Sustainable Transition of Meat and Cured Meat Supply Chain: A Transdisciplinary Approach (CSR, Sustainability, Ethics & Governance)

This edited volume provides an innovative perspective on the future of food systems. The contributors analyse relevant issues for a sustainable and responsible food consumption and cover fundamental steps for a broader approach to the sustainability of meat-based products. The book presents several issues and solutions to engage food firms in a measurable ecological transition. Topics discussed include not only the pedagogical perspective on sustainable food consumption, the evolution of (meat-based) food production systems and the animal welfare perspective, but also the adaptation of firm’s strategies to the sustainable transition, the effects of climate change on agri-food firms’ governance structures and the evolution of consumers perceptions on meat-based products and the role of CSR labels. This book targets managers and entrepreneurs who work in the meat industry and are seeking to improve their socio-environmental performance and governance, accountants that works at the production of sustainability reports for food companies, researchers working at the cutting edge of the food and environmental fields, professionals working in the meat industry and researchers interested in the investigation of novelties in European food regulation. Foreword 6 Disclaimer 8 Contents 9 About the Editors 11 Introduction 13 References 18 Generation Z and Sustainable Cured Meat Consumption: Educational Challenges and Pedagogical Perspectives 19 1 Introduction 19 2 Research Focus: Human Development Work Unit 21 3 Cured Meat Culture and Generation Z 24 4 Challenges and Educational Perspectives for Sustainable Cured Meat Consumption 28 References 31 Sustainability of Swine Breeding: Future Challenges and Opportunities 33 1 Introduction: From Global Trends to the Environmental Impact of the Pig Sector 33 2 Sustainable National Pig Production 34 3 Life Cycle Assessment Analysis 36 3.1 Goal and Scope Definition 36 3.2 Inventory Analysis 36 3.3 Impacts Assessment 37 3.4 Interpretation of the Obtained Results 37 4 Application of LCA to Pig Production 37 4.1 Effects of Feed on Environmental Impact and Sustainable Approaches 38 5 Genetic Improvement and Environmental Impact 40 6 The Use of Energy and Its Optimisation 41 7 Water Use in Swine Production 41 8 Emission Reduction Measures, from the Regulatory Framework to Its Applicability 42 9 The Best Available Techniques: The Barns 43 10 Good Agricultural Practices: The Manure Storage 44 11 Good Agricultural Practices: The Application of Manure to the Field 45 12 Conclusions 46 References 46 Sustainable Development of Meat Supply Chain and Human Rights 50 1 Social Sustainability, Private Law and Human Rights 50 2 Human Rights ́ Duties of Protection as an Individual Company of a Meat Supply Chain 53 3 Human Rights ́ Duties of Protection as Dominant Undertaking of a Meat Supply Chain 56 References 59 Genomics for Sustainable Cured Pork Supply Chain 62 1 Introduction: Why Genetics? 62 1.1 Genetic Markers 63 1.2 Genomic Tools 66 2 Biodiversity 68 2.1 Local Breeds 68 2.2 Genetic Heritage of Italian Local Breeds 68 2.3 Genomic Management of Local Breeds 70 2.4 How Can Genetics Valorize Local Breeds? 70 3 Phenotypes for Swine Sustainability 72 3.1 Disease Resistance and Resilience 72 3.2 Feed Efficiency 73 3.3 Reproduction Efficiency 73 3.4 Environmental Adaptation 74 3.5 Animal Welfare 74 4 Conclusions 75 References 75 The Quality of Heavy Pork Meat: The Role of PDO Production Specifications 84 1 Consumption of Pork Meat 84 2 Nutritional Value of Pork Meat 85 3 The Role of Pork Meat Production Specification 86 3.1 Genetic 87 3.2 Sex 88 3.3 Production System and Housing Conditions 89 3.4 Feeding and Nutritional Strategy 89 4 Conclusions 92 References 92 Animal Welfare in Swine Production 95 1 Introduction 95 2 Swine Welfare Regulations at Barns 97 3 Swine Welfare Regulations During Transport and at Slaughter 98 4 Assessing the Welfare of Swine: The ClassyFarm Approach in Italy 99 5 One Health approach 101 5.1 African Swine Fever 101 6 Improvements and Available Technologies for Animal Welfare Compliance in Swine Breeding 102 6.1 Loose Farrowing System 102 6.2 Tail Docking 103 6.3 Enrichment Materials 104 6.4 Immunocastration 105 6.5 Smart Swine Farming 106 7 Conclusions 108 References 108 Taxation and Ecological Transition in Production Chains 113 1 Introduction: Enhancing the Value, for Tax Purposes, of Sustainable Production Chains 113 2 Taxation, Environmental Protection, and Sustainable Production Chains 115 2.1 Taxation as a Tool for Implementing Ecological Transition Processes: How Far along the Way Are We? 116 3 Fiscal Measures Supporting the Ecological Transition in the European Experience 117 3.1 Taxation and Ecological Transition Toward Sustainable Production Chains: Is a Change of Perspective Necessary? 