Laura Piedra-Muñoz

DRIVERS FOR EFFICIENT WATER USE IN AGRICULTURE: AN EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS OF FAMILY FARMS IN ALMERÍA, SPAIN

This paper aims to determine the influence of family farming features on efficient use of water. The analysis focusses on a random sample of family farms in the province of Almeria, southeast Spain. A hierarchical regression model was conducted to determine how the water efficiency is related to environmental awareness and certain characteristics of farmers, decision-makers and the family farm itself. The results show that these family farms strive to be more efficient in their use of water when they are going to be inherited, when there are younger decision-makers who have received a better education, and also when women are involved. Moreover, this efficiency is positively related to more ecological production and to the farmers habitual behaviour with respect to water economy. The study provides evidence regarding the influences of socio-economic and environmental features of family farming on water use efficiency that may prove useful for other analyses and policy makers on water management in agriculture.

An empirical model for housing tenure choice and demand in the Spanish market

This paper analyzes a combined selection model between purchasing or renting a housing unit and the amount spent on it. Similar to what has been studied in several other works, if both decisions are simultaneously considered, the estimators of the parameters are biased. The primary focus of this study is to determine the probabilities of housing purchase and rent as well as the price and income elasticities of housing demand, and observe how these parameters vary when fiscal conditions change.

Deconstruction: the qualitative methodology for the analysis of sustainability assessment tools of agri-system

Graphical abstract

Determinants of Food Safety Level in Fruit and Vegetable Wholesalers’ Supply Chain: Evidence from Spain and France

Food safety management in short supply chains of fruit and vegetables, controlled by large retailers, has been widely studied in the literature. However, when it comes to traditional long supply chains, which include a greater number of intermediaries and wholesalers who, in some cases, play a dual role as resellers and producers, the mechanisms which promote the use of safety certifications have yet to be clearly defined. The present study intended to fill this gap in the literature and shed light on the food safety level that exists in this channel. In addition, this work attempted to identify the existence of differences between both sales systems. For this purpose, the empirical research studied the most important variables that influence the food safety level of some of the main European fruit and vegetable wholesalers. A survey was thus designed and later applied to Spanish and French intermediaries working in key wholesale markets and in the southeast of Spain, which is the leading commercialization area of these products in Europe. The results revealed the positive influence of specific customers (big retailers) on establishing stricter safety controls within wholesale companies. It was also observed that specific wholesalers also play an important role in the system, namely those dedicated to importing, but which are also responsible for quality and safety inspection of agri-food products exported from third countries into the European Union.

Considering the consumer in the design of a supply chain of perishables

Customer satisfaction, contrary to a manufacturer based approach, is considered a key factor in the business strategy of many companies and in supply chain management. However, focusing on the consumer requires an analysis of the preference structure, which is something that conditions supply chain strategy. In this work we carry out a customer segmentation of a perishable product in order to identify different profiles, depending on their needs and preferences, which may allow the study of differentiated supply chain strategy. Thus, taking consumer satisfaction, we propose a differentiated supply chain approach depending on the segment which the company intends to address. In parallel and from a theoretical point of view, this approach represents a first step toward introducing the concept of responsible innovation in the study of supply chain management.