Carbon Neutrality in the Agri-food Sector, 1st ed. 2022 Challenges and Opportunities in a Dynamic Setting

This book deals with the in-depth study of sustainability issues in the agri-food sector. In particular, a critical analysis of the current situation was developed and the future prospects of the sector on the issue of managing the environmental variable and the impacts relating to food production and consumption have been analyzed. Furthermore, the state of implementation and best practices relating to the carbon neutrality model in the agri-food sector were analyzed and models for the development of a new food production system were proposed with particular reference to the reduction of emissions, regeneration of natural resources, the elimination of waste and the reuse of production by-products. The main objectives of the book are to analyze the current situation and trends regarding carbon neutrality schemes and the connection with other greening programs, to identify and analyze the carbon-related labels, their methodology and their conformity assessment mechanisms and to understand possible key drivers for carbon neutrality or low carbon achievements in the agri-food sector.

Today companies are acting on climate change pressures implementing carbon-neutral strategies for their brands and products. These frontrunner companies have identified a specific competitive advantage and are exploiting it to become the pioneers and the reference model for the carbon neutral implementation.

This book will provide detailed and practical insights on how your organization can take positive action and be part of the global response developing a carbon neutral business.

1.   Agri-food systems are facing a growing climate change problem and opportunity (Introduction)

1.1.               Citizens perception of climate change seriousness

1.2.               Climate change and carbon neutrality policies

1.2.1.  Long-term low greenhouse gas emission development strategies and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)

1.2.2.  The UNFCCC’s measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) framework and Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF)

2.   Putting a farm into an emissions test lab

2.1.               Carbon Footprint (CF)

2.1.1.  Organizational carbon footprint (OCF)

2.1.2.  Product Carbon Footprint (PCF)

2.2.               The GHG protocol initiative

2.2.2.  Scope of the GHG Protocol Corporate Standard

2.3.               Carbon footprint in agri-food sector: Methodological issues

3.   Governance issues in carbon emissions – can a food emissions gate be avoided?

3.1.               ‘Emissions gate’ and increasing concerns over greenwashing

3.1.1.  Greenwashing and companies’ sustainability reporting

3.1.2.  Carbon disclosure initiatives

3.2.               The Governance of the Carbon Neutrality System: Is Carbon Neutrality a tool for the low-carbon transition?

3.2.1.  The Carbon Neutrality Framework

3.2.2.  Different approaches to use the Carbon Footprint

3.2.3.  Companies’ Carbon neutrality paths

3.2.4.  Voluntary standards and Carbon neutrality

3.2.5.  The PAS 2060: 2014 Specification for the demonstration of carbon neutrality

3.2.7.  Verification, certification, accreditation and Labels

3.2.8.  Carbon neutral labels

3.2.9.  Carbon Offsets

3.2.10.               Voluntary Offset Market trends

3.2.11.               Carbon insetting

4.1.               The role of different actors of the agri-food supply chain in achieving sector’ carbon neutrality

4.2.               Differentiated impacts for different food products

4.3.               Achieving Carbon Neutrality in different agri-food chains: case studies analysis

4.3.1.  Carbon neutral fruits: The Dole carbon neutral strategy for bananas and pineapples

4.3.2.  Carbon Neutral coffee: the Coopedota case study

4.3.3.  Carbon neutral meat: the Five Founders case study

5.   Carbon neutrality as business: decoupling growth from emissions while managing climate risks

5.1.               Consumers’ willingness to pay for climate friendly and climate neutral products

5.2.               Market drivers and businesses opportunity for agri-food companies to move towards lower carbon emissions

5.3.               Barrier and risk for suppliers to join the carbon neutral chain

5.4.               Different development models for Carbon Neutrality

6.   Towards a carbon labelled world?

Conclusions and recommendations

Bibliography

Alessia Acampora, is a postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Business Studies at Roma Tre University and adjunct professor at Tuscia University for the course Sustainability and Environmental Management. This book will be part of the course material. She holds a European Ph.D. degree in Commodity Sciences on the themes of Quality, Innovation, and Sustainability and a master’s degree in Environmental and Development Economics from Roma Tre University. She spent a period of research abroad as visiting scholar in Spain at Cantabria University. Her research activities are focused on sustainable tourism, circular economy, carbon neutrality and climate change mitigation and sustainable food systems. Her current research interest also includes environmental management systems, eco-labels and voluntary instruments for environmental management. She authored numerous publications on peer-reviewed international journals. She presented her work in several international and national conferences and she was invited lecturer at Tsinghua University in Beijing. She works as a business consultant and External Funding Manager for several companies.

Carlo Alberto Pratesi is Full Professor of Marketing, Innovation and Sustainability at Roma Tre University, Department of Business. Carlo Alberto’s main research areas are: marketing, corporate communication, sustainability, and entrepreneurship. Since 1986 he has been involved in communication and marketing consultancy for leading Italian companies and institutions: currently he works for Barilla (#1 pasta producer in the world), Coop (#1 retailer in Italy) and Esselunga (n.2 retailer in Italy), Armani and Medtronic. Since 2016 academic advisor of Life Cycle Engeneering a consultant firm that helps private companies and business associations succeed sustainably, providing professional solutions and tools for Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), eco-design, environmental communication and regulatory compliance.He is faculty member

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