120 4 Taxation and Ecological Transition from the Italian Perspective: The ``Plan for Ecological Transition ́ ́ 121 4.1 Circular Economies as a Tool for Promoting an Ecological Transition of Production Chains 123 5 Conclusions 126 References 127 Protecting Farm Animal Biodiversity through Geographical Indications: A Legal Analysis 128 1 Introduction 128 2 The EU Policy Strategy on Animal Genetic Resources in Agriculture 129 3 Legislating for Food Quality: The GIs System in Europe 133 4 The GIs Pathway Toward the Protection of Farm Animal Biodiversity 135 5 Which Protection from the CAP 2023-2027? 137 6 Final Remarks 139 References 141 Firm Financial Performance and Growth in the Italian Meat Industry: A Longitudinal Analysis 144 1 Introduction and Objectives of the Analysis 144 2 Methodological Approach 145 2.1 Company Size 145 2.2 Profitability 146 2.3 Liquidity and Financial Structure 146 3 Companies ́ Profiles 147 4 Size and Growth Rates 150 5 Profitability 151 6 Liquidity and Financial Structure 152 7 Competitive Analysis: A Focus On The Top Players 154 8 Corporate Growth Strategies: A Focus on Internationalization Patterns 156 9 Corporate Growth Modes: A Focus on External Growth 159 10 Conclusions 163 References 164 Climate Change Risk Management and Firms ́ Adaptive Responses: Evidence from the Livestock Industry 165 1 Introduction 165 2 Literature Review 167 2.1 Deep Uncertainties and Emerging Risk 167 2.2 Climate Change Risk Management 170 2.3 Climate Change Risk in the Livestock Food Supply Chain 171 3 Research Setting, Methodology, and Sample 174 4 Findings 176 4.1 Sample Characteristics and Climate Change Risk Identification 176 4.2 Risk Assessment and Management 180 5 Discussion and Conclusions 182 References 184 A Specific Risk Approach to the Meat and Cured Meat Supply Chain 189 1 Introduction 189 2 Specific Risks of the Swine Sector and Possible Coverage 192 3 Financial Contributions for the Animal Carbon Footprint 194 4 The Role of Confidi 201 5 Conclusions 203 References 204 Managing Generational Handover in Family Business: Some Case Studies in the Charcuterie Factories 205 1 Introduction 205 2 Family Business and the Challenge of Generational Handover: Understanding the Dynamics 206 3 Family Business and Sustainability 208 3.1 Succession Planning 209 3.2 Governance Structure 209 3.3 Leadership 210 3.4 Family Business Values 210 4 Methodology 211 5 Research Results 211 6 Conclusion and Implications 215 References 217 Generation Z, Consumption of Cured Meats, and Lifestyles 219 1 Introduction 219 2 New Generations: Consumption and Lifestyles 221 3 Data Analysis 223 4 Concluding Remarks 227 References 229 The Sustainability of Meat and Cured Meat Supply Chain: Where Are we Now? 230 1 Introduction 230 2 Material and Methods 232 3 The Stages of CSR Development in Meat Supply Chain Transformation Firms 234 3.1 Informal Approach (0-25 Points) 235 3.2 Current Approach (25-45 Points) 235 3.3 Systematic Approach (45-60 Points) 236 3.4 Innovative Approach (More than 60 Points) 236 3.5 Dominant Approach 236 4 Discussion 237 4.1 General Section 237 4.2 Thematic Section 238 5 Conclusions 245 References 247 The Spread of Sustainability Reporting in the Italian Food Manufacturing Context 250 1 Introduction 250 2 Material and Methods 252 3 Non-financial Reporting in Italian Agrifood Systems 254 3.1 References to ESG and SDGs/Agenda 2030 254 3.2 The Impact of ESG Dimensions on Stakeholders 257 3.3 Business Ethics and Integrity: The Code of Conduct and the 231/2001 Model 259 4 Global Reporting Initiative and Performance Metrics 260 4.1 Sustainability Reporting 262 4.2 The Emerge of GRI 4 Framework and the Evolution of Performance Indicators 263 5 Conclusions 266 References 266 The VIS Assessment Tool for the Cured Meat Italian Supply Chain: Fostering Accountability for Sustainability through a FAO SAF... 272 1 Introduction 272 2 Methodology 275 3 Dimensions of the VIS Model 276 3.1 Governance 276 3.2 Environment 278 3.3 Economy 281 3.4 Society 283 4 Conclusions 285 References 286