Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-lj6df Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-05T01:06:39.008Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Certified quality systems and farming practices in olive growing: The case of integrated production in Andalusia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 May 2013

Ascensión Hinojosa-Rodríguez ,
Carlos Parra-López ,
Carmen Carmona-Torres ,
Samir Sayadi  and
Rosa Gallardo-Cobos
Ascensión Hinojosa-Rodríguez
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Economics and Sociology, Andalusian Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IFAPA), P.O. Box 2027–18080 Granada, Spain
Carlos Parra-López*
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Economics and Sociology, Andalusian Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IFAPA), P.O. Box 2027–18080 Granada, Spain
Carmen Carmona-Torres
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Economics and Sociology, Andalusian Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IFAPA), P.O. Box 2027–18080 Granada, Spain
Samir Sayadi
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Economics and Sociology, Andalusian Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IFAPA), P.O. Box 2027–18080 Granada, Spain
Rosa Gallardo-Cobos
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Economics, Sociology and Policy. University of Cordoba, P.O. Box 3048–14080 Cordoba, Spain
*
* Corresponding author: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The competitiveness of the olive agrofood sector depends heavily on its ability to adapt to the current scenario of increasingly internationalized interchanges, segmentation of markets, differentiation of consumption behaviors, and changing public support for agriculture. Quality differentiation and certification through a Certified Quality System (CQS) ensure the quality of products and services beyond mandatory levels and generate a competitive advantage for certified firms. In the Andalusian olive-growing sector, the largest in the world, integrated production (IP) plays an important role. IP certifies a higher quality of the product and production process by guaranteeing the implementation of farming practices that are hypothetically more sustainable, environmentally friendly, profitable, fair for farmers, and healthy for consumers. This paper investigates the underlying factors that have conditioned the diffusion of IP and tries to confirm the differential and higher quality provided by this CQS. A survey of 400 farmers from the main olive-growing provinces of Andalusia was carried out in 2010/2011 on the basis of face-to-face interviews following a structured questionnaire. The results corroborate low levels of knowledge and adoption of most of the available CQSs in the sector. They also confirm the higher quality of IP olive products and processes since farmers adopting this CQS are implementing better farming practices from an agronomic, environmental and economic point of view. The better practices are especially those related to soil management, irrigation, phytosanitation and harvesting. Otherwise, olive farmers in general seem to be entrenched in a relatively closed information system where ‘contagion’ of information among themselves and from close sources is the main diffusion driver, with no significant influence from external sources such as public and private R&D institutions. Moreover, a lack of orientation of farmers toward satisfying customers’ requirements when innovating was detected. Strengthening the diffusion of IP would require bringing information closer to farmers in an accessible manner. The work of R&D institutions is essential in this context. Special emphasis should be placed on the medium- to long-term economic benefits and improved competitiveness associated with IP, these being the main concerns of farmers. Improved access to credit would also probably encourage its adoption. It is also necessary to convince farmers of the environmental and social benefits associated with IP. Reinforcing public policies promoting the professionalization of the sector and training in marketing are also necessary measures.

