The Landscapes of Italian Food: Local Development and Healthy Practices

This book explores contemporary food systems in Italy, highlighting the landscape, local practices, and cultural history. It illustrates the value chain concept in navigating comparative advantage in an advanced market setting, connecting the landscape to individual food practices. It also explores community gardens, food procurement channels, and the multifunctional implications of antimafia activities involving social agriculture. The book concludes with a survey of European and domestic Italian policies to protect and promote healthy food practices while preserving the landscape.

Format: Hardback
Length: 136 pages
Publication date: 15 February 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This comprehensive book delves into the intricate dynamics of contemporary food systems in Italy, offering a rich and multifaceted exploration. It pays close attention to the country's diverse landscape, highlighting its role in shaping local food practices and cultural heritage. Through the lens of the value chain concept, the book illustrates how businesses navigate the complexities of comparative advantage in an advanced market environment, showcasing the practical applications of this framework.

The book establishes a profound connection between the landscape and individual food practices, revealing how they have adapted to the commodification of the agri-food system while preserving a distinctive local character. It explores the emergence of community gardens as a consolidated part of Italian urban experience, highlighting their role in promoting a healthy diet, social cohesion, and environmental sustainability.

Furthermore, the book delves into a wide range of food procurement channels, including food cooperatives, buying groups, and institutional partnerships. It examines the strategies employed by large retail groups to address the growing environmental sensitivity of their customers, demonstrating their commitment to responsible business practices.

The book also explores the multifunctional implications of antimafia activities involving social agriculture, shedding light on the potential for sustainable development and community empowerment in the face of adversity.

In conclusion, this book offers a valuable contribution to the study of contemporary food systems, providing a comprehensive analysis of the landscape, innovative local practices, and local cultural history in Italy. It demonstrates the utility of the value chain concept in navigating the complexities of comparative advantage and highlights the importance of preserving local identities while promoting sustainable development. The book is of interest to a wide range of readers, including food enthusiasts, policymakers, and academic scholars from various disciplines, such as sociology, urban studies, anthropology, and Italian studies.

Weight: 430g
Dimension: 216 x 138 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032247236