Anastasios Michailidis

Investigating the drivers that influence the adoption of differentiated food products

Purpose – Over the last years, food safety, health, environmental and societal issues are a few among many other reasons that force people to adopt new differentiated food products. This interesting shift of the consumption pattern from conventional food products to new differentiated products that incorporate innovative features, consist the main reasoning of the present study. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the drivers that influence the adoption of those differentiated food products and shed new light on consumers behavior, by modeling and understanding better their attitude.Design/methodology/approach – A two‐step cluster analysis was employed to explore the different levels of differentiated products adoption and a categorical regression model was estimated to explain this variation. Data were collected through a survey addressing 500 consumers, carried out in 2009 in a typical Greek urban area.Findings – From the three different food product categories (organic, functional and genetica...

Climate change and agricultural productivity

Agriculture is the economic sector that is most vulnerable to climate change. According to the latest estimates, farmers’ adaptation of farm production to climate change is inevitable. The climate attributes that are expected to have the most direct impacts on agricultural productivity are the rise in temperature, the change in the frequency and intensity of precipitation and of extreme weather phenomena, and the increase in the level of CO2 available for photosynthesis. This paper analyzes the economic costs of climate change in Greek agricultural productivity during the last thirty years and discusses the implications for policymakers and for agricultural research. Empirical evidence suggests that climate change is already present and has a significant impact on agricultural productivity. Farmers need to adapt to the expected impacts of climate change in order to maintain their standard of living. The adaptation of agriculture to climate change involves both the restructuring of crops, as well as changes in cultivation practices. Policies must take into account the multidimensionality of modern agriculture and the importance of sustainable agricultural development.

Using SEBAL to Investigate How Variations in Climate Impact on Crop Evapotranspiration

Water allocation to crops, and especially to the most water intensive ones, has always been of great importance in agricultural processes. Deficit or excessive irrigation could create either crop health-related problems or water over-consumption, respectively. The latter could lead to groundwater depletion and deterioration of its quality through deep percolation of agrichemical residuals. In this context, and under the current conditions where Cyprus is facing effects of possible climate changes, the purpose of this study seeks to estimate the needed crop water requirements of the past (1995–2004) and the corresponding ones of the present (2005–2015) in order to test if there were any significant changes regarding the crop water requirements of the most water-intensive trees in Cyprus. The Mediterranean region has been identified as the region that will suffer the most from variations of climate. Thus the paper refers to effects of these variations on crop evapotranspiration (ETc) using remotely-sensed data from Landsat TM/ETM+/OLI employing a sound methodology used worldwide, the Surface Energy Balance Algorithm for Land (SEBAL). Though the general feeling is that of changes on climate will consequently affect ETc, our results indicate that there is no significant effect of climate variation on crop evapotranspiration, despite the fact that some climatic factors have changed. Applying Student’s t-test, the mean values for the most water-intensive trees in Cyprus of the 1994–2004 decade have shown no statistical difference from the mean values of 2005–2015 for all the cases, concluding that the climate change taking place in the past decades in Cyprus have either not affected the crop evapotranspiration or the crops have managed to adapt to the new environmental conditions through time.

Mapping Perceived Happiness Alongside the Rural-Urban Continuum☆

Abstract Inconsistent circumstances, driven by global monetary crisis and counterurbanization, create without doubt a scientifically intriguing period, especially through the lens of urban or rural dwellers’ happiness. The main aim of this paper is to advocate a rural-urban continuum of happiness through modern methodological tools. The study sets out to determine the most suitab le and appropriate, on policy grounds, definition of happiness. In so doing, it acknowledges the importance of the transformations of happiness according to different socioeconomic conditions alongside the urban-rural continuum. The importance for this research stems from the current debate for a more suitable and alternative index, compared to the Gross Domestic Product, which can actually reflect the progress of a society in a more pervas ive manner. The study applies content analys is and multivariate statistics in a large scale database of empirical data, undertaken from January 2013 to March 2013 from the Prefecture of Thessaloniki; calculate statistical indicators and quantification of the spatial and inequal distribution of happiness between rural and urban areas.

Local Cooperation: A Dynamic Force for Endogenous Rural Development

The main objective of this study is to indicate that many times rural development is achievable endogenously through local forces. It is believed that a direct relationship exists between local cooperation and local forces in rural communities, allowing them to become a mechanism for endogenous development. The examination of local cooperation as a mechanism for endogenous development is important and thus, after a review of theoretical works related to local cooperation and endogenous development, the study presents an analysis derived from a case study, performed in a typical peripheral rural area in northwest Greece. Especially, after the recent spectacular shift of the global financial status, the existence of a local cooperation framework attracts the interest of the analysts as it can shed new light on endogenous development and on modeling and understanding better the long-term behavior of rural residents. Thus, this study examines the willingness of the local society to accept and support a local factor such as an investment proposal of the local union of agricultural cooperatives, by revealing the foremost reasons thereof. Both descriptive statistics and multivariate analysis were employed. Two-step cluster analysis was used to explore the different levels of local factor’s adoption and a binomial logit model was estimated to determine the relation between social characteristics and willingness to adopt endogenous development.