Keywords

olive growingCertified Quality Systemsintegrated productiongood agricultural practicesadoption factorsinnovation
Type
Research Papers
Information
Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems , Volume 29 , Issue 4 , December 2014 , pp. 291 - 309
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1 Anania, G. and D'Andrea, M.R.P. 2008. The Global Market for Olive Oil: Actors, Trends, Policies, Prospects and Research Needs. TRDEAG, FP VI Project. Working Paper 08/2. Available at Web site http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/bitstream/6109/2/wp080002.pdf (verified March 22, 2012).Google Scholar
2 Ruzevicius, J. 2008. The study of quality certification system of Lithuania. Engineering Economics 2:78–84.Google Scholar
3 Magd, H. and Curry, A. 2003. ISO 9000 and TQM: Are they complementary or contradictory to each other? TQM Magazine 15:244–256.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
4 Sanz-Cañada, J. and Macías-Vázquez, A. 2005. Quality certification, institutions and innovation in local agro-food systems: Protected designations of origin of olive oil in Spain. Journal of Rural Studies 21:475–486.Google Scholar
5 Terlaak, A. and King, A.A. 2006. The effect of certification with the ISO 9000 quality management standard: A signaling approach. Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization 60:579–602.Google Scholar
6 Albano, G.L. and Lizzeri, A. 2001. Strategic certification and provision of quality. International Economic Review 42:267–283.Google Scholar
7 Ruttan, V.W. (ed.). 2003. Social Science Knowledge and Economic Development: An Institutional Design Perspective. University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor, USA.Google Scholar
8 Luning, P.A. and Marcelis, W.J. (eds) 2009. Food Quality Management: Technological and Managerial Principles and Practices. Wageningen Academic Publishers, The Netherlands.Google Scholar
9 Caracuel-García, Á. 2004. Figuras, normas y protocolos de calidad como herramienta de mejora de la seguridad alimentaria. Anales de la Real Academia de Ciencias Veterinarias de Andalucía Oriental 17:229–245.Google Scholar
10 Lucena-Cobos, B., Cáceres-Clavero, F., Cruz-Gómez, J.C., and Méndez-Rodríguez, M.Á. 2004. Sistemas de certificación de la calidad en el sector agroalimentario español. Distribución y Consumo 76:23–39.Google Scholar
11 Maza, M.T., Sepúlveda, W.S., Campo, C.E., and Berga, A.M. 2010. Gestión de la calidad ISO 9001 en almazaras del sur de España. Revista LEBRET 1:117–130.Google Scholar
12 Kaldis, P.E. and Gardeli, C.J. 1999. Quality management in the agri-food sector. An interdisciplinary approach to the Greek apricot industry. In International Symposium on Apricot Culture. Acta Horticulturae (ISHS) 488:65–70. Available at Web site http://www.actahort.org/books/488/488_5.htm (verified March 28, 2012).Google Scholar
13 Rogers, E.M. and Shoemaker, F.F. (eds) 1971. Communication of Innovations: A Cross-cultural Approach. Free Press, New York.Google Scholar
14 FAO 2012. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. FAOSTAT. Available at Web site http://faostat.fao.org/DesktopDefault.aspx?PageID=339&lang=es (verified May 16, 2012).Google Scholar
15 MARM 2010. Anuario de estadística 2010. Ministerio de Medio Ambiente y Medio Rural y Marino. Parte tercera. Estadísticas del medio rural. Capítulo 13. Superficies y producciones de cultivos. Available at Web site http://www.magrama.gob.es/estadistica/pags/anuario/2010/AE_2010_Avance.pdf. (verified March 8, 2012).Google Scholar
16 MARM 2009. Anuario de estadística 2009. Ministerio de Medio Ambiente y Medio Rural y Marino. Parte tercera. Estadísticas del medio rural. Capítulo 13. Superficies y producciones de cultivos. Available at Web site http://www.magrama.gob.es/es/estadistica/temas/estad-publicaciones/anuario-de-estadistica/2009/default.aspx (verified March 8, 2012).Google Scholar
17 CAP 2012. Evolución macromagnitudes agrarias provinciales. 2005–2010. (Met SEC.95). Actualizado Febrero 2012. Consejería de Agricultura y Pesca. Junta de Andalucía. Available at Web site http://www.cap.junta-andalucia.es/agriculturaypesca/portal/servicios/estadisticas/estadisticas/agrarias/macromagnitudes-y-economia-agraria.html (verified March 6, 2012).Google Scholar
