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Economies
Special Issues
The Agri-Food Sector and the Development of Local Markets
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The Agri-Food Sector and the Development of Local Markets

A special issue of Economies (ISSN 2227-7099).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 1653

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Aleksandra Figurek

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Business, GNOSIS Mediterranean Institute for Management Science, University of Nicosia, Nicosia 1700, Cyprus
Interests: SMEs; agri-food; land cover; dry-hot valley area; invest; geodetector

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The Guest Editor invites authors to submit manuscripts for consideration for publication in this Special Issue titled ‘The Agri-Food Sector and the Development of Local Markets’.

This Special Issue aims to examine the connections between agriculture, food systems, and the development of local markets. It will highlight the importance of effective local markets in enhancing food security, promoting sustainable farming practices, and supporting rural communities. This Special Issue will explore strategies to strengthen local agri-food supply chains, encourage entrepreneurship in food production and distribution, and improve direct interactions between farmers and consumers. By addressing the impacts of globalization, climate change, and socioeconomic disparities, this Special Issue will underscore the need for comprehensive policies that support small-scale farmers, improve market access, and bolster the local economy.

This Special Issue will focus on the potential contributions of digital technologies, cooperative structures, and community-based initiatives to developing robust agri-food frameworks. This Special Issue aims to provide a platform for sharing information, creating scalable solutions, and prioritizing local resources and needs while addressing global challenges. Furthermore, it will address the policy processes needed to ensure equitable access to resources, promote stakeholder collaboration, and support regional agri-food networks. It will include case studies, research articles, and successful approaches that offer valuable insights into how local markets can foster resilience, inclusivity, and sustainability in the agri-food sector.

Dr. Aleksandra Figurek
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Economies is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • agri-food systems
  • development of the domestic market
  • farming sustainably
  • rural empowerment
  • food safety
  • optimization of the value chain
  • comprehensive policies
  • the capacity to adapt to climate change
  • small-scale agriculture
  • digital innovation in the field of agriculture

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 951 KB  
Article
From Challenges to Opportunities: Strengthening Local Agri-Food Markets for Sustainable Rural Development
by Aleksandr V. Semenov, Aleksandra Figurek and Elena I. Semenova
Economies 2025, 13(12), 351; https://doi.org/10.3390/economies13120351 - 1 Dec 2025
Viewed by 351
Abstract
Local agri-food markets are a key link in the sustainability and resilience of rural communities, as they merge producers and consumers, create jobs and ensure food security. This paper analyzes the state and perspectives of the development of local markets in rural regions [...] Read more.
Local agri-food markets are a key link in the sustainability and resilience of rural communities, as they merge producers and consumers, create jobs and ensure food security. This paper analyzes the state and perspectives of the development of local markets in rural regions of Russia, relying on demographic, economic, structural and innovation indicators. The results show marked regional differences: in urbanized areas the share of the rural population is low and markets are weak, while in Siberia and the Far East, local markets remain vital, albeit under pressure from depopulation. Structural shifts in favor of plant production, along with worsening price parity, indicate reduced profitability of small producers, but also open opportunities for diversification through processing and branding. Analysis of production concentration shows that sectors with more dispersed production (vegetables, milk) enable greater flexibility and resilience of local markets. Highly concentrated sectors remain vulnerable to market shocks. The findings confirm that local markets can be not only guardians of tradition, but also drivers of modernization and growth. The work thereby makes an empirical contribution to the understanding of the sustainability of rural markets and shows that, with targeted policies that link demographic stability, economic incentives, digital tools and ecological practices, local markets can become a pillar of sustainable development and a significant instrument for strengthening the resilience of the agri-food sector in Russia and beyond. Methodologically, the article applies a mixed approach: (i) quantitative analysis of several sets of statistical data (Rosstat, supplementary FAO/OECD/Eurostat) through descriptive indicators and indices (incl. input/output price parity), as well as cluster typology of regions; and (ii) qualitative mapping of findings to contemporary policies and practices. This framework allows structural trends to be directly linked to implications for local food markets. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Agri-Food Sector and the Development of Local Markets)
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13 pages, 463 KB  
Article
Enhancing Food Security in an Asian Regional Organization: The Case of the Economic Cooperation Organization
by Alexandra Zamfirache and Ileana Tache
Economies 2025, 13(9), 274; https://doi.org/10.3390/economies13090274 - 19 Sep 2025
Viewed by 810
Abstract
This study investigates the agri-food sector, food trade, