Material and Immaterial Relations in a Local Agrifood Supply Chain: An Integrated Approach
Material and Immaterial Relations in a Local Agrifood Supply Chain: An Integrated Approach

Summary/Abstract: The structure of contemporary agrifood supply chains is very complex and consists of material and immaterial relations. In addition to internal ties and flows between each production stage and its immediate suppliers and customers, some authors argue as it is very important to investigate the network between firms and institutions supporting their production activity. Therefore, this study aims to propose a combined approach to the investigation of local agrifood supply chains. Specifically, the proposed approach merges the indexes adopted to study the economic structure of the supply-chain with Social Network Analysis. A direct survey was carried out in the area of Foggia, to study the organic durum wheat supply chain either for its material or immaterial relations. Their study shows as, notwithstanding the good structure of the institutional network, there is still little integration between the phases of the material supply chain hindering the valorization of the supply chain itself.

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