Agro-food Chain Research Articles

Innovation in agro-food chain

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to offer a new perspective on innovation in agro-food industry. Innovations in the agro-food industry depend on multiple forces interacting with each other under specific rules to create new ways to deal with social or economic processes. The relevance of this topic for the whole economy leads the authors to investigate main drivers of innovation in agro-food system. Design/methodology/approach – The authors provide a framework that considers the role of policies, actors and activities for innovation in the agro-food industry and tests its validity on the Campanian tomato sub-system. Findings – The authors’ framework applied to Campanian tomato sub-system shows the role of institutions, actors and activities in promoting innovation in agro-food system. Originality/value – The paper offers a new perspective on innovation in agro-food industry.

Innovation in Territorial Governance: The Case of Agricultural Districts in Lombardy Region

In recent years globalization and the economic crisis have been pressing the agricultural sector, driving farmers to adopt new tools in order to deal with the challenges put in place by a globalized market and by the actions of agricultural policies. In this sense, the Italian legislation allows them joining in organized superstructures which, referring to the concept of industrial district, involve different members of a specific production sector in a territorial context,. in a network of relationships and a higher vertical and horizontal integration. Under these drivers, agricultural rural districts, agro-food quality districts and supply chain districts are been constituted. They represent concrete examples of a new form of territorial governance that may play a role in the development and enhancement of the local area and its agro-food production. Three districts belonging to different categories operating and recognized by Lombardy region have been taken such as case studies and a set of qualitative criteria and indicators is proposed, in order to provide a framework of their characteristics and a preliminary comparison among them.

Governing China's food quality through transparency: A review

In coping with food quality problems, China relies heavily on state institutions, such as laws and regulations, governmental standards and certification, and inspections and enforcement. Recently, transparency (or information disclosure) has been introduced in China’s governance framework to cope with its growing food quality and related sustainability problems. This article investigates to what extent and how China’s transparency institutions and practices regarding food production and products play a role in governing food quality and safety. Four forms of food chain transparency are distinguished and assessed: management transparency, regulatory transparency, consumer transparency and public transparency. It is concluded that in China food chain transparency is still in its infancy with respect to governing domestic food production and product quality and safety, and that only with respect to global (export) food chains transparency and accountability put some pressure on agro-food chain actors to improve their performance with respect to food quality and sustainability. By the same token furthering transparency on food quality is desperately needed as the state’s food management and control system alone proves not capable to provide safe food that is credible and trusted by domestic consumers.

L'utilizzo degli standard privati di qualità nella gdo italiana. Il caso dello standard GlobalG.A.P.

Voluntary standards have gained in importance all over the world. The choice to set-up voluntary standards and their consequent widespread application came from the private stakeholders’ need to gain the trust and increase the security on the part of consumers and agro-food actors. In particular, it was a result of the negative effects caused by several food scares and the public’s difficulty in reacting promptly and efficiently to agro-food changes. Since the late 1980s, this process has been growing significantly. As a result, the setting-up of significant numbers of standards and the wide-range they cover has mirrored an ongoing transformation in food safety and food quality management among international agro-food chains. The main goal of this paper is to analyze the reasons for the wide diffusion of private standards schemes within the Italian retail market as well as obstacles it faces through the study of the Global-Gap standards case. Global-Gap is a private sector body that proposes voluntary standards for the certification of agricultural production processes around the world. Unlike other standards, Global-Gap has succeeded in establishing itself as a leader, both in Europe and all around the world. Nonetheless, Global-Gap’s geographical distribution is not homogeneous either across territories or in firms’ business strategies. The survey helped to explain the particular Italian paradox, which, on the one hand, shows a large number of farms implementing the Global-Gap standard, but, on the other hand, its relatively infrequent use by retailers operating in Italy when accrediting upstream actors. North European retailers, in contrast, adopt this standard as a sort of passkey for fruit and vegetable producers.

Greening, new frontiers for research and employment in the agro-food sector

The “greening” of the European Union's (EU) Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is meant to protect and enhance biodiversity as well as to make food production more sustainable by encouraging, for example, the responsible use of natural resources. The “greening” process seems to be driven by, first of all, the policy push through various policy and regulatory measures. Farmers have to invest time and resources in maintaining permanent grasslands, practice crop diversification and manage ecological focus areas for which they will receive compensation from the EU. “Greening” is also driven by the consumer or market pull generated by preferences for more sustainably produced food and sustainability initiatives along the agro-food chain. EU investments in research and development activities are required for the successful implementation of greening practices. Professionals from different disciplines are called upon to provide, in the next few years, solutions for all the new requirements in order to realize a sustainable and socially and economically healthy agricultural system. Besides this, farmers need support to implement and manage greening measures, but also to reap the benefits of their investments by networking and engaging with stakeholders higher in the agro-food chain, such as retailers and supermarkets. This is not only to assure sustainability at processing, packaging and storage, but also to increase visibility of farmers' practices to consumers through communication that may help influencing consumers' choices. These factors are currently not given the importance they need by the EU, but are crucial for a successful “greening”.

Framing sustainability in agro food chains: from mysticism to actual practice analyzes

Framing sustainability in agro food chains: from mysticism to actual practice analyzes

Agriculture branch of the Romanian economy.

Agriculture is an integral part of contemporary Romanian economy and society. In terms ofindirect effects, any significant cut back in European farming activity would in turn generate losses inGDP and jobs in linked economic sectors – notably within the agro-food supply chain, which relies onthe Romanian primary agricultural sector for high quality, competitive and reliable raw materialinputs, as well as in non-food sectors. Rural activities, from tourism, transport, to local and publicservices would also be affected. Depopulation in rural areas would probably accelerate. There wouldtherefore be important environmental and social consequences.

Fusarium genetic traceability: Role for mycotoxin control in small grain cereals agro-food chains

Risks associated with mycotoxin contamination of cereals, that are included in the ten major staple foods and greatly contribute to the dietary energy intake, are of worldwide relevance. In small grain cereals, mycotoxins are produced by fungi such as Aspergillus, Penicillium, Alternaria and Fusarium that colonize the plant in the field and can grow during the post-harvest period, producing several classes of mycotoxins. The identification of mycotoxigenic fungal species and strains is essential for developing effective strategies for control. For this purpose, genetic traceability has proved to be a valuable tool that can be applied along the whole production chain, starting in the field for early diagnosis of FHB (Fusarium Head Blight) disease to the final processing steps, such as malting or pasta making. In this paper, DNA-based analytical tools that are currently available for the identification and quantification of mycotoxigenic fungal species and strains are reviewed, with particular emphasis on Fusarium, and their possible applications in mycotoxin control in small grain cereal chains are discussed.

EU Agro-Food Chain and Vertical Integration Potentiality: a Strategy for Diversification?

This work utilizes Leontief input–output tables to establish, through new appropriate indicators (the new entry barriers and invasion indices), the strategy pursued by some branches of EU countries for diversifying production, so enriching thus the range of their secondary products. Our attention is focused on EU countries strategic perspectives of diversification by vertical integration, regarding in particular the potentiality of the main Agro-food Chain branches: “Agriculture, hunting and related services” and “Food and beverages”. In this context, we deal with the backward and forward linkages that are the expression of Agriculture and Food vertical integration potentialities through their secondary production in the main field of competence (core business) of the other that reaches a total of €55 billion. In this research, we observe some basic elements: (a) EU Agriculture takes advantage from the opportunity to diversify itself by vertical integration in the field of competence of Food and beverage. So Agriculture will ensure higher incomes and vital outlets for its survival. Food industry entry barriers are feeble and can be circumvented. (b) Food and beverages does not want or perhaps is not able to exploit the upstream integration potentiality with Agriculture due to the high entry barriers that the very Agriculture has built to isolate its core business (endogenous barriers) or that it suffers (exogenous barriers). On the contrary, it is not uncommon that Food industry invests in foreign agriculture and becomes involved in intra and extra-EU relocation diversifying itself in a context of multinational vertical integration.

Prediction of the optimum harvest time of ‘Scarlet’ apples using DR-UV–Vis and NIR spectroscopy

Identification of harvest date plays a key role in the agro-food chain as the quality of fruit depends on the right harvesting time and appropriate storage conditions during the postharvest period. Destructive techniques, such as the use of some ripening parameters, suffer from several drawbacks that highlight the need for reliable non-destructive tools to determine ripeness stage. This work is focused on the study of ripening of red apples (‘Scarlet’), with the aim of better identifying the harvest date, by means of non-destructive analysis, through the characterization of each fruit ripening stage on the trees, with classical methods as a reference. UV–Vis analysis was applied in diffuse reflectance (DR) mode to monitor variations in the chlorophyll content of the skin of red apples during ripening on the tree, since the colour variation in red apples is difficult to observe during ripening, and the ground colour cannot be considered a valid tool to identify ripening. On the other hand, variation in the chlorophyll content, measured by means of in situ DR-UV–Vis spectroscopy, is a reliable indicator of the ripeness stage. The novelty of this work is that a backward interval–GA–partial least squares (PLS) model, based both on NIR and UV–Vis data, was used to predict the optimal harvesting time in a direct way. We also established an overview of fruit maturation through a comparison with UV–Vis analysis and calibrations of the ripening parameters.

