Agricultural and food economics

The division focuses on economic studies applied to the agricultural and food sector. The main research activities relate to markets, marketing and consumption of agri-food products; firm and supply chain organization and management; production factors and natural resource economics, rural and environmental appraisal; agricultural, rural and food policy, regional economic systems and publicly provided goods; agricultural, environmental and food law.

Keywords: agricultural policy, bio-economy, consumers, environment, fisheries, food waste, industrial organisation, innovation, labour in agriculture, management, marketing, quality, supply chain, sustainability, water resources.

Main research fields

• Agricultural and food markets and marketing

Studies on economic aspects of agricultural and animal production, industrial processing and distribution, price analysis and competitiveness, at both national and international level. Agri-food products marketing, consumer behavior, communication and pricing strategies. Valorization of product and process attributes. Development of new products.

• Firm and supply chain organization and management

Studies on agricultural accounting methods; firm economic and financial performance analysis, in both food and no-food contexts. Value creation and distribution in agri-food supply-chains. Economic evaluation of investment choices, of technological and organizational innovations. Product life cycle analysis; prevention and reduction of agri-food losses and waste.

• Production factors and natural resource economics, rural and environmental appraisal

Studies on the management and markets of production factors, financial and fiscal aspects. Sustainable production chains management. Fisheries and aquaculture economics, bio-economic modelling of fish stocks and synergies between maritime and coastal activities. Environmental, socio-economic and territorial sustainability analysis.

• Agricultural and food policy, regional economic systems and publicly provided goods

Evaluation of policies related to local, European and international agri-food systems (rural development, Common Agricultural Policy, food safety); Analysis of regional agro-food systems (Mediterranean Basin, Balkans and Central-Eastern Europe) and their socio-economic integration. Policies for public goods (ecosystem services, biodiversity, veterinary and public health).

• Agricultural, environmental and food law

Studies on international, EU and national regulation of the agricultural, agro-environmental and food sectors. Study of the legal relations between business and property in the management of residual agricultural areas, with particular reference to the agrarian contract.