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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 August 2021) | Viewed by 31648

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Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Carlos Rodríguez Monroy

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Guest Editor

Department of Industrial Organization, Business Administration and Statistics, E.T.S. Ingenieros Industriales, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM), calle José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain
Interests: sustainability; sustainable development; developing countries; economic development; development studies; environment; governance; business; management

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Agricultural economics is aimed at achieving objectives related to economic growth, environmental impact, and national security. In recent years, due to exponential population growth, increased food consumption, and greater impact on the environment, agricultural economics is facing major challenges. The Special Issue “Sustainability and Agricultural Economics” is meant to address a wide spectrum of issues related to these challenges. Researchers are invited to submit manuscripts showing how their research results contribute to solving the current and foreseeable problems that arise from the current dynamics in the world of agriculture. Agricultural policies designed to deal with the global economy and focusing on geopolitical influences as well as policies related to more limited geographical circumscriptions (regional, national or local) can be suitable topics of research. Innovative aspects of the new agricultural policies should be stressed. Transitions to new agricultural models implemented at a national or regional level and their corresponding cost–benefit analysis can be of great interest in a context of changing globalization patterns, climate change and geopolitical tensions. Original, multidisciplinary approaches are encouraged.

Prof. Carlos Rodríguez Monroy
Guest Editor

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Keywords

agricultural policy
economics of agricultural resources and the environment
international trade and protectionism
marketing of agricultural products
agricultural sociology
rural development
remote rural areas
agricultural extension and education
economic impacts of research, development and innovation
agricultural protection economic policy

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 911 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Economic Feasibility of Iodine Agronomic Biofortification: A Projective Analysis with Ugandan Vegetable Farmers

by Solomon Olum, Xavier Gellynck, Joshua Wesana, Walter Odongo, Nathaline Onek Aparo, Bonny Aloka, Duncan Ongeng and Hans De Steur

Sustainability 2021, 13(19), 10608; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su131910608 - 24 Sep 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1989

Abstract

Cost–benefit analysis of (iodine) biofortification at farm level is limited in the literature. This study aimed to analyze the economic feasibility of applying iodine-rich fertilizers (agronomic biofortification) to cabbage and cowpea in Northern Uganda. Data on costs and revenues were obtained from a survey of 100 farmers, and benefits that would accrue from using iodine fertilizers were elicited using consumers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for the iodine-biofortified vegetables. The cost–benefit analysis demonstrated iodine agronomic biofortification as a highly profitable effort, generating average benefit–cost ratios (BCRs) of 3.13 and 5.69 for cabbage and cowpea production, respectively, higher than the conventional production practice. However, the projective analysis showed substantive variations of economic gains from iodine biofortification among farmers, possibly due to differences in farming practices and managerial capabilities. For instance, only 74% of cabbage farmers would produce at a BCR above 1 if they were to apply iodine fertilizer. Furthermore, a sensitivity analysis to estimate the effect of subsidizing the cost of iodine fertilizer showed that a higher proportion of farmers would benefit from iodine biofortification. Therefore, as biofortification is considered a health policy intervention targeting the poor and vulnerable, farmers could be supported through fertilizer subsidies to lower the production cost of iodine-biofortified foods and to avoid passing on the price burden to vulnerable consumers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability and Agricultural Economics)

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20 pages, 1133 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Contributions from Literature for Understanding Wine Marketing

by Vítor João Pereira Domingues Martinho

Sustainability 2021, 13(13), 7468; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13137468 - 04 Jul 2021

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 4462

Abstract

Marketing for wines is a determinant tool for several stakeholders within the wine sector, but there are not many studies concerning the topic “wine marketing” and even fewer that take a bibliometric approach. In turn, wine is a strategic agri-food product for the economy of several countries around the world, particularly in Mediterranean countries. Beyond the economic level, wine has an environmental, social, and cultural dimension. All these dimensions have implications in any plan for the wine sector and should be taken into account. In addition, these dimensions change around the world in accordance with different local factors. In this way, sometimes, it is not easy to design adjusted marketing plans for the wine sector, namely, in international markets. Taking the frameworks into account, the main objective of this study is to explore the scientific documents available on scientific platforms, namely, in the Web of Science, related to “wine marketing”. These studies (87 documents) were first explored through bibliometric software, such as the VOSviewer and the Atlas.ti, and then analyzed individually to capture the main insights shown by the scientific literature about wine marketing. To better organize the literature survey, with the information obtained from the bibliometric analysis, the following indexes were identified through factor analysis: “supply index”, “demand index”, “winery strategy index”, “tourism index”, “innovation index”, and “wine characteristics index”. The supply index highlights questions related to new technologies, climate change, logistics in international markets, institutions and regulations, being the main factors that influence wine producers. The demand index stresses the relevance, for consumers, of the relationship between the price and quality of a wine. On the other hand, younger consumers, in general, consume wine outdoors while socializing, giving importance to the label, often when the wine is recommended by someone. Older consumers give greater importance to the wine’s variety and to its region of origin. The winery strategy index shows the importance of questions relating to agri-chains, market differentiation, the history, and the brand. The tourism index brings together aspects associated with the complementarity between activities in the wine sector, wine routes, and contributions from culture and landscape. The innovation index highlights aspects related to the quality and the perceptions of the consumers. Finally, the wine characteristics index shows the little importance given by scientific literature relating to wine marketing and to attributes such as alcohol. A search on the Web of Science for the topic addressed here and “bibliometric” showed that there has been no research carried out with the approach taken here, showing the novelty of this study. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability and Agricultural Economics)

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15 pages, 441 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Extension Agents’ Perceptions of the Role of Extension Services in Organic Agriculture: A Case Study from Saudi Arabia

by Bader Alhafi Alotaibi, Edgar Yoder and Hazem S. Kassem

Sustainability 2021, 13(9), 4880; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13094880 - 27 Apr 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2449

Abstract

Extension services (ES) play a crucial role in addressing the various needs of organic farmers and little is known about the extension agents’ (EA’s) perceptions of organic agriculture and the role of ES in organic agriculture. This study investigated EA’s perceptions of the role of ES in organic agriculture. Data were collected via a questionnaire, which was sent electronically to all enlisted extension agents in Riyadh Region, Saudi Arabia. In total, 69 extension agents completed the questionnaire, representing a 54% response rate. Overall, extension agents had slightly positive attitudes toward organic farming but were unsure about their role and participation in this. Furthermore, their perceptions of the role of ES in organic agriculture significantly varied according to their age, work experience in organic agriculture, and education level. These findings have implications for the design of future training programs for the professional development of extension agents and will enable planners, policy makers, and related ministries to devise viable and workable policies and plans that truly reflect the concerns and challenges of extension agents and consider the skills of extension agents that need to be improved. This research will also have positive implications for the national organic agriculture policy, as it provides research-based information on the actual players in the farming systems of Saudi Arabia. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability and Agricultural Economics)

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20 pages, 4339 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Specialty Coffee Shops in Mexico: Factors Influencing the Likelihood of Purchasing High-Quality Coffee

by Roselia Servín-Juárez, Carlos J. O. Trejo-Pech, Alma Yanet Pérez-Vásquez and Álvaro Reyes-Duarte

Sustainability 2021, 13(7), 3804; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13073804 - 30 Mar 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 6579

Abstract

This study models the purchasing behavior of specialty coffee by 114 coffee shops across 15 cities in nine states in Mexico. Simple and multilevel mixed-effects logistic models are tested. Our models extend the framework used in prior research. We model the purchase of specialty coffee as a function of: (a) material attributes, (b) symbolic attributes, (c) coffee shop characteristics, (d) profile of the coffee shop’s owner, and (e) socio-economic variables of the cities where the coffee shops were located. Overall, our results are consistent with expectations developed from the coffee literature. That is, the likelihood of purchasing specialty coffee increases when: coffee’s aroma drives the purchase, coffee purchased is from the state of Oaxaca, the coffee shop has a value-added business model, the coffee shop is diversified selling both ground coffee and coffee drinks, the coffee shop owner’s knowledge on coffee supply chain activities is high, and the coffee shop is located in a city with a higher education index. In contrast, the likelihood of purchasing specialty coffee decreases when a coffee professional tastes the coffee before the purchase, when coffee shops are not given the opportunity to roast their own coffee, and in coffee shops located in larger cities. Overall, our research suggests that the specialty coffee niche in Mexico has some elements required for this segment to transition from a supply chain approach to a value-based supply chain approach. This might be particularly beneficial for smallholder coffee growers, who despite several constraints contribute to the sustainability of coffee supply chains. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability and Agricultural Economics)

