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Human, Cultural, Social, Political and Environmental Dimensions for a New Vision of the Sustainable Agro-Food System Post COVID-19

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Food".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2021) | Viewed by 81085

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Dr. Mariarosaria Lombardi

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Department of Economics, University of Foggia, Via R. Cagesse, 1-71121 Foggia, Italy
Interests: environmental sustainability; environmental impact assessment; carbon footprint; renewable energy; bioenergy; social and technological innovation; agrifood supply chains; climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies
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Dear Colleagues,

In the current global health emergency, caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the central role played by the food supply chain in human society is even more evident. Thus, it is crucial to rethink the agro-food system and develop a new model that focuses more on the human, cultural, environmental, and socio-political dimensions for facing an emergency like this in the future.

In this context, the Future Food Institute of Bologna (Italy) has developed a virtual toolbox, namely Food for Earth, that can be used as a “compass” for orienting the analysis of the critical and essential innovative elements that need to be reconsidered for a new agro-food system. These elements are climate-smart ecosystems, circular living, food identity, food diplomacy, and prosperity, in line with the 2030 Agenda’s sustainable development goals (SDGs). The agro-food system is surely transversal to the whole SDG framework, specifically for food security and nutritional diversity, cultural diversity, ecological long-term stability, and climate-smart systems.

This Special Issue of Sustainability offers a platform for advancing the understanding of theory and practice with regard to a new model of the agro-food system post-COVID-19. Researchers and practitioners are encouraged to submit original research articles, case studies, reviews, critical perspectives, and viewpoint articles specifically on the aforementioned innovative elements established by the Food for Earth virtual toolbox.

Dr. Mariarosaria Lombardi
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

COVID-19 pandemic
agro-food system
climate-smart ecosystems
circular living
food identity
food diplomacy
food security
food safety
prosperity

Published Papers (12 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 315 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Adaption Actions to Cope with Climate Change: Evidence from Farmers’ Preferences on an Agrobiodiversity Conservation Programme in the Mediterranean Area

by Ruggiero Sardaro, Nicola Faccilongo, Francesco Contò and Piermichele La Sala

Sustainability 2021, 13(11), 5977; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13115977 - 26 May 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2325

Abstract

The paper investigates the attitude of farmers to participate in an on-farm conservation programme based on the cultivation of vine landraces in Apulia, southern Italy, in place of the current commercial varieties, as an adaptation strategy to climate changes. The results, based on choice experiments and assessed through a latent class model, highlight a general interest of the regional farmers toward the biodiversity-based adaptation programme for coping with climate change. In particular, three classes of respondents were identified: (i) farmers operating on the whole regional territory and willing to cultivate up to 50% of their farm area with up to two landraces and compensation in line with the aid set by the regional rural programme; (ii) winegrowers of the intensive rural areas and willing to cultivate up to 25% of their farm with up to two landraces and a compensation greater than 200% compared to the aid of the regional rural programme; (iii) farmers operating in the intermediate rural areas and willing to cultivate up to 50% of their farm with up to three landraces and a compensation greater than 50% compared to the aid of the regional rural programme. Policymakers should calibrate adaption actions depending on rural areas, since economic, social, cultural, behavioural and cognitive barriers, as well as structural characteristics of farms, impact the farmers’ attitudes toward measures aimed at coping with climate change. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Human, Cultural, Social, Political and Environmental Dimensions for a New Vision of the Sustainable Agro-Food System Post COVID-19)

22 pages, 3748 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Pandemic or Environmental Socio-Economic Stressors Which Have Greater Impact on Food Security in the Barishal Division of Bangladesh: Initial Perspectives from Agricultural Officers and Farmers

by Sayeda Sabrina Ali, Md. Raju Ahmad, Jalal Uddin Mohammad Shoaib, Mohammad Aliuzzaman Sheik, Mohammad Imam Hoshain, Rebecca L. Hall, Katrina A. Macintosh and Paul N. Williams