18 Gómez-Limón, J.A. and Arriaza-Balmón, M. 2011. Evaluación de la sostenibilidad de las explotaciones de olivar en Andalucía. XIII Premio unicaja de investigación agraria. Available at Web site https://www.unicaja.es/resources/1320671483909.pdf (verified March 20, 2012).Google Scholar
19 Junta de Andalucía 2002. El olivar andaluz. Unidad de Prospectiva de la Consejería de Agricultura y Pesca de la Junta de Andalucía y Empresa Pública de Desarrollo Agrario y Pesquero de Andalucía. Available at Web site http://www.cap.junta-andalucia.es/agriculturaypesca/prospectiva/Olivar4_doc_sinAnexo.pdf (verified November 22, 2011).Google Scholar
20 Parras-Rosa, M., Senise-Barrio, O., and Torres-Ruiz, F.J. 2003. Comercialización de aceites de oliva y concentración de la oferta: Estado de la cuestión. Boletín del Instituto de Estudios Giennenses 185:355–372.Google Scholar
21 Montegut-Salla, Y., Cristóbal-Fransi, E., and Marimon-Viadiu, F. 2007. Caracterización de las almazaras cooperativas catalanas: Análisis interno de la fase industrial o de transformación. Revista de Estudios Cooperativos 93:68–97.Google Scholar
22 Silva-Pérez, R. 2005. Agricultura y competitividad territorial en Andalucía. Estudios Geográficos 66:689–719.Google Scholar
23 Parra-López, C., Calatrava-Requena, J., and De Haro-Giménez, T. 2008. A systemic comparative assessment of the multifunctional performance of alternative olive systems in Spain within an AHP-extended framework. Ecological Economics 64:820–834.Google Scholar
24 CAP 2009. Guía de la producción integrada en Andalucía. 2009. Consejería de agricultura y pesca. Junta de Andalucía. Available at Web site http://compromisos20082012.junta-andalucia.es/archivos_repos/0/777.pdf (verified September 3, 2012).Google Scholar
25 Orellana, F.J., del Sagrado, J., and del Aguila, I.M. 2011. SAIFA: A web-based system for integrated production of olive cultivation. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture 78:231–237.Google Scholar
26 CAP 2009. Anuario de estadísticas agrarias y pesqueras de Andalucía. Available at Web site http://www.cap.junta-andalucia.es/agriculturaypesca/portal/servicios/estadisticas/estadisticas/agrarias/resumen-anual.html (verified March 8, 2012).Google Scholar
27 CAP 2011. Estadística de producción integrada.. Evolución de la superficie total por cultivos entre el año 2003 y 2011. Available at Web site http://www.cap.junta-andalucia.es/agriculturaypesca/portal/export/sites/default/comun/galerias/galeriaDescargas/cap/agricultura-ganaderia/agricultura/Sanidad-Vegetal/Produccion-Integrada-/Evolucion_superficie_produccion_integrada_2003_-_2011.pdf (verified March 8, 2012).Google Scholar
28 Marbán-Flores, R. 2004. Las denominaciones de origen y las etiquetas ecológicas impulsoras de estrategias de comercialización, basadas en la calidad, en las almazaras cooperativas de Castilla-La Mancha. Revista de Estudios Cooperativos 82:71–88.Google Scholar
29 Marbán-Flores, R. 2005. Principales estrategias de gestión de la calidad desarrolladas por las almazaras cooperativas amparadas en la denominación de origen Montes de Toledo. CIRIEC-España. Revista de Economía Pública, Social y Cooperativa 51:185–209.Google Scholar
30 Polelli, M., Corsi, S., and Giacomelli, P. 2007. Typical products and marketing strategies for Sicilian olive oils. In 103rd European Association of Agricultural Economists Seminar, April 23–25, Barcelona, Spain.Google Scholar
31 Sanz-Cañada, J. and Macías-Vázquez, A. 2008. Protected designations of origin and innovations: The olive oil branch in Sierra Magina (Andalusia). Cahiers Agricultures 17:542–546.Google Scholar
32 Roselli, L., Casieri, A., De Gennaro, B., and Medicamento, U. 2009. Olive oils protected by the EU geographical indications: Creation and distribution of the value-adding within supply chains. In 113th European Association of Agricultural Economists seminar: A resilient European food industry and food chain in a challenging world, September 3–6, Chania, Crete, Greece.Google Scholar
33 Baptista, A. and Biswas, P. 2010. Quality differentation as a strategy for the viability of traditional olive farming in Trás os-Montes region. In 116th European Association of Agricultural Economics Seminar: Spatial Dynamics in Agri-food Systems: Implications for Sustainability and Consumer Welfare, October 27–30, Parma, Italy.Google Scholar
34 Bonnet, C. and Simioni, M. 2001. Assessing consumer response to protected designation of origin labelling: A mixed multinomial logit approach. European Review of Agricultural Economics 28:433–449.Google Scholar