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17 pages, 1206 KiB

Open AccessArticle

European Union Agricultural Support ‘Coupling’ in Simulation Modelling: Measuring the Sustainability Impacts

by Pierre Boulanger, Kirsten Boysen-Urban and George Philippidis

Sustainability 2021, 13(6), 3264; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13063264 - 16 Mar 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1963

Abstract

Over the last twenty years, the Common Agricultural Policy of the European Union has evolved into a multifunctional policy instrument. As part of this transformation, most farmer receipts are paid independently of production, granting this class of payment production-neutral or ‘fully decoupled’ status. In prospective agricultural market studies, simulation models routinely represent these payments as decoupled, despite academic evidence to the contrary that posits a number of ‘coupling-channels’. To explore the ramifications of differing degrees of coupling on the three pillars of sustainability, a natural-resources focused simulation model is employed. Comparing with a ‘standard’ decoupled baseline to 2030, higher coupling increases global agricultural employment and reduces production intensity on European Union agricultural land and agricultural emissions. Higher coupling also diminishes the Common Agricultural Policy’s capacity as a safety-net for European Union food-security and agricultural employment, whilst there is tentative evidence of increasing emissions ‘leakage’. At the very least, if the non-distorting status of decoupled payments is mis-specified, this has direct implications for the design of greener policy initiatives under the auspices of the Green Deal that promote sustainable fairer trade. As a result, further empirical research on the production distorting effects of the European Union’s decoupled payments is needed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability and Agricultural Economics)

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16 pages, 6594 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Green Agricultural Development Based on Information Communication Technology and the Panel Space Measurement Model

by Xueyao Zhang and Hong Chen

Sustainability 2021, 13(3), 1147; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13031147 - 22 Jan 2021

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 1936

Abstract

This study was conducted to promote the construction of China’s ecological civilization; to reduce harm to the environment; to quantify the performance of agricultural green development (GD); and to truly achieve green, sustainable, and healthy agricultural development. From the perspectives of resources and the environment, first, information communication technology and the panel space measurement (PSM) model were adopted to analyze relevant indicator data from 2000 to 2019 in China’s 30 provinces. Second, China’s agriculture was measured to explore the overall characteristics, temporal changes, and regional differences of agricultural development. A panel data measurement model was constructed using the generalized least squares method, and the main factors affecting performance development were analyzed, which were verified by giving examples. Third, the governance countermeasures and improvement directors were proposed for agricultural GD in China. It is found that the driving force of performance of agricultural GD in China mainly depends on technological progress and that technological efficiency determines the speed of agricultural development. The regional differences in performance of agricultural GD are obvious in China. The growth in the performance of agricultural GD in the eastern region is much higher than that of the central, western, and northeast regions. In addition, the results show that the performance of agricultural GD is extremely positively correlated with the agricultural economic level, fiscal support for agriculture policy, and the industrialization process and that it is extremely negatively correlated with the level of opening-up, adjustment of agricultural structure, and the environmental regulatory capability of the government. As a result, this study can provide some ideas for the realization of agriculture GD in China. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability and Agricultural Economics)

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Review

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19 pages, 3288 KiB

Open AccessReview

LED Lighting Systems for Horticulture: Business Growth and Global Distribution

by Ivan Paucek, Elisa Appolloni, Giuseppina Pennisi, Stefania Quaini, Giorgio Gianquinto and Francesco Orsini

Sustainability 2020, 12(18), 7516; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12187516 - 11 Sep 2020

Cited by 43 | Viewed by 11025

Abstract

In recent years, research on light emitting diodes (LEDs) has highlighted their great potential as a lighting system for plant growth, development and metabolism control. The suitability of LED devices for plant cultivation has turned the technology into a main component in controlled or closed plant-growing environments, experiencing an extremely fast development of horticulture LED metrics. In this context, the present study aims to provide an insight into the current global horticulture LED industry and the present features and potentialities for LEDs’ applications. An updated review of this industry has been integrated through a database compilation of 301 manufacturers and 1473 LED lighting systems for plant growth. The research identifies Europe (40%) and North America (29%) as the main regions for production. Additionally, the current LED luminaires’ lifespans show 10 and 30% losses of light output after 45,000 and 60,000 working hours on average, respectively, while the vast majority of worldwide LED lighting systems present efficacy values ranging from 2 to 3 μmol J⁻¹ (70%). Thus, an update on the status of the horticultural LED sector, LEDs’ applications and metrics, and the intense innovation are described and discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability and Agricultural Economics)

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