Sustainability 2021, 13(10), 5457; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13105457 - 13 May 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 4592

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent protectionary lockdowns have had a dramatic impact on agricultural production globally. Barishal division is the ‘grain-basket’ of Bangladesh and a main rice cultivation centre within the country. This study captures perspectives on the environmental socioeconomic stressors impacting primary production in the coastal region of Barishal, and the impact of the first wave of the global pandemic. In our methodology, a cross-sectional survey is carried out amongst agriculture officers and farmers focusing on land management practices, environmental stressors, and the consequences of the pandemic on winter crop harvests and wet season production. A total number of 234 people participated, of which 31 were agriculture officers and 203 were farmers. Government officers completed an online questionnaire, while farmer responses were collected through Focus Group Discussion. The results show that despite the lockdown, 76% of responders claimed that they had harvested more than 80% of the cultivated winter rice. Other crops, such as fruits and vegetables, were less successfully returned. Despite food production pressures, land capacity was not fully utilised, with a significant/notable proportion of fields left fallow, principally due to periodic flooding events that sufferer concurrently from soil organic matter depletion. Upazila, not severely waterlogged, had salinity problems to contend with. While transportation restrictions and labour shortages were key constraints arising from the impact of COVID-19 on both agricultural production and post harvesting (processing, distribution, and utilisation). Current storage facilities for perishable produce, such as fruit, were found to be lacking, which further compounded access to such food items. The COVID-19 pandemic shocked agricultural productivity and food supply within the Barishal division. However, despite managing to return a successful rice harvest during the lockdown, it was found that the pre-existing environmental stressors arising from cyclones and flooding continued to be the primary threat to agriculture, even during a global pandemic. Our findings have been used to inform management options to increase resilience in the region. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Human, Cultural, Social, Political and Environmental Dimensions for a New Vision of the Sustainable Agro-Food System Post COVID-19)

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18 pages, 2761 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impacts of COVID-19 on Agricultural Production Branches: An Investigation of Anxiety Disorders among Farmers

by Celal Cevher, Bulent Altunkaynak and Meltem Gürü

Sustainability 2021, 13(9), 5186; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13095186 - 06 May 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3257

Abstract

The aim of our study was to determine the level of anxiety among farmers in different agricultural branches in Turkey during the COVID-19 outbreak and to examine its association with socioeconomic concerns and social support variables. Based on a survey of 2125 Turkish farm enterprises, this study examined effects on agricultural production during the implementation of COVID-19 restrictions among agricultural branches. The Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale and Oslo Social Support Scale were used in the study. Survey data were collected from farmers by phone. Age, place of residence, income status, agricultural branches, land size, the use of trucks, animal husbandry, access to technical support from agricultural organizations, access to support from neighbors, and social support level were found to have a significant effect on anxiety level (p < 0.05). The anxiety levels of farmers engaged in animal husbandry and vegetable farming were found to be higher than those in other agricultural branches. The lowest anxiety level was observed in farmers engaged in cereal production. Taking these results into consideration is important for preventing problems in agricultural production. If anxiety levels are not improved, it is predicted that farmers in agricultural production branches with high levels of anxiety will move towards branches with lower levels of anxiety. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Human, Cultural, Social, Political and Environmental Dimensions for a New Vision of the Sustainable Agro-Food System Post COVID-19)

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16 pages, 2155 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Hierarchical Pyramid for Food Waste Based on a Social Innovation Perspective

by Mariarosaria Lombardi and Marco Costantino

Sustainability 2021, 13(9), 4661; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13094661 - 22 Apr 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 7445

Abstract

Food waste (FW) represents one of the greatest concerns facing mankind today; thus, the UN Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development establishes that it must be halved by 2030. European Union legislators have taken part in this debate by publishing Directive 2018/851 to monitor the FW reduction goals, according to the waste hierarchical pyramid approach. At present, there are several proposed FW hierarchical pyramids, but these do not regard the associations between the level of waste-tackling strategies and social innovation (SI) models. Thus, the paper aims to build a hierarchical pyramid that considers, for each step of the food-supply chain and each level of the pyramid, all the FW social innovation models. A qualitative analysis of academic studies, institutional documents, and specific projects has been conducted. The results confirm the gap in the scientific literature and the lack of a systematic classification of SI activities to reduce FW. Furthermore, current SI practices are actually more focused on the human reuse of FW than on prevention, whereas SI models based on prevention might return the FWL issue to its systematic dimension. This information will help policymakers to reconsider the structural causes of FW inside the agro-food system, and not only its final consequences. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Human, Cultural, Social, Political and Environmental Dimensions for a New Vision of the Sustainable Agro-Food System Post COVID-19)

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13 pages, 591 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Intention to Purchase Active and Intelligent Packaging to Reduce Household Food Waste: Evidence from Italian Consumers

by Antonella Cammarelle, Rosaria Viscecchia and Francesco Bimbo

Sustainability 2021, 13(8), 4486; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13084486 - 17 Apr 2021

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 4083

Abstract

Innovations in food packaging, such as active and intelligent ones, improve food safety and lower household food waste by extending product shelf life and providing information about food quality, respectively. The consumer adoption of such innovations could contribute to reaching one of the Sustainable Development Goals which calls for halving the per capita global food waste by 2030. Thus, this paper aims to investigate the consumers’ willingness to purchase active and intelligent packaging to reduce household food waste using a sample of 260 Italian consumers and a modified Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) model. Using a structural equation model, findings show that respondents are more willing to purchase intelligent packaging rather than active packaging to reduce their wastes at home. Finally, attitudes, perceived behavioral control, awareness, and planning routines are the most important drivers of the intention to reduce household food waste. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Human, Cultural, Social, Political and Environmental Dimensions for a New Vision of the Sustainable Agro-Food System Post COVID-19)

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17 pages, 967 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influencing Factors and Social Media Reflections of Bakery Products Consumption in Romania

by Georgiana-Raluca Lădaru, Marian Siminică, Maria Claudia Diaconeasa, Diana Maria Ilie, Carmen-Elena Dobrotă and Marian Motofeanu

Sustainability 2021, 13(6), 3411; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13063411 - 19 Mar 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 11479

Abstract

Bakery products, and bread specifically, represent an important part of the Romanian diet. Whether this situation is motivated by quality factors or by quantitative factors is an important aspect that needs to be investigated. In addition, the relation between peoples’ interest in a particular product such as bread during a crisis period should point out important characteristics of that population. Aiming at determining both the influencing factors of bakery product consumption and the importance given to this type of product in the media during a crisis, this empirical study highlights the profound connections between income level and the fear of not having food security for the people of a less developed country such as Romania. The study considers the use of both qualitative and quantitative methods to reach its objectives. The results point to a strong reliance of the respondents on cheap white-flour bakery products in their regular diet, and a significant increase in interest in bakery products during the COVID-19 pandemic. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Human, Cultural, Social, Political and Environmental Dimensions for a New Vision of the Sustainable Agro-Food System Post COVID-19)

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14 pages, 1241 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Households’ Food Waste Behavior at Local Scale: A Cluster Analysis after the COVID-19 Lockdown

by Vera Amicarelli, Caterina Tricase, Alessia Spada and Christian Bux

Sustainability 2021, 13(6), 3283; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13063283 - 16 Mar 2021