Feeds and Corresponding Footprints of Residual Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Polychlorinated Biphenyls Based on Their Constituents

Food safety is central to any society, having important economic, social, and environmental implications. International comparisons have shown that the European Union is the world's largest producer of food and drink products. It is not surprising therefore that the Agro-food sector has major importance/influence on the economy of Europe. The first link in the agro-food chain is animal feed, and therefore the risks associated to them, as is the case of the distribution of carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), are of paramount importance. Simple, fast, quantitative, and economic methods for PAHs and PCBs potentially polluting feeds were developed. The PAHs were detection by liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (LC-FD) and the PCBs by gas chromatography (GC) coupled to electron capture detection (ECD), using tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) as confirmatory technique. The complete data set of 27 feed samples x 13 PAH and PCB concentrations were analyzed by Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to find out what feeds were controlling PAH and PCB contamination.

Estudio de las preferencia de consumidores y distribuidores especializados respecto del producto ecológico

Increasing concern about food security and environmental consevation might enhance demand for ecological food products. However, consumption has not kept pace with production. Higher prices than conventional food products, distribution deficiencies and lack of knowledge might explain it. The goal of this paper is to analyse those limitations in depth. To attain this objective, two surveys were addressed to consumers and distributors, in Pamplona. These are the two main actors in the agrofood chain involved in the future development of the organic market. Consumers have been segmented according to lifestyles and distributors according to their performance on business administration, in order to define the most interested groups in organic food. Then, conjoint analysis has been applied to identify the preferences structure of each segment. Finally market shares for organic food have been simulated under different scenarios.

Food Quality: The Design of Incentive Contracts

Quality considerations are increasingly important drivers of production and coordination choices for players in the agrofood chain. Incentive contracts between farmers and processors, shippers, and other buyers are an increasingly popular means of coordinating to improve food quality. This review examines the economic literature regarding incentive contracts and the provision of food quality, with a focus on empirical analyses. Studies of specific value chains find that a desire for higher quality or specific quality attributes increases the likelihood that a contract, rather than the spot market, is used. Consistent with economic theory, studies regarding the selection of contract provisions find that financial incentives are used when an attribute is easily observable at the time of sale, whereas requirements for specific inputs and actions tend to be used when an attribute is not easily observable.

Understanding The Formation of Networks by Small Agricultural Firms

It is recognised that participation in networks in the agro-food chain provides farmers important opportunities to innovate. This is particularly important for small agricultural firms because these organisations face barriers that prevent them from innovate by means of some specific sources that are available in other industries. Surprisingly, no research has been developed to understand what motivates farmers to be involved in these networks. The paper fills this gap by proposing a decision making multivariate model. A probit analysis based on the proposed model revealed that farmers’ decision on participating in networks depends on goals and socio-psychological variables. Keywords : Network innovation, Smal agricultural firms, Multivariate model

Are the agro-food chains turning ethical? Reasons and rationalities of trading coffee ethically

Are the agro-food chains turning ethical? Reasons and rationalities of trading coffee ethically

Genetic diversity among olive varieties of Southern Italy and the traceability of olive oil using SSR markers

SummaryTo evaluate germplasm variability and to identify DNA profiles useful for tracing the genetic identity of olive oil, we used six Simple Sequence Repeats (SSRs) in 47 cultivated olive varieties from Central and Southern Italy. A total of 80 polymorphic SSR markers were scored and both the observed heterozygosity and the polymorphic index content were, on average, high. Genetic similarities were investigated by agglomerative hierarchical clustering and principal component analysis. The results implied that most of the olive accessions from the Campania region were genetically different from those of other Italian regions. This finding was further supported by partitioning the genetic variability using analysis of molecular variance. Furthermore, we analysed the DNA isolated from the fruit and mono-varietal oils of three cultivars. Comparative analysis of the SSR profiles revealed that these were conserved in the agro-food chain, although our data also suggested that some issues, such as the sensitivity and performance of the assay in complex mixtures, may pose limitations. Our findings extend current knowledge of Italian olive germplasm and highlight the richness and specificity of the genetic resource of olives in some regions of Southern Italy. They also provide molecular information that can be exploited for the protection of genetic material and mono-varietal oils.

