RISULTATI RICERCA

La storiografia sul Mediterraneo ha prestato grande attenzione al tema della mobilità e ha talvolta affidato proprio alle questioni delle connessioni e disconnessioni tra i territori che su di esso si affacciano la definizione dello spazio mediterraneo. In questo contesto, specifiche tendenze storiografiche e i cosiddetti New Mediterranean Studies hanno affiancato alle dinamiche maggiormente esplorate – quali le diaspore, la religiosità – un rinnovato interesse per il ruolo di gruppi e individui considerati marginali, per la circolazione di oggetti, conoscenze ed elementi ecologici. Questa introduzione riprende la nozione di Mediterraneo allargato alla sfera atlantica e presenta criticamente i quattro contributi che compongono la sezione monografica. I casi studio in esame analizzano le mobilità di albanesi e zingari nel Regno di Napoli nei secoli XVXVII; la circolazione di oggetti di cultura materiale legate alle donne afro-canarie e l’ambigua identità di Anna/Hiemma a Roma e Algeri nel XVI secolo; la fortuna dell’eucalipto tra Italia e Algeria francese nell’ottocento.

Le utilities italiane dei servizi a rete (acqua, rifiuti, energia) si trovano al centro di un contesto in forte cambiamento: dal clima, all’innovazione tecnologica, alla demografia, con le sue pesanti ricadute sul mondo del lavoro. Le politiche europee stanno ridefinendo gli orientamenti e i percorsi di mitigazione e adattamento per il prossimo futuro. Per interpretare queste sfide occorre completare la governance dei settori, promuovere il consolidamento industriale e l’innovazione, adottare nuovi strumenti economici dedicati. In questo percorso la regolazione incentivante (ARERA) ha un ruolo di primo piano.

L’articolo esplora le implicazioni etiche e giuridiche dell’Intelligenza Artificiale (IA) per enti pubblici e privati. L’IA offre grandi potenzialità, ma comporta rischi significativi per i diritti fondamentali, richiedendone un uso responsabile. Il contributo analizza gli obblighi di compliance derivanti dalla normativa europea, in particolare dall’AI Act, che classifica i sistemi IA in base al rischio e impone requisiti rigorosi per quelli “ad alto rischio”. Vengono evidenziati gli aggiornamenti necessari ai modelli organizzativi, specialmente quelli relativi alla privacy (MOP) e alla corporate compliance (Modello 231), per integrare l’IA in modo etico e prevenire illeciti: in tal senso, l’autore propone di utilizzare l’IA come strumento di “compliance digitale” e di prevenzione dei reati, senza che questa possa sostituire la supervisione umana. L’articolo si sofferma, inoltre, sugli aspetti di responsabilità civile, sull’importanza dello strumento contrattuale e sulle implicazioni in materia di tutela dei lavoratori.

Essendo stata istituita orma da parecchi anni, può svolgersi un “tagliando” alla regolamentazione della performance negli enti pubblici, partendo dalla spinta innovatrice delle disposizioni del D.Lgs. 150/2009, osservando la necessità di legare detta specifica regolamentazione con le altre regolamentazioni tipiche degli enti, tra le quali le enfiate regole finanziarie o quelle relative alla trasparenza, non dimenticando di leggerle unitariamente, e di interpretarle tenendo conto di stare all’interno dello specifico contesto ordinamentale, proprio degli enti pubblici a base democratica.

La lettura dei dati sulla spesa pubblica territorializzata ha dato luogo da tempo una diatriba dovuta anche a fonti statistiche inconciliabili (CPT vs RGS ed ISTAT). Nei dati contabili della Ragioneria di Stato, inclusivi anche della spesa indiretta degli enti, la spesa pubblica è poco differenziata territorialmente tra Centro-Nord e Mezzogiorno. Fanno una differenza le regioni a statuto speciale con minoranze linguistiche e la regione della Capitale. Depurando dall’effetto delle regioni anomale e della spesa per le sole prestazioni pensionistiche da contributi, la spesa risulta maggiore nel Mezzogiorno. Nelle statistiche dei Conti pubblici Territoriali, che mostrano gravi problemi di coerenza con le fonti statistiche nazionali, applicando le due correzioni dette, la differenza diverrebbe non significativa. Le regioni piccole ricevono trasferimenti più importanti sia al Sud che al Centro-Nord. In alcuni contesti territoriali la distribuzione di risorse pubbliche in rapporto al PIL è tale da mettere in dubbio la permanenza di incentivi corretti a lavorare nel settore privato, e genera importanti incentivi di rent-seeking.

