Measuring the financial sustainability of vine landraces for better conservation programmes of Mediterranean agro-biodiversity

The Apulia region, in southern Italy, has a long tradition of vine cultivation for winemaking. However, in the last decades, regional farmers substituted local landraces with more productive non-native varieties. Regional institutions introduced regulations aimed at preventing the extinction of the local and historic ecotypes in the form of financial subsidies to reduce planting and operating costs. In this paper, we compared the financial sustainability of a non-autochthone, a typical and a landrace variety for wine production, in intensive and semi-extensive cultivation systems, with and without financial supports. The analysis referred to northern Apulia, considering a 26-year economic duration of vineyards. The results showed that the non-autochthone variety was more profitable due to its higher yields, while investments regarding landrace-based plants were characterized by lower economic convenience, despite financial aid. These estimates shed light on the effectiveness and efficacy of the present regulations, as well as on the development of future strategies for a better restoration of vine landraces in Apulia. This new framework will help to increase farmers’ profits, improve environmental conditions for the community and ensure higher quality, security and safety for consumers

High-voltage overhead transmission lines and farmland value: Evidences from the real estate market in Apulia, southern Italy

The construction of high-voltage overhead transmission lines on farmland implies a permanent easement, involving expropriation of land and depreciation of the remaining farm area. The Italian system operator should pay compensation for both aspects, but recognizes only the former. Therefore, landowners often appeal to the law courts and claim compensation for the depreciation of the entire non-occupied area, often obliging the system operator to pay substantial amounts. This delays the provision of new power lines and increases their respective costs. In order to verify the correctness of the modus operandi by the system operator and landowners, a study was carried out into the impact of several characteristics of power lines on farmland value in northern Apulia, south Italy. The results highlighted that the area occupied by plinths and cabins, the height of towers and the type of intersection were the main sources of depreciation, which varies depending on the crop. Moreover, depreciation on the residual area exists, but only involves two narrow strips of land on either side of infrastructure. Finally, it is not constant, but tends to decrease rapidly as the distance from the infrastructure increases, and zeroes at 30–70 m from the power line

The choice experiment and the stochastic profit frontier: A methodological approach for groundwater preservation policies

Apulia is the fifth Italian region in terms of irrigated area and irrigation water used in agriculture. However, inefficiencies in the management of the regional irrigation consortia force most of farmers to use groundwater by private wells, with negative consequences on soil and crop characteristics, and with grave desertification risk. In the first instance, through a choice experiment survey, the study investigated the aptitude of the regional farmers toward the abandonment of their farm wells in exchange for an improved consortium irrigation network and additional services. Then, through a stochastic profit frontier, the impact of these choices was assessed on the economic performance of farms, providing useful information for suitable and fair groundwater preservation policies

Nuclear accumulation of mRNAs underlies G4C2-repeat-induced translational repression in a cellular model of C9orf72 ALS

A common feature of non-coding repeat expansion disorders is the accumulation of RNA repeats as RNA foci in the nucleus and/or cytoplasm of affected cells. These RNA foci can be toxic because they sequester RNA-binding proteins, thus affecting various steps of post-transcriptional gene regulation. However, the precise step that is affected by C9orf72 GGGGCC (G4C2) repeat expansion, the major genetic cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), is still poorly defined. In this work, we set out to characterise these mechanisms by identifying proteins that bind to C9orf72 RNA. Sequestration of some of these factors into RNA foci was observed when a (G4C2)31 repeat was expressed in NSC34 and HeLa cells. Most notably, (G4C2)31 repeats widely affected the distribution of Pur-alpha and its binding partner fragile X mental retardation protein 1 (FMRP, also known as FMR1), which accumulate in intra-cytosolic granules that are positive for stress granules markers. Accordingly, translational repression is induced. Interestingly, this effect is associated with a marked accumulation of poly(A) mRNAs in cell nuclei. Thus, defective trafficking of mRNA, as a consequence of impaired nuclear mRNA export, might affect translation efficiency and contribute to the pathogenesis of C9orf72 ALS

Agritourism and territorial framework in the northern Salento (Apulia region, Italy)

The Territory Landscape Plan of the Apulia Region (PPTR)focuses on rural areas and agricultural sector, putting them in a holistic local and socio-economic context. This strategy isimplemented through the town-country pact, one of the five local projects proposed by the PPTR. The aim of the research is the study of the context and specificity of agritourism in Ostuni and Fasanocoastal areas (northern Salento), in which natural beauties, such as rural and coastal landscapes, coexist, characterized by ancient olive groves, historical rural houses and charming towns. In particular, the study analyses this rural context by means of the relationship between agritourism and territorial framework in order to check the sustainability of the development processes and their consistency with the programmatic guidelines of the PPTR. Qualitative approacheshas been used, such as semi-structured interviews and photographic material

