No abstract

Methods that account for preference heterogeneity have received a significant amount of attention in recent literature. Most of them have focused on preference heterogeneity around the mean of the random parameters, which has been specified as a function of socio-demographic characteristics. This paper aims at analyzing consumers’ preferences towards extra-virgin olive oil in Catalonia using a methodological framework with two novelties over past studies: 1) it accounts for both preference heterogeneity around the mean and the variance; and 2) it considers both socio-demographic characteristics of consumers as well as their attitudinal factors. Estimated coefficients and moments of willingness to pay (WTP) distributions are compared with those obtained from alternative Random Parameter Logit (RPL) models. Results suggest that the proposed framework increases the goodness-of-fit and provides more useful insights for policy analysis. The most important attributes affecting consumers’ preferences towards extra virgin olive oil are the price and the product’s origin. The consumers perceive the organic olive oil attribute negatively, as they think that it is not worth paying a premium for a product that is healthy in nature.

Like the rest of organic foods, the demand for organic olive oil has been growing at a slow pace and it is very emerging in Spain. In this situation, it is important to analyse the preferences, perceptions and consumers' valuation towards organic extra virgin olive oil. A choice experiment is used to investigate Catalan consumers' behaviour and to elicit their willingness to pay a premium for organic olive oil. A latent class model (LC) has been estimated and the results indicate that consumers perceive negatively the organic attribute due mainly to the lack of knowledge followed by the high price and lack of availability of the product. Also, the attribute most valued by Catalan consumers is the Catalan origin of the olive

This study assesses the comparability of discrete choice experiment, ranking conjoint analysis, and multi-profile best worst scaling in a non-hypothetical context in terms of estimated partworths, willingness to pay, response consistency, and external validity.Overall, the results suggest that (1) the conjoint analysis formats that were used in this study provide similar estimated WTP, but different estimated partworths and computed external validity, (2) the inclusion of the full ranking information in the estimation of the parameters of interest affects the estimated partworths, but not the estimated willingness to pay, and (3) it is more appropriate to use multi-profile best worst scaling over discrete choice experiment and ranking conjoint analysis because it has better predictive power of consumers' preferences and provides estimated willingness to pay comparable to those obtained in the others conjoint analysis formats. The best worst scaling' cognitive process could be considered clearness for participants implying significant increment of it predictive power.

In a globalized scenario characterized by cogent challenges, sustainable development represents a fundamental objective, according to the agenda of policymakers. This is particularly true with regard to farming, and those agricultural systems that are fully consistent with sustainability in society (health, employment), environment (methane emission, water resource and so on), and economy (source of wealth). Tunisia is one of the world’s top olive oil-producing countries. It is also the country with the largest certified organic olive-producing areas in the world. Moreover, a larger volume of Tunisian olive oil is produced using nearly organic practices, without actually being certified. Given the growing demand for certified products, Tunisia should strengthen its market position by building on its reputation for sustainable farming, through the promotion and the creation of new geographic indications for EVOO. The objective of this paper is to evaluate the impact of GIs and how such kinds of labeling can be more effective, operational, and sustainable, to support the country’s development strategy in this sector. Through an ad hoc quanti-qualitative analysis of Tunisian olive oil value chain, representative of the natural resources, the deep understanding of cultures and traditions of the country, a comprehensive and precise SWOT analysis carried out on the Tunisian olive sector has been performed. This study bears significance as it depicts a specific roadmap that should allow a better application and extension of GI’s initiatives referring to the three pillars of Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations, and by building on the position of Tunisia as an organic origin focusing on five strategic lines: organizational and institutional framework; capacity building improvement; communication and networking roles; the role of TIC and the emergence of new opportunities; financial and support products availability. The final outcome should also aim to shorten the distances between all stakeholders to achieve the goals of the 2030 Agenda in the Mediterranean basin, by removing behavioral and institutional barriers that inhibit the transformations needed to achieve more sustainable economies and societies, by means of a cross-disciplinary dialogue around olive oil chain sustainability and narrowing the gap between research and policymakers.