Municipal waste management is a significant issue in the European Union (EU) due to the quantities and diverse composition of waste generated by households, commercial activities, and public services. This contribution provides a definition of municipal waste as well as an overview of the key targets deriving from EU waste legislation. It then describes the EU municipal waste governance, market structure, and funding sources. It briefly recaps the current levels of municipal waste generation and treatment in EU27. Finally, it looks into the asset and financing needs required to meet the ambitious municipal waste management targets set by the EU.

The study aims to investigate the linkage between the livelihood assets of cocoa farming households and the technical efficiency of cocoa farmers in East Java Province. The survey method was used to achieve the research objectives. Analysis data was divided into 3 parts, including the concept of livelihood assets with pentagonal assets used to analyze the level of livelihood assets of cocoa farmer households, stochastic frontier production used to estimate the technical efficiency of cocoa farming, and the linkage between livelihood assets and technical efficiency is analyzed using Pearson correlation. The results show that the livelihood assets of cocoa farmer households in both Banyuwangi and Trenggalek Regencies are included in the moderate category with an average score of 3.17 and 3.33. The technical efficiency of cocoa farming in Banyuwangi is 60.74% while Trenggalek is 80.12%. The linkage between livelihood assets and technical efficiency in Banyuwangi is weak, while Trenggalek is moderate.

This study presents a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of the food bank literature, highlighting the role of food banks in addressing the global challenges of food insecurity and waste. Food banks operate at the nexus of waste reduction and hunger alleviation, collecting excess food and distributing it through a network of charities to communities in need.This study traces the scholarly evolution of food banks, highlighting key trends, contributors, and thematic clusters from 1997 to 2022. Bibliometric mapping tools are used to examine the dynamic research landscape and identify influential authors, journals, and the geographical spread of contributions. The analysis reveals a significant increase in research output post-2015, correlating with the global agenda towards Sustainable Development Goals. The United States and Canada have emerged as leading contributors, with the research network indicating robust international collaborations.Thematic analyses through keyword co-occurrence, co-citation, and bibliographic coupling uncover the multidisciplinary nature of food bank studies, encompassing public health, social policy, and environmental sustainability. Key findings from cocitation and bibliographic coupling analyses indicate a shift towards a holistic understanding of food banks’ roles within societal and policy frameworks, emphasizing health outcomes, operational strategies for managing food waste, and the sociopolitical impacts of austerity measures. This paper underscores the importance of continued interdisciplinary research and innovative policy formulations to ensure that food banks effectively address the complex dynamics of food insecurity.Despite its limitations, this study offers a robust foundation for future exploration in this field, providing support for broader inclusivity and diversity in research.

In January 2024, widespread farmer protests across Europe exposed growing tensions between the socioeconomic realities of agricultural production and environmental policy ambitions. Among the most contested issues, pesticide use emerged as a critical friction point, symbolizing broader dilemmas at the intersection of environmental sustainability, food security, and farmers’ livelihoods. In response, the European Commission launched the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of EU Agriculture, a participatory platform aimed at fostering consensus among diverse stakeholders and redefining the direction of EU agricultural policy. This paper explores the Strategic Dialogue’s contribution to shaping EU pesticide policy through a qualitative content analysis of its final report, triangulated with official stakeholder statements and EU policy documents. Focusing on the discourse on pesticide reliance reduction, sustainability trade-offs, and policy implementation challenges, the analysis applies a deductive-inductive coding framework to investigate the Dialogue’s effectiveness in promoting deliberative governance and how the competing priorities were negotiated within the participatory process. The findings indicate broad stakeholder support for synthetic pesticide use reduction and restoring ecological balance, alongside recognition of the knowledgebased, structural, and economic barriers that hinder the transition. The report advocates a phased reduction strategy, supported by targeted financial support for small-scale farms and an increased investment in sustainable alternatives such as biocontrol and Integrated Pest Management. Furthermore, the analysis underscores the importance of ensuring balanced stakeholder representation and addressing power asymmetries in participatory policymaking. The paper contributes to understanding the potential of the Strategic Dialogue’s initiative to generate cooperative responses to complex agrienvironmental challenges by situating pesticide policy within the wider framework of deliberative sustainability governance.

New Genomic Techniques (NGTs) present an opportunity to enhance plant resistance to parasites or diseases, reducing dependence on agrochemicals, and to extreme climatic events such as heavy rainfall or long periods of drought, thus fostering better adaptation to climate change. However, the diffusion of these techniques may encounter obstacles deriving from the reluctance of farmers, who have to sustain costs in the introduction of new technologies whose production results are still uncertain, but also the resistance of the market, given the still widespread reluctance of consumers in accepting wine products derived from the use of these technologies.Using original survey data from 1,045 respondents, we examine Italian consumers’ acceptance of and decision to buy NGT wine products. To achieve this, we developed two indicators to assess the quality of the information and the respondents’ level of knowledge about NGTs, our topic of interest. These indices were incorporated into a regression model to analyse their effects on the propensity to buy NGT wine alongside the socio-economic characteristics of respondents, which were categorized through cluster analysis.Our findings suggest a reduction in Italian consumers’ distrust toward these new technologies, possibly influenced by the European institutions’ proposed regulatory revision. Additionally, the results indicate that the quality of information plays a crucial role in the decision to purchase NGT wine. This highlights the need for higher-quality information to empower consumers, helping them reach an adequate level of knowledge that would allow them to make better-informed choices.

