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A Sustainable Organic Production Model for “Food Sovereignty” in the United Arab Emirates and Sicily-Italy

Author

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  • Khalid Butti Al Shamsi

    (Department of Agricultural, Food and Environment, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy)

  • Antonio Compagnoni

    (IFOAM AgriBio Mediterraneo Permanent Secretariat, c/o AIAB Emilia Romagna, Casale Della Mora via Tavoni 20, 41058 Vignola, Italy)

  • Giuseppe Timpanaro

    (Department of Agricultural, Food and Environment, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy)

  • Salvatore Luciano Cosentino

    (Department of Agricultural, Food and Environment, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy)

  • Paolo Guarnaccia

    (Department of Agricultural, Food and Environment, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy)

Abstract

The aim of this research is to contribute to food security by studying the development of integrated organic production models related to the biodiversity of food sources, soil fertility and water availability, both in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Sicily. Using the FAO’s multi-facetted approach of the Sustainable Assessment of Food and Agriculture Systems (SAFA) Tool, combined with interviews and visits to two organic farming communities in the UAE and Sicily, preliminary results were obtained consisting of: SAFA reports for each farmer and each community and the identification of some additional SAFA Tool indicators for local markets and migrant worker relations. Overall, the two systems contain elements described in the literature, such as Short Food Local Systems and as such contribute to territorial food support. Some best practices in organic production, direct marketing and migrant worker integration were identified and shared with farmers. The study highlights some operational issues that will be further focused upon in the future.

Suggested Citation

  • Khalid Butti Al Shamsi & Antonio Compagnoni & Giuseppe Timpanaro & Salvatore Luciano Cosentino & Paolo Guarnaccia, 2018. "A Sustainable Organic Production Model for “Food Sovereignty” in the United Arab Emirates and Sicily-Italy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-18, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:3:p:620-:d:133806
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Marasteanu, I. Julia & Jaenicke, Edward C., 2016. "Hot Spots and Spatial Autocorrelation in Certified Organic Operations in the United States," Agricultural and Resource Economics Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 45(3), pages 485-521, December.
    2. Gianluca Brunori & Francesca Galli & Dominique Barjolle & Rudolf Van Broekhuizen & Luca Colombo & Mario Giampietro & James Kirwan & Tim Lang & Erik Mathijs & Damian Maye & Kees De Roest & Carin Rougoo, 2016. "Are Local Food Chains More Sustainable than Global Food Chains? Considerations for Assessment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(5), pages 1-27, May.
    3. Giuseppe Timpanaro & Alessandro Scuderi & Vera Teresa Foti & Valeria Lo Giudice, 2015. "The Social Relationships? Effectiveness of "Agrisocial" Farms: A Model of Sustainable Local Development," RIVISTA DI STUDI SULLA SOSTENIBILITA', FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2015(1), pages 99-116.
    4. Verena Seufert & Navin Ramankutty & Jonathan A. Foley, 2012. "Comparing the yields of organic and conventional agriculture," Nature, Nature, vol. 485(7397), pages 229-232, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Niraj Prakash Joshi & Luni Piya, 2021. "Food and Nutrient Supply from Organic Agriculture in the Least Developed Countries and North America," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-17, April.
    2. Ioan Sebastian Brumă & Simona-Roxana Ulman & Cristina Cautisanu & Lucian Tanasă & Gabriel Vasile Hoha, 2021. "Sustainability in the Case of Small Vegetable Farmers: A Matrix Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-32, September.
    3. Gina Rico Mendez & Giusy Pappalardo & Bryan Farrell, 2021. "Practicing Fair and Sustainable Local Food Systems: Elements of Food Citizenship in the Simeto River Valley," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-22, January.
    4. Halland, Hilde & Bertella, Giovanna & Kvalvik, Ingrid, 2021. "Sustainable value: the perspective of horticultural producers in Arctic Norway," International Food and Agribusiness Management Review, International Food and Agribusiness Management Association, vol. 24(01).
    5. Wenyi Du & Yubing Fan & Lina Yan, 2018. "Pricing Strategies for Competitive Water Supply Chains under Different Power Structures: An Application to the South-to-North Water Diversion Project in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-13, August.
    6. Francesca Giarè & Gabriella Ricciardi & Patrizia Borsotto, 2020. "Migrants Workers and Processes of Social Inclusion in Italy: The Possibilities Offered by Social Farming," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-20, May.
    7. Ambrogio Zanzi & Valentina Vaglia & Roberto Spigarolo & Stefano Bocchi, 2021. "Assessing Agri-Food Start-Ups Sustainability in Peri-Urban Agriculture Context," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-20, April.
    8. Mariarita Cammarata & Giuseppe Timpanaro & Alessandro Scuderi, 2021. "Assessing Sustainability of Organic Livestock Farming in Sicily: A Case Study Using the FAO SAFA Framework," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-20, March.

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