The study, carried out by the University of Siena within the framework of Spoke 9 of the National Agritech Centre, examines the sustainability performance of 3,002 Italian agri-food firms. The analysis, primarily focused on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), reveals substantial disparities with respect to large ones in terms of energy efficiency, water management, and social inclusion. Despite these criticalities, the study highlights an increasing uptake of sustainable practices and ESG certifications. Overall, the results portray a sector undergoing transition, in which innovation and institutional support emerge as key drivers in enhancing the sustainable competitiveness of the national agri-food system.

This book is included in DOAB.