and merket dynamics. • In terms of the Bourdieusian and Putnamian theoretical perspectives on social capital, Chilean literature embraces both the theorisations, with a slight preference to the Bourdieusian one. • Since the 1990's the neo-liberal model applied in Chilean rural areas has been centred on vertical networks linking rural spaces to the global agro-food chain, with detrimental environmental, social, and economic externalities on peasants and indigenous populations. • The neo-liberal model has paid less attention to the role of horizontal social networks in local development processes, which in the long run could make the model unsustainable as recent social movements in Chile are already evidencing.

Price Transmission Among the Participants of the Livestock Products Agrofood Chain in Ukraine

The article, by the example of livestock products, estimates and analyses the mechanism of price transfer (transmission) among the participants of the agrofood chain (agricultural producers, food processing and trading companies) and discovers abnormalities, imbalances and mismatches of the economic relations development among the stated participants. Straight-line regression with application of least-squares method was built, as well as three linear trend models that allowed to forecast the trends for price change at each administrative and technical stage of the product distribution (production, processing, trade). Quantitative evaluation was held for the price change of the livestock product market, and the time needed for the change. The obtained data confirmed the market “weakness” of agricultural goods producers denying the industrial safety guarantee of the country as a whole.

Fruit Sector Strategic Management: An Exploration of Agro-food Chain Actors’ Perception of Market Sustainability of Apple Innovation

The fresh fruit industry is a highly dynamic sector in the food market. Fresh fruit chain actors have to adapt to the changing market environment in order to face upcoming challenges. The objective of this study is to analyze the market sustainability of red-fleshed apples (RFA) by exploring consumers’ and fresh fruit industry experts’ and stakeholders’ opinions in Italy and New Zealand. The study was carried out in Italy and New Zealand from December 2018 to June 2019 including 778 consumers and 29 expert and stakeholder interviews. Results show a promising market potential of RFA. Innovative attributes and nutritional value of RFA are the most important factors that push consumers’ interest and willingness to buy RFA. New Zealand consumers and women show a higher appreciation of RFA. The nutritional value of the fruit can be a strategic marketing management attribute especially for health-conscious consumers. However, experts think the market for RFA will develop slowly, and will remain a niche product. Some stakeholders are skeptical about consumer RFA appreciation, and fear that RFA are too radical a novelty on the market. The RFA may be perceived as not natural. There is the need to coordinate food chain stakeholders’ management practices on RFA. This allows to mitigate risks, set food standards acceptable for all chain stakeholders, and make sustainable economic investment on innovation.

Problems of functioning and directions of agro-food chains development in the conditions of turbulence strengthening

The article substantiates scientic and methodological approaches and principles of distribution, formation, effectiveness, effciency of functioning and development of agri-food chains. It is determined that agro-food chains have acquired the most significant economic and social importance for the inclusion of small producers in the processes of practical production cooperation, which prompted the requirements related to the specifics of the technology of production of finished food products. The main factors that provoke the emergence of extremely contradictory and diverse phenomena in the development of agri-food chains include: globalization of international relations, intensification of turbulent phenomena and processes in the world economy, the entry of advanced countries to new economic frontiers. For the current stage of development of the national economy, the practical implementation of one of the key objectives of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the European Union was of paramount importance. For the purpose of periodic audit of HACCP-certified food processing enterprises, the specified structure of business entities that ensure the production of finished food and other products is highlighted. These calculations show that in 2018 in Ukraine the producers of agricultural raw materials were 49550 farms/enterprises and 23822 natural personsentrepreneurs who are oficially registered and represent the primary link in the food chain. The next link in the agri-food chain are processors of raw materials of primary production, which in Ukraine in 2018 were 5872 enterprises and 10845 individual entrepreneurs, of which 157 enterprises and 1016 sole proprietors produce non-food products. The analysis allows us to conclude that now the producers of food raw materials have the following situation: a) Àexible or simplified permanent procedures, certified (or tested) their facilities for compliance with the minimum requirements of basic programs; b) the second part, mainly FOPs and PF, continue to operate traditionally, ie without paying special attention to the time requirements for the implementation of systematic security procedures. It is established that in practice, some producers of food raw materials, with different levels of tightness, depth of processing and value creation, are already included in agri-food chains. Taking into account the objectively existing tendencies of spontaneous, at the initial stage mainly seasonal occurrence, and further deepening and strengthening of interrelations between actors, the hierarchy of formation and sustainable development of food chains is offered. Key words: agro-food chains, economic turbulence, agricultural raw materials, personal farms, processing and food enterprises, sustainable development, added value.

Effects of institutional pressures on the governance of food safety in emerging food supply chains: a case of Lebanese food processors

Food safety has become a major development challenge and a key influence on the strategic behavior of food companies. The study seeks to analyze the effect of perceived institutional pressures on the governance of food safety and the effect this may have on food safety performance in emerging food supply chains. The research develops a conceptual framework that links perceived institutional pressures, degree of food manufacturer-supplier relationships, food safety practices, and food safety output. The hypothesized relationships were tested in the Middle Eastern context, where food safety concerns are rising. Accordingly, a survey was carried out to collect data from food quality/safety managers representing 94 food processors across Lebanon. The study finds that perceived institutional pressures have a direct and strong effect on the degree of integration in the agro-food supply chain (i.e., in terms of long-term relationships, strategic information sharing, information technology connection, and logistic integration), and such an integration, in turn, increases the intensity of food safety practices and food safety performance. However, in the absence of strong manufacturer-supplier relationships, perceived institutional pressures do not lead to improved food safety performance. The study suggests that long-term food manufacturer-supplier relationship is necessary if agro-food chain actors are to respond to established regulatory demands, industry practices, and social norms.