June 7, 2023

The Journey Towards Organic Pest Management: Farmers Leading the Way

In an era where environmental protection is paramount, understanding farmers’ attitudes towards sustainable practices is crucial. Our recent research highlighted Sicilian farmers’ intentions to adopt organic pest management in tomato and zucchini cultivation, threatened by pests Tuta absoluta and Bemisia tabaci. Using the Theory of Planned Behavior model, we found that the farmers’ attitudes were the most influential factor in their willingness to adopt organic methods. Social norms and perceived control over the practice also played significant roles. Interestingly, education levels positively predicted adoption, while older farmers showed more resistance. These findings underscore the need for robust informational campaigns about […]

Research 0 50 sec read
May 15, 2023

Contract Farming: A Bridge or a Chasm Towards Sustainable Agriculture?

Our research focused on contract farming, an arrangement where farmers and buyers agree to adhere to certain environmentally-friendly practices. This was studied using a sample of 314 wheat farmers in Northern Italy, considering three sustainable practices: varied crop rotation, reducing agrochemicals, and planting flower strips. The study found resistance from farmers to permanently eliminate the use of glyphosate, a common herbicide. However, they were more receptive to varying their crop rotation and the implementation of flower strips. Interestingly, it was observed that highly educated farmers, those not part of cooperatives, and those preferring flexible sales arrangements were less likely to […]

Research 0 54 sec read
April 19, 2023

Measuring Farmers’ Environmental Awareness: The Role in Adoption of Sustainable Agricultural Practices

How aware are farmers of their environmental impact, and how does this affect their adoption of sustainable practices? Our recent study sheds light on these questions, providing a theoretical and methodological framework for measuring environmental awareness as a multi-dimensional concept. Interestingly, the study also found that farmers who used biological pest control, mulching, and green manure had higher levels of environmental awareness, suggesting that sustainable practices and environmental awareness go hand in hand. These findings have important implications for promoting environmentally friendly food production and supporting farmers in adopting sustainable practices. By measuring and improving environmental awareness among farmers, we […]

Research 0 42 sec read
March 29, 2023

Discovering the Recipe for Better Diets: A Blend of Market and Nonmarket Food Sources in Southern Benin

Our recently published research explores the key to dietary diversity in rural households in southern Benin. Our case study among 654 households revealed that those producing more plant and animal species and visiting more markets had more diversified diets. This highlights the importance of obtaining diverse foods from multiple sources, providing households with more options to achieve better diets. Our findings call for a holistic approach that recognizes the complementary nature of market and nonmarket food sources, capitalizing on the diversity of species rural households already utilize and the ways they interact with markets. In essence, our research shows that […]

Research 0 48 sec read
February 27, 2023

Consumers react differently to packaging colors and names of cultured meat in Italy

Our research team has just published a study on the impact of the name and packaging color of Cultured Meat on consumer behavior and acceptance in Italy. This innovative food source, also known as “in-vitro meat,” “clean meat,” “synthetic meat,” “lab-grown meat,” has gained popularity despite its controversial nature. With its environmental benefits, it’s worth taking a closer look. Our study showed that food neophobia plays a crucial role in how individuals perceive and respond to the name and packaging of cultured meat. So, what do you think? Are you a fan of green packaging and names that emphasize the […]

Research 0 44 sec read
December 3, 2021

Variety seeking behavior in the wine domain: A consumers segmentation using big data

We investigated the way Italian consumers  diversify their wine drinking choices, seek experiential knowledge and satisfy their curiosity. Two variety seeking measures are considered, namely the Wine Index of Diversity and Brand Index of Diversity and we analyzed variety seeking behavior in a statistically representative sample of 8,313 Italian households. Four groups are identified based on consumer characteristics and their purchasing behavior. The largest group is “switchers,” which includes consumers showing a relatively higher wine diversity than brand diversity. Estimates reveal the “habitual” group, that lives in the southern Italy and consumes wine less frequently than all other groups. The […]

Research 0 51 sec read
February 14, 2021

Wheat varietal diversification increases Ethiopian smallholders’ food security.

This joint work with Bioversity International assesses the impact of the Seeds For Needs (S4N) program carried out in Ethiopia. S4N aimed to support smallholders in addressing climate change and its consequences through the introduction, selection, use, and management of suitable crop varieties.  Our study demonstrated that program activities have significantly enhanced wheat crop productivity and smallholders’ food security by increasing wheat varietal diversification. Our study provides further empirical evidence for the effective role that varietal diversity can play in improving food security in marginal environments, and also provides clear indications for development agencies regarding the importance of improving smallholders’ […]

Research 0 36 sec read
December 16, 2020

BAT Center

Proud to be a member of the BAT Center, namely the Interuniversity Center for Studies on Bioinspired Agro-Environmental Technology. BAT Center aims to promote education and research activities for developing new technologies and innovations for sustainable agriculture. BAT center includes researchers working in different but complementary scientific areas. The multi and interdisciplinarity allow BAT to face the main social and environmental challenges by adopting a One-Health approach.  

Activities 0 20 sec read
October 16, 2020

Public and private investments for banana Xanthomonas Wilt control in Uganda

Banana Xanthomonas Wilt (BXW) poses a serious threat to livelihoods and food security for millions of households in Africa. Despite considerable investments in Uganda by the Government and other national and international stakeholders, the disease persists in the country after periods of significant resurgence. This joint work with Bioversity International  analyzes economic costs and benefits of adopting an integrated BXW control package for the Ugandan smallholder farmers. By using household survey data, our analysis reveals a high level of partial adoption of BXW recommended practices, and just a third of farmers adopting a full control package The study is now […]

Research 0 36 sec read
October 13, 2020

Adaptive strategies enhance smallholders’ livelihood resilience in Bihar, India

My research provides empirical evidence about how households’ resources, their agricultural strategies and their well-being (food security in particular) are strictly interconnected in Bihar, India.  The assessment posed significant empirical and methodological challenges since the presence of endogeneity. The study emphasizes the importance of targeted interventions to improve specific forms of households’ livelihood resources which are prominent determinants of adoption of strategies that leads to the maintenance of resilience by environmentally dependent households in the developing world. The study was published on Food Security, Springer, Impact factor:2.095

Research 0 26 sec read

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