Food Policy Modelling Responses to Current Issues

In the present economic, political, societal and environmental landscape, which is dominated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the emergence of challenges and issues that demand immediate and urgent responses is more intense than ever. Policymakers, international organizations, governmental and non-governmental institutions around the globe are seeking effective and sustainable policies, as they try to tackle far-reaching issues that affect all aspects of the economy and agriculture, including the food sector. In this context, this book presents new modelling approaches and their application to complex problems in the agro-food chain in order to address today’s pressing food policy issues. The respective chapters showcase national and regional studies on sustainable communities, rural environments and ecosystems. Taken together, they offer a valuable reference guide for scholars and practitioners alike.”

1. The Effect of Financial and Non-financial Factors on the Productivity and Profitability of the Goat Industry: A Modelling Approach to Structural Equations.- 2. Initiating Transition to Agro-ecological Farming Systems in Market-Oriented Arable Farming with Soil Conservation Practices: A Case Study in Hungary.- 3. Competitiveness, Sustainability Performances and Policy Options in the Sheep Meat Sector of Mediterranean Countries.- 4. Countries’ Image and Agricultural Trade Volume.- 5. Designing a Traceability Framework for Sustainable Agri-Food Supply Chains.- 6. Digitalization in the EU Agricultural Sector: Seeking a European Policy Response.- 7. Why Go on Vacation to Crete? Assessing the Role of Local Cuisine.- 8. Consumer Preferences for Local Food Products Marketed by Women’s Cooperatives.

Konstadinos Mattas is a Professor of Agricultural Policy at the School of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece.  He has published more than 200 reviewed articles in international journals, collected volumes and conference proceedings. He has served as a reviewer for several journals, books, and collected volumes. He is the managing editor and serves on the editorial boards of several scientific journals. He also has great experience in participating in and coordinating European and national research projects, and in organizing national and international workshops, seminars and conferences. He has served in several relevant EU and National Food Policy Committees. His special areas of interest are agro-food policy, EU policy, rural and economic development, regional economics, food marketing and trade.

George Baourakis is the Director of the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania (CIHEAM–MAICh), Greece and the Studies and Research Coordinator of the Business Economics and Management Department of MAICh. He has coordinated and participated in numerous EU projects, as well as international and national-regional research projects. He is an Affiliate Professor of Marketing and Supply Chain Management at the Centre of Entrepreneurship, Nyenrode University, the Netherlands, and has served as a Distinguished Research Fellow of Food Marketing Management at several universities. He has published extensively in international scientific journals, presented at various international conferences and authored/co-authored several scientific and academic books and special issues for leading publishers.

Constantin Zopounidis is a Professor of Financial Engineering and Operations Research at the Technical University of Crete, Greece, Distinguished Research Professor at Audencia Nantes School of Management, France, Senior Academician of the Royal Academy of Economics and Financial Sciences of Spain, and President of the Financial Engineering and Banking Society (FEBS). He has edited and authored more than 70 books and 400 research papers in scientific journals and collected volumes, conference proceedings and encyclopedias in the areas of finance, accounting, operations research and management science. In recognition of his contributions, he has received several awards from international research bodies such as the International Society on Multiple Criteria Decision Making, the Decision Sciences Institute, the MOISIL International Foundation, ESCP Europe and the Hellenic Operational Research Society.

Christos Staboulis holds a Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics. He has contributed to various international conferences and published articles in international journals. He has also participated in national and international research projects. His research interests include agricultural policy, food marketing, international trade and agricultural economics.