The packaged beverage industry has experienced significant growth globally, driven by advancements in packaging technology, shifting consumption patterns, and increasing health and environmental regulations. This study investigates Generation Z’s perception of packaged beverage quality by examining how intrinsic and extrinsic attributes influence their preferences using Caswell’s framework. Data were collected via an online questionnaire completed by 300 purposively selected respondents. Descriptive statistics, crosstab analysis, and factor analysis were used to explore consumer behavior patterns. Results show that sensory qualities, certifications, and price are the most influential factors. Socio-demographic variables such as gender, income, education, and residence significantly affect attribute prioritization. Factor analysis revealed three key dimensions: intrinsic credence (including safety, nutrition, processing methods, and certifications), extrinsic (including advertising, producer reputation, and packaging), and intrinsic search (including sensory qualities, price, and perceived value). These findings provide practical insights for tailoring product development, marketing strategies, and health-oriented policies to meet Generation Z’s expectations. The study offers a theoretical contribution to consumer behavior research by refining quality perception models through a multi-attribute lens.

The agricultural sector is pivotal in Malaysia’s economic development, primarily providing food, feed, and raw materials for industries while contributing to the country’s GDP and absorbing labour. Despite its significance, the sector’s resilience during economic shocks, such as financial crises, economic setbacks, and pandemics, requires further examination. This study addresses the issue of measuring the resilience of Malaysia’s agricultural sector with an enhanced focus on the impact of research and development (R&D) funding allocation and investments, which is often overlooked in resilience studies.It aims to quantify the resilience of Malaysia’s agricultural sector and analyse trends over time, thereby contributing to a deeper understanding of the sector’s stability and the role of R&D in fostering resilience. Secondary data from 1996 to 2023 was collected from various sources, including the World Bank, the Department of Statistics Malaysia, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industries Malaysia, Bank Negara Malaysia, and the Malaysian Investment Development Authority. Principal component analysis (PCA) was utilised to construct the resilience index, while trend analysis examined the evolution of this index over the study period. Preliminary results indicate that the resilience of Malaysia’s agricultural sector fluctuates over time, with a positive correlation between increased R&D investments and higher resilience levels. Strategic R&D investments are crucial for enhancing agricultural resilience. This research provides a comprehensive framework for assessing the resilience of the agricultural sector, offering policymakers and stakeholders valuable insights. The methodology and findings can also be applied to other countries, making a contribution to the literature on agricultural resilience.

The Optional Quality Term (OQT) “Mountain Product” aims to promote mountain food products. This term can be beneficial for the economy of mountain regions, as it allows them to distinguish their products and can protect consumers from fraud, counterfeiting or agro-piracy. This study has two main objectives: to assess how farms that have adopted the label perceive their limitations and to analyse the reasons for these limitations and provide policy recommendations to strengthen the use of OQT. The study involves a survey of agri-food companies that have adopted the label, with data collected through a questionnaire. Although existing research indicates that consumers generally prefer mountain products and perceive them as higher quality, producers report that consumer awareness of the OQT is still low. It appears essential to improve communication with both producers and consumers on the economic, social and environmental benefits of the ‘mountain product’ label. Producers need support to integrate the label into their business strategies, while consumers should be informed about the ethical and social responsibility linked to the OQT.

The growing pressures on the global food supply chain highlight the challenges faced by maritime ports, which are responsible for 80% of global trade, emphasising the need for sustainable operations across management, economic, and social dimensions. This article analyses the research trends in this area within the Scopus database, which was researched on July 11, 2024. The PRISMA method (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) was applied.Based on the results of the systematic literature review, four main subjects were the focus of the researchers: i) smart port requirements and sustainable performance; ii) the technological innovations driving sustainable supply chain management; iii) circular economy and digital supply chain sustainability; iv) frameworks and models for integrating sustainable digital supply chain. Additionally it opens possibility for future research could cover the gaps identified in this article, such as analyzing the effects of Technologies like Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, and the Internet of Things on the efficiency and environmental goals of ports, evaluating social sustainability in the supply chain through indicators like child labor, rural poverty traps, and standards of living, and food economy. The findings contribute to the academic understanding of sustainable development in maritime ports, considering the interconnections among business, economic, and social factors, establishing the groundwork for key performance indicators (KPIs) and opening perspectives for practical innovation.