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Consumer purchasing behaviour for "biodiversity-friendly" vegetable products: increasing importance of informal relationships

Author

Listed:
  • Vera Teresa Foti

    (Department of Agricultural Food and Environment (Di3A), University of Catania, Italy)

  • Alessandro Scuderi

    (Department of Agricultural Food and Environment (Di3A), University of Catania, Italy)

  • Giuseppe Stella

    (PH3DRA Laboratories University of Catania & INFN, Italy)

  • Giuseppe Timpanaro

    (Department of Agricultural Food and Environment (Di3A), University of Catania, Italy)

Abstract

The consumer's central role within biodiversity conservation networks may be connected to the process of reconnecting models of production and proven local consumption within "alternative food networks" that have the ability to conserve biodiversity and create sustainable production. This research focuses of the indirect relationships between consumers of biodiversity-friendly vegetable crops surveyed at the main farmers' markets in Sicily, revealing details of purchasing behaviour and the factors related to product choice using social network analysis (SNA) to analyse the social relationships. The research highlights the consumer preferences for local produce or areas with an identity connection or an ethical-social affinity, as shown by the convergence of themes such as "territorial promotion" and "Sicilian quality". This result confirms the role of low-volume producers and local communities in protecting biodiversity-friendly farming and renewing their importance in policy-making. Different consumers highlighted how important it is to design more effective measures to maintain and increase ecosystem resilience. Future development in this area will need to include empirical research on defining the motivations that induce consumers to collaborate with producers in the co-creation of values and anticipating the willingness of consumers to be more pro-active and participatory with biodiversity-friendly farmers in managing their relationships.

Suggested Citation

  • Vera Teresa Foti & Alessandro Scuderi & Giuseppe Stella & Giuseppe Timpanaro, 2019. "Consumer purchasing behaviour for "biodiversity-friendly" vegetable products: increasing importance of informal relationships," Agricultural Economics, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 65(9), pages 404-414.
    • Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlage:v:65:y:2019:i:9:id:377-2018-agricecon
    DOI: 10.17221/377/2018-AGRICECON
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kontoleon,Andreas & Pascual,Unai & Swanson,Timothy (ed.), 2007. "Biodiversity Economics," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521866835.
    2. Gruère, Guillaume & Nagarajan, Latha & King, E.D.I. Oliver, 2009. "The role of collective action in the marketing of underutilized plant species: Lessons from a case study on minor millets in South India," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 34(1), pages 39-45, February.
    3. Alessandro Scuderi & Luisa Sturiale & Claudio Bellia & Vera Teresa Foti & Giuseppe Timpanaro, 2016. "The redefinition of the role of agricultural areas in the city of Catania," RIVISTA DI STUDI SULLA SOSTENIBILITA', FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2016(2), pages 237-247.
    4. Yuna Chiffoleau & Jean-Marc Touzard, 2014. "Understanding local agri-food systems through advice network analysis," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 31(1), pages 19-32, March.
    5. Gianluca Brunori & Francesco Di Iacovo, 2014. "Urban Food Security and Landscape Change: A Demand-side Approach," Landscape Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 39(2), pages 141-157, April.
    6. Sini Forssell & Leena Lankoski, 2015. "The sustainability promise of alternative food networks: an examination through “alternative” characteristics," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 32(1), pages 63-75, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Vera Teresa Foti & Alessandro Scuderi & Claudio Bellia & Giuseppe Timpanaro, 2021. "Biofortification of tomatoes in Italy: Status and level of knowledge," Agricultural Economics, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 67(6), pages 227-235.
    2. Johnson, Matthew D. & Huysman, Allison E. & St. George, Dane A. & Kammerichs-Berke, Deven & Carlino, Jaime E. & Estes, Brooks R., 2022. "Wine and Wildlife: An Exploratory Study of the Depiction of Animals on Wine Labels Available in the United States," Journal of Food Distribution Research, Food Distribution Research Society, vol. 53(3), November.

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