Cited by 44 | Viewed by 5872

Abstract

The reduction of food waste, especially in households where more than half of its global quantity is generated, has become an increasing economic, social and environmental concern, and represents one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals within the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development. In this context, the COVID-19 lockdown has significantly changed life, work and food consumption habits all over the world, highlighting food waste as a multi-sectorial issue. This paper explores current attitudes, perception and behavioral patterns related to food waste reduction at domestic consumption at the local scale (Apulia region, Italy), with the aim of identifying different types of “food wasters”. Through an online questionnaire and the application of a k-means clustering model, the authors focus on four emerging constructs in terms of food consumption and food waste habits after the COVID-19 lockdown at household level. Among three theoretical clusters, results have highlighted: (i) the paradox of the “green wasters”, which declared a high level of awareness of the food waste issue but also generates huge amounts of thrown away food; (ii) the “positive unawareness” of the “red wasters”, which have a slight notion of environment and sustainability but waste low quantities of food; (iii) the consistency of the “blue wasters”, which know of the food waste issue and convert theory into practice. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Human, Cultural, Social, Political and Environmental Dimensions for a New Vision of the Sustainable Agro-Food System Post COVID-19)

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22 pages, 2190 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Behavior of Dairy Consumers in Short Food Supply Chains during COVID-19 Pandemic in Suceava Area, Romania

by Ioan Sebastian Brumă, Codrin Dinu Vasiliu, Steliana Rodino, Marian Butu, Lucian Tanasă, Sebastian Doboș, Alina Butu, Oana Coca and Gavril Stefan

Sustainability 2021, 13(6), 3072; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13063072 - 11 Mar 2021

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 5590

Abstract

In Romania, there is an emerging market of dairy products delivered through short food supply chains. Although this distribution system has existed since the communist period, and even though more than three decades have passed since then, the market fails to be mature, subject to taxation, or achieve a high diversity in terms of dairy categories, with a consolidated marketing culture that has significant effects on the regional socio-economic environment. The aim of this study was to observe whether the Corona Virus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19) crisis has influenced consumer behavior regarding dairy products delivered directly from producers in Suceava County, Romania. The research is based on a survey conducted between April and May, 2020, and the analysis relies on both quantitative and qualitative methods (namely, anthropological and ethnographic). From the provided responses, it a change was observed in the future buying behavior on short food supply chains, in a positive sense. One of the key findings was that family represents the main environment for passing on the values that influence the buying behavior. Another key finding was that the behavioral changes on the short food supply chains exert pressure on their digital transformations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Human, Cultural, Social, Political and Environmental Dimensions for a New Vision of the Sustainable Agro-Food System Post COVID-19)

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18 pages, 1848 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Packaging Innovations to Reduce Food Loss and Waste: Are Italian Manufacturers Willing to Invest?

by Antonella Cammarelle, Mariarosaria Lombardi and Rosaria Viscecchia

Sustainability 2021, 13(4), 1963; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13041963 - 11 Feb 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 4089

Abstract

The target 12.3 of the 2030 Agenda by the United Nations (UN) calls for halving per capita global food loss and waste. In this regard, the Food & Drink industry (F&D) could play a crucial role in reducing food waste and improving food safety by adopting healthy and eco-innovation packaging. Thus, this paper aims to investigate the F&D manufacturers’ willingness to invest in packaging innovations, such as active, intelligent, and compostable ones to achieve the UN target. In order to reach the stated objective, a multiple case study methodology was developed and administered to a sample of Italian micro and small-medium entrepreneurs located in the Apulia region. Results show that many firms were aware of their need for packaging innovation and of the available technological opportunity. However, only the F&D manufacturers who showed a Real demand, according to a taxonomy approach which also considers the Potential and Latent demand for the innovation, were effectively prompt to invest. Finally, most of the interviewed manufacturers were willing to invest in at least one packaging innovation, choosing mainly between the active packaging and the compostable one. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Human, Cultural, Social, Political and Environmental Dimensions for a New Vision of the Sustainable Agro-Food System Post COVID-19)

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17 pages, 1556 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Compounded Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic and Desert Locust Outbreak on Food Security and Food Supply Chain

by Zhitao Xu, Adel Elomri, Abdelfatteh El Omri, Laoucine Kerbache and Hui Liu

Sustainability 2021, 13(3), 1063; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13031063 - 20 Jan 2021