Educational needs and perceptions of the sustainability of precision agriculture: survey evidence from Greece

Precision agriculture (PA) constitutes a dynamic production method which is gaining attention in several parts of the world. Its environmental and economic sustainability has been examined in terms of its ability to reduce the adverse effects of agrochemical use—by regulating their application to the levels needed at the land parcel level—and of its contribution to higher incomes and profitability. At the social level, PA has been linked to collective action although little insight is available regarding the role of various actors and education. This study tackles PA through an assessment of the attitudes of farmers towards the elements of its sustainability and of their educational needs. The analysis of survey data of a sample of young farmers in Greece showed that the majority of respondents were not familiar with PA. Significant differences were found between the attitudes of knowledgeable and non-knowledgeable farmers, the former demonstrating better acknowledgement of the environmental, economic and social sustainability of PA. Important educational needs were also detected, with group and individual methods being the most preferred ones for education and information campaigns. The results of the analysis could be of use for the design of Common Agricultural Policy Pillar II measures for the promotion of PA targeting to specific audiences and actors.

Exploring Treated Wastewater Issues Related to Agriculture in Europe, Employing a Quantitative SWOT Analysis☆

Abstract SuWaNu is a research project funded within the EU Commission FP7 framework where one of the objectives is to identify impediments and factors of success for sustainable water treatment and nutrient reuse options. For this purpose several European regional clusters have been framed (in Bulgaria, Germany, Greece, Malta and Spain) while, through a quantitative SWOT analysis, have been identified and quantified the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the treated wastewater sector focusing on the economical regional aspects, on research innovation potential and on market exploitation and penetration. The analysis of the contributions of the different clusters included in the SuWaNu project has provided a detailed description of the reclaimed water sector in the European agriculture. After the analysis of more than 200 strengths, opportunities, weaknesses and threats provided by the partners of the project, this study includes a complete description of the use of reclaimed water in the European agriculture. These findings have been used as the fundamental cognition for the development of a joint action plan and several other business plans in the selected regions. A brief discussion on empirical modelling and results, especially regarding the Greek case study, is shown in this paper. A more detailed discussion can be found in the SuWaNu project report, available through the website (http://www.suwanu.eu).

Linkages of the energy sector in the Greek economy: an input-output approach

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to reveal the dynamics of the Greek energy sector. As energy sectors contribute substantially to a national economy and stimulate national output and employment, it is important to identify their upward and downward linkages and interrelations with the other sectors of the economy. Design/methodology/approach To do this and capture such relations in the economy, a general equilibrium model is used. In specific, input–output (I–O) analysis is used and a model is specifically built for the Greek economy to examine in detail the energy sectors. Multiplier and linkage analysis is performed to assess their dynamics in terms of output, household income and employment. Findings Results indicate that the three energy sectors’ multipliers and elasticities, though are not ranking in the first places, are enough high indicating their strong linkages in the economy and their potentials to enhance the economy’s total output, employment and household income. Research limitations/implications Further disaggregation of the economy’s energy sectors is needed to make clearer the separation among renewable and non-renewable sector, to identify and compare the dynamics and contribution of each category in the economy. Additionally, an environmental I–O model would indicate consequences on the environment and not just pure economic benefits. Practical implications Through the analysis, it can be seen that energy sectors and secondary energy products have the ability to drive a country’s economic activity through exports and intersectoral linkages, even if it is not a crude petroleum producing economy. Thus, knowledge of the economic impacts of such sectors is a valuable information. Originality/value The current study provides significant information of an economy’s energy sectors regarding their ability to support economic activity and employment. A general equilibrium model is used, examining the whole economy, to assess direct and indirect interrelationships.

New Farmers a Crucial Parameter for the Greek Primary Sector: Assessments and Perceptions

The steady decline in the number of holdings and farmers in the EU has led to a distressing shortage of new farmers. Today, the European Union is consequently faced with a dual problem: the scarcity of new and consequently young farmers and the rapid ageing of the farmer population. Young farmers can bring new skills and energy, and a more professional management to the farming sector. Against the context of an ageing agricultural labour force, the future of the farmers’ profession must be ensured. Thus, European Unions’ Common Agricultural Policy pays particular attention to the decline in young farmers, having established different policy measures and motives for new entrants in agriculture. Support to the setting up of young farmers includes support to facilitate the initial establishment and the structural adjustment of their holding afterwards. This paper attempts to identify Greek new farmers’ perceptions about their participation in this policy measurement. For this reason a questionnaire was developed and distributed among young farmers participating in the measure 112 ‘Setting up of young farmers’ (Common Agricultural Policy, Pillar II), in order to explore their expectations, perceptions and their daily practices in the field. The survey took place in different regions in Greece during an educational course series designed for new farmers. In total 254 new farmers answered questions concerning economic, environmental and cultivation practices.

Workers in a Poultry Cooperative: A Study on Their Job Satisfaction

Poultry sector in Balkan countries presents a significant dynamic in both terms of consumption and production. Even if small-scale poultry production in farmers’ backyards is very common in all Balkan countries, modern and industrialized poultry farming facilities have been developed to confront the increasing demand for poultry products. On the other hand, there are many studies that associate business performance to job satisfaction for employees and workers. Thus, it is worth examining job satisfaction and the factors that determine the derived satisfaction as a first step to study poultry sector and its contribution to food and beverage sector. In this study job satisfaction is examined for workers in a Greek poultry cooperative, since agricultural poultry cooperatives in Greece perform better than other sectors. In addition, the largest agricultural cooperative in Greece is a poultry cooperative that has a 30% market share. A similar situation is observed for many Balkan countries.