THE SUSTAINABILITY OF AGRI-FOOD SYSTEMS: IS ORGANIC PRODUCTION PART OF THE SOLUTION?

Maria Laura Ojeda, Exequiel Romero-Gomez, Luca Salvatici and Cristina Vaquero-Piñeiro

No 287, Departmental Working Papers of Economics - University 'Roma Tre' from Department of Economics - University Roma Tre

Abstract: Satisfying the increasing food demand while supporting the sustainability of agri-food systems in the face of climate change is seen as a major global challenge in the future. This study investigates how environmental policies, such as higher organic production targets, might affect the sustainability of agri-food systems. By using simulations from the Simplified International Model of Agricultural Prices, Land Use, and Environment (SIMPLE) model, extended for the first time to distinguish organic from conventional production, we project socio-economic and emission outcomes in response to the 25% of organic farmland by 2030 fixed by the European Union Farm to Fork (F2F) strategy in Italy. Overall, results indicate that even though the F2F strategy in Italy is projected to increase crop production and reduce Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030, it will also raise crop prices, slightly increase land use, and intensify non-land input demands under conventional agriculture. The findings underscore the need for complementary policies and coordinated action plans to balance economic, social, and environmental sustainability.

Keywords: organic transition; organic farming; agriculture; SIMPLE model; Italy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C63 F63 O13 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 21
Date: 2025-05
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-agr and nep-env
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