Cited by 43 | Viewed by 7473

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic and locust swarm outbreaks pose a significant threat to global food systems, causing severe disruptions in both local and international food supplies from farm to fork. The main objective of this study is to understand and identify the disruptions during the crises and create a map of how resilience can be established to recover and sustain the food supply chain (FSC) functions as well as food security. The detrimental impacts of the compound crises on the FSC are explored and the effects of the affected areas are estimated under optimistic and pessimistic scenarios. As a response to the disruption caused by the crisis in FSCs, reactive and proactive solutions are proposed to develop resilience at the food sector level. In the short term, the reactive solutions, consisting of smoothing the food demand, supply and delivery, and food production and processing, can be borrowed. In the long term, the proactive solutions can be conducted by developing multi-level short intertwined FSCs. Our comprehensive investigation of the resilience elements in diverse operations and potential strategies should contribute to the improvement of FSC resilience in the face of ongoing and growing threats. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Human, Cultural, Social, Political and Environmental Dimensions for a New Vision of the Sustainable Agro-Food System Post COVID-19)

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20 pages, 364 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influencing Factors of a Sustainable Vegetable Choice. The Romanian Consumers’ Case

by Georgiana-Raluca Ladaru, Diana Maria Ilie, Maria Claudia Diaconeasa, Ionut Laurentiu Petre, Florian Marin and Valentin Lazar

Sustainability 2020, 12(23), 9991; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12239991 - 29 Nov 2020

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3267

Abstract

The behavior of vegetable consumption in the context of sustainable development has become a point of interest. Determining the barriers and the drivers for developing a sustainable consumption pattern, including food, should be a priority for every nation, as so to be able to design targeted food policies that would contribute to this development. Reducing the pressure on resources by diminishing meat consumption and increasing vegetable consumption is one of the global directions that should be followed. The situation of the current status of vegetable consumption in Romania is, therefore, important. Through an empirical quantitative analysis, the vegetable consumption pattern of Romanian consumers is presented. The results show that the respondents lack proper environmental education and concern, but unconsciously are aware of sustainability criteria such as choosing local and seasonal vegetables, choosing according to the freshness of the vegetables, and wasting little of these purchases. The main barriers determined in developing more sustainable vegetable choices in the case of Romanian consumers are income and time availability restrictions. It is also important to have the ability to identify the local, seasonal, and organic vegetables through specific labels, and to provide the local producers with the ability to sell their products in supermarkets, at fair prices. These would be the main drivers for developing a sustainable vegetable choice. Adding to that, an awareness campaign at the national level regarding the importance of individual choice would contribute to educating towards a sustainable purchasing pattern. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Human, Cultural, Social, Political and Environmental Dimensions for a New Vision of the Sustainable Agro-Food System Post COVID-19)

18 pages, 376 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

How the Covid-19 Pandemic Is Changing Online Food Shopping Human Behaviour in Italy

by Leonardo Salvatore Alaimo, Mariantonietta Fiore and Antonino Galati

Sustainability 2020, 12(22), 9594; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12229594 - 18 Nov 2020

Cited by 146 | Viewed by 20019

Abstract

The advent of the Internet has significantly changed consumption patterns and habits. Online grocery shopping is a way of purchasing food products using a web-based shopping service. The current COVID-19 pandemic is determining a rethinking of purchase choice elements and of consumers’ behavior. This work aims to investigate which characteristics can affect the decision of online food shopping during the pandemic emergency in Italy. In particular, the work aims to analyze the effects of a set of explanatory variables on the level of satisfaction for the food online shopping experience. For achieving this aim, the proportional odds version of the cumulative logit model is carried out. Data derive from an anonymous on-line questionnaire administrated during the first months of the pandemic and filled by 248 respondents. The results of this work highlight that people having familiarity with buying food online, that have a higher educational level and consider food online channels easy to use, appear more satisfied for the food online shopping experience. These findings can be crucial for the future green global challenges as online shopping may help to reach competitive advantages for company sustainability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Human, Cultural, Social, Political and Environmental Dimensions for a New Vision of the Sustainable Agro-Food System Post COVID-19)

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