The Importance of Endospore-Forming Bacteria Originating from Soil for Contamination of Industrial Food Processing

Specific endospore formers have become important contaminants in industrial food processing. The direct or indirect soil route of contamination or dispersal is the start of events or processes in the agrofood chain that eventually leads to important problems or concerns for food safety and/or quality. Three important food sectors are discussed in this paper. In the dairy sector,Bacillus cereus, the most important pathogen or spoilage organism in this sector, andClostridium tyrobutyricum, the most important spoiler in certain cheeses, both contaminate pasteurized milk through the faecal and/or (at least forB. cereus) the direct soil route. In the fruit juice industry,Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris, present on raw fruits, has become a major quality-target organism. In the ready-to-eat food sector,B. cereusand other aerobic endospore formers are introduced via vegetables, fruits, or herbs and spices, while anaerobic spore formers like nonproteolyticClostridium botulinumandClostridium estertheticumpose safety and spoilage risks in chilled packaged foods, respectively.

Analyst's earnings estimates for publicly traded food companies: How good are they?

Professional analysts' estimates of earnings per share (EPS) provide a rare source of forward-looking information regarding the financial performance of publicly traded firms. Although numerous studies in the economics, finance, and accounting literatures have examined the properties of these forecasts and provided general insight into their performance, no known research explicitly examines the performance of analysts' EPS estimates for publicly traded food companies. This issue is particularly relevant given the influence that publicly traded agribusiness companies maintain in the agro-food supply chain (Vickner, 2002). Focusing on quarterly consensus estimates of EPS for 11 of the largest publicly traded food companies based on capitalization, the authors examine the point accuracy of these estimates through the introduction of the mean absolute scaled error measure, their performance over time, as well as their optimal forecast properties of bias, efficiency, and forecast encompassing. Results suggest that professional analysts, on average, produce EPS estimates that are more accurate than time series alternatives, yet the differences are often not statistically significant. For many of the firms examined, analysts' EPS estimates are found to be biased, inefficient, and do not encompass information in simple time series alternatives. For many firms in the sample, forecast accuracy has decreased over time. However, it is difficult to determine if this decline in forecast accuracy is due to turnover of analysts in the wake of increased financial market regulation (e.g., Sarbanes-Oxley), decline in forecasting skill, or structural changes in the food industry, which make it more difficult to forecast earnings over time. [EconLit citations: Q140; G170; M490]. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Strategy for Promoting Sustainable Agro-Food Chain in Romanian Universities Catering Services

The ecological footprint (EF) was proposed as a tool to measure progress towards the future goal of increasing the “Dunarea de Jos” University (UGAL) sustainability.
 In the calculation of product-specific EF were considered all the life cycle assessment (LCA) elements including energy, materials system and wastes.Comparative analysis of agro-food origin (local, regional, national, EU) were conducted for the 6 main ingredients included in the daily menus of UGAL students. The variables of EF for the transportation system were capacity and distance.
 The ecological footprint analysis (EFA) was conducted in order to analyze the environmental impact of improved catering processing system by using an increasing amount of 15-25% regional organic agro-foods and 50% less amount of meat in the daily meals created for “Dunarea de Jos” University Galati (UGAL) students in 2010.
 Independent studies, students collected data for the calculation of UGAL canteen footprint and analysis of surveys were conducted as methodology of the present research.
 The following results were obtained in case of Eco-strategy implementation in the UGAL canteen: (1) reducing of UGAL canteen EF with 17.27% in the food module; (2) reducing of EF per student at 0.7554 gha from 0.9132 gha; (3) a reducing of food costs with 20.83%. 
 Actual statistics discuss about the contraction of the student population with 20% in the next 10 years and in the condition of resources limitation the Eco-management became a necessity in order to respect the regional biocapacity.

Simple sequence repeats are able to trace tomato cultivars in tomato food chains

PCR-based markers represent an innovative tool to trace raw material in agro-food chain and certify the identity of premium food products. We evaluated Simple Sequence Repeats (SSRs) as a possible robust, fast and cost-effective technique that allows tomato food products to be traced through the production chain back to the variety. We used 14 microsatellite loci to discriminate 17 of the most common tomato varieties used in Italy for processing. We then proved that SSR allelic profiles are conserved through the production chain of three different types of commercial products and that DNA fingerprinting pinpoints possible cases of erroneous information. Our data confirmed the efficacy of microsatellites to discriminate tomato cultivars and proved for the first time that, if appropriately selected, SSRs allow an unambiguous identification through the production and distribution chain of tomato products.