Economic and Social Impacts of Olive Quick Decline Syndrome: Analysing Data From the Italian Farm Accountancy Network

The rapid spread of Xylella fastidiosa subsp. pauca (Xfp) in the Salento area (Apulia region, southern Italy) has caused extensive socio-economic damage to the olive oil supply chain. This research evaluates the impact of the ‘Xfp treatment’ on selected economic and social variables using a counterfactual approach. We applied propensity score matching and the difference-in-difference estimator to a sample of Italian Farm Accountancy Data Network panel olive-growing farms. The study compared the outcomes of farms affected by the Xfp invasion before (2008–2012) and after (2017–2021), with a control group unaffected by Xfp. The results showed that the socio-economic performance of Salento's olive-growing farms is lower than unaffected farms outside the region but comparable to similarly affected farms. Regarding the economic impact of Xfp, the Gross Operating Margin had an Average Treatment Effect on the Treated of around −€837 per hectare, indicating a reduction in profitability, amounting to a total loss of €132 million across the infected area. Social indicators also showed the effects of Xfp, evident in the reduction of total working hours and work units employed on Salento olive farms. The decrease was −7 h/ha, resulting in a total loss of 1,050,000 h across the entire infected area in Apulia (approximately 150,000 ha). These findings have policy implications, because they can assist policymakers in establishing a compensation budget for Apulian olive growers affected by Xfp. Identifying fair compensation is crucial for providing financial and technical support to help farmers convert their crops or adopt alternative agricultural practices

Evaluation of the Lambs’ State of Consciousness Signs during Halal and Traditional Slaughtering

The aim of this study was to evaluate the persistence of two signs of consciousness (rhythmic breathing and corneal reflex) in lambs slaughtered according to the traditional method and Halal ritual rite. A total of 240 lambs were examined and divided into two equal groups (n = 120 each). Lambs of group A were subjected to the stunning phase by the action of an electric current on the brain, while lambs of group B were slaughtered according to the religious Halal method without prior stunning. Rhythmic breathing (RB) and corneal reflex (CR) were used as indicators of prolonged brain function, and their evaluation was carried out by the operators in three subsequent steps at 15 s, 30 s, and 90 s post-bleeding, respectively. The stunning of the lambs reduced the animal’s state of consciousness and, consequently, reduced suffering, pain, and distress. Indeed, the lambs of group B showed longer duration consciousness than the animals stunned by electrodes. The permanence of the reflexes in Halal slaughter could be reduced by introducing a reversible stunning method to make the animal temporarily unconscious. Moreover, given that our results revealed consciousness also after 90 s post-cut, the assessment of the animal’s state of consciousness in wider time intervals than those commonly used is recommended

Agro-biodiversity: an economic evaluation of benefits provided to regional community by the Apulian olive landraces

The most important anthropogenic cause of the loss of agricultural biodiversity is the rapid change in land use and the subsequent transformation of habitats, a process stemming from the economic decisions of sector agents, with significant implications for biodiversity conservation strategies in agro-ecosystems. The paper focuses on the olive sector of Apulia, Italy, one of the most important in the regional agriculture in terms of added value. In particular, it concerns the conservation of the local olive landraces based on the socioeconomic characteristics of regional citizens. Recognition of the social, economic and structural heterogeneity in community is important for estimating accurately predicting benefits and costs of agro-biodiversity management in the Mediterranean area. The paper allows studying these aspects by measuring, through a random parameter logit model, the monetary willingness of citizens of Apulia to participate in an on-farm agro-biodiversity conservation programme and by exploring how some programme attributes influence their willingness. This information can then be gathered in order to verify the suitability of the conservation strategy in force and to provide tailored references for future programmes

Agro-biodiversity of Mediterranean crops: farmers' preferences in support of a conservation programme for olive landraces

The study focused on the willingness to participate in a conservation programme for olive landraces by farmers in Apulia, Italy. The choice experiment approach through a latent class model was carried out in order to investigate different characteristics of farmers which could increase the effectiveness and efficiency of conservation strategies by policy makers. The analysis identified three groups of respondents, each of which with very different characteristics: capitalist farms with high profit level managed by farmers unwilling to take part in a conservation programme; small and fragmented family farms managed by older farmers fully in favour of the programme; young farmers with low capital input, but willing to engage with a minimum participation in the programme. Policy implications suggest the need to develop markets able to appreciate the characteristics of the local olive oils, to involve farmers in marketing training programmes for a better placing of local products in the market, to support the young farmers and family farming, to set suitable policies which are able to trigger a more incisive involvement of women in conservation programmes. Such a holistic approach could generate welfare for all agents of the supply chain, in terms of profit, environment, food security and nutritional aspects