35 Fotopoulos, C. and Krystallis, A. 2001. Are quality labels a real marketing advantage? A conjoint application on Greek PDO protected olive oil. Journal of International Food and Agribusiness Marketing 12:1–22.Google Scholar
36 Van der Lans, I.A., Van Ittersum, K., De Cicco, A., and Loseby, M. 2001. The role of the region of origin and EU certificates of origin in consumer evaluation of food products. European Review of Agricultural Economics 28:451–477.Google Scholar
37 Espejel, J., Fandos, C., and Flavián, C. 2007. La importancia de las denominaciones de origen protegidas como indicadores de calidad para el comportamiento del consumidor. El caso del aceite de oliva del bajo Aragón. Economia Agraria y Recursos Naturales 7:3–19.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
38 Martín-Cerdeño, V.J. 2009. Denominaciones de origen y de calidad diferenciada en el mercado alimentario español. Distribución y consumo 106:89–102.Google Scholar
39 Navarro-García, L., Ruiz-Avilés, P., Jiménez-Herrera, B., Barea-Barea, F., Penco-Valenzuela, J.M., and Vázquez-Cobo, A. 2010. La formación de los consumidores en la percepción de la calidad de los aceites de oliva. Reflexiones y estrategias para la valorización de los aceites de oliva virgen extra con DOP andaluces. Revista de Estudios Empresariales. Segunda Época 1:144–168.Google Scholar
40 Erraach, Y., Sayadi, S., Parra-López, C., Carmona-Torres, C., and Hinojosa-Rodríguez, A. 2011. Purchasing and consumption habits of consumers towards protected designation of origin (PDO) olive oil in Andalusia (Spain). In Olivebioteq 2011: International Conference for Olive Tree and Olive Products. October 31–November 4, Chania, Crete, Greece.Google Scholar
41 Ruiz-Avilés, P., Navarro-García, L., Barea-Barea, F., and Vázquez-Cobo, A. 2007. La calidad y las denominaciones de origen en los aceites de oliva andaluces. Distribución y consumo 96:42–50.Google Scholar
42 Ruiz-Castillo, B. 2008. Las denominaciones de origen protegidas y el aceite de oliva en España. Distribución y consumo 18:57–68.Google Scholar
43 Chinchilla-Fernández, M. 1999. Communication and innovation on the Andalusian olive sector. A special reference to organic farming. Final year dissertation, School of Advanced Agricultural Engineering Studies (ETSIAM). University of Cordoba, Spain.Google Scholar
44 Parra-López, C. and Calatrava-Requena, J. 2005. Factors related to the adoption of organic farming in Spanish olive orchards. Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research 3:5–16.Google Scholar
45 Parra-López, C. and Calatrava-Requena, J. 2006. Comparison of farming techniques actually implemented and their rationality in organic and conventional olive groves in Andalusia, Spain. Biological Agriculture and Horticulture 24:35–59.Google Scholar
46 Parra-López, C., De Haro-Giménez, T., and Calatrava-Requena, J. 2007. Diffusion and adoption of organic farming in the southern Spanish olive groves. Journal of Sustainable Agriculture 30:105–151.Google Scholar
47 Parra-López, C., Calatrava-Requena, J., and De Haro-Giménez, T. 2007. A multi-criteria evaluation of the environmental performances of conventional, organic and integrated olive-growing systems in the south of Spain based on experts' knowledge. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems 22:189–203.Google Scholar
48 Gómez, J.A., Amato, M., Celano, G., and Koubouris, G.C. 2008. Organic olive orchards on sloping land: More than a specialty niche production system? Journal of Environmental Management 89:99–109.Google Scholar
49 Vilar-Hernández, J., Velasco-Gámez, M.M., and Puentes-Poyatos, R. 2011. Consequences of implanting a quality management system in olive oil manufacture: An international study. Agroalimentaria 15:69–86.Google Scholar
50 Marbán-Flores, R. 2003. Posibles estrategias comerciales para el desarrollo local y regional en la industria de la transformación del aceite de oliva: La región de Castilla-La Mancha. Problemas del Desarrollo 34:49–64.Google Scholar
51 Moyano-Fuentes, J., Bruque-Cámara, S., and Sacristán-Díaz, M. 2002. Calidad y subsistema productivo en la industria agroalimentaria. Un estudio empírico aplicado al cooperativismo oleícola. Revista Española de Estudios Agrosociales y Pesqueros 194:49–69.Google Scholar
52 Krystallis, A. and Ness, M. 2005. Consumer preferences for quality foods from a south European perspective: A conjoint analysis implementation on Greek olive oil. International Food and Agribusiness Management Review 8:62–91.Google Scholar
53 Galluzzo, N. 2007. Prospects of development of quality olive oil for Italian farms: First indications in a case of study on a focus group. In 105th European Association of Agricultural Economists seminar: International Marketing and International Trade of Quality Food Products, March 8–10, Bologna, Italy.Google Scholar
54 Menapace, L., Colson, G., Grebitus, C., and Facendola, M. 2008 . Consumer preferences for extra virgin olive oil with country-of-origin and geographical indication labels in Canada. In American Agricultural Economics Association Annual Meeting, July 27–29, Orlando, Florida. (New Name 2008: Agricultural and Applied Economics Association).Google Scholar
55 Hinojosa-Rodríguez, A., Parra-López, C., Carmona-Torres, C., and Sayadi, S. 2011. Certified quality systems and good practices in the olive farming sector of Andalusia, Spain: Special focus on protected designation of origin. In 5th International European Forum (Igls-Forum) on System Dynamics and Innovation in Food Networks, February 14–18, Innsbruck-Igls, Austria. Contributed paper, oral presentation.Google Scholar
56 IEA 2012. Instituto de Estadística y Cartografía de Andalucía. Anuario Estadístico de Andalucía 2012. Principales producciones agrícolas por provincia. Años 2009–2010. Available at Web site http://www.ieca.junta-andalucia.es/anuario/anuario12/anuario12c06.htm#c285 (verified March 12, 2012).Google Scholar
57 IEA 2012. Instituto de Estadística y Cartografía de Andalucía. Anuario Estadístico de Andalucía 2012. Superficie dedicada a cultivos por provincia. Años 2009–2010. Available at Web site http://www.ieca.junta-andalucia.es/anuario/anuario12/anuario12c06.htm#c285 (verified March 12, 2012).Google Scholar
58 CAP 2008. El sector del aceite de oliva y de la aceituna de mesa en Andalucía 2008. Consejería de Agricultura, Pesca y Medio Ambiente. Junta de Andalucía. Available at Web site http://ws128.juntadeandalucia.es/agriculturaypesca/portal/servicios/estadisticas/estudios-e-informes/agricultura/olivar/sector-aceite-aceituna-mesa-andalucia.html (verified March 8, 2012).Google Scholar
59 Barranco, D. 2008. Variedades y Patrones. In: Barranco, D, Fernández-Escobar, R, and Rallo, L. (eds). El cultivo del Olivo. 6th ed. Ediciones Mundi, Madrid and Junta de Andalucía, Sevilla. p. 63–92.Google Scholar
60 Padilla, C., Villalobos, P., Spiller, A., and Henry, G. 2007. Consumer preference and willingness to pay for an officially certified quality label: Implications for traditional food producers. Agricultura Tecnica 67:300–308.Google Scholar
61 Ruttan, V.W. and Hayami, Y. 1984. Toward a theory of induced institutional innovation. Journal of Development Studies 20:203–223.Google Scholar
62 Djekic, I., Tomasevic, I., and Radovanovic, R. 2011. Quality and food safety issues revealed in certified food companies in three Western Balkans countries. Food Control 22:1736–1741.Google Scholar
63 Mutersbaugh, T. 2005. Just-in-space: Certified rural products, labor of quality, and regulatory spaces. Journal of Rural Studies 21:389–402.Google Scholar
64 Jatib, I. 2003. Food safety and quality assurance key drivers of competitiveness. International Food and Agribusiness Management Review 6:38–56.Google Scholar
65 Juntunen, E. and Salo, S. 1997. Use of the ISO 9002 quality standard model in strawberry farming. In Third International Strawberry Symposium. Acta Horticulturae (ISHS) 439:429–432. Available at Web site http://www.actahort.org/books/439/439_71.htm (verified May 14, 2012).Google Scholar
66 Karipidis, P., Athanassiadis, K., Aggelopoulos, S., and Giompliakis, E. 2009. Factors affecting the adoption of quality assurance systems in small food enterprises. Food Control 20:93–98.Google Scholar
67 Kourouxou, M., Siardos, G., Iakovidou, O., and Kalburtji, K. 2008. Organic farmers in islands: Agricultural management and attitude towards the environment. International Journal of Sustainable Development and World Ecology 15:553–564.Google Scholar
68 Fan, H.P., Ye, Z.H., Zhao, W.J., Tian, H.S., Qi, Y.M., and Busch, L. 2009. Agriculture and food quality and safety certification agencies in four Chinese cities. Food Control 20:627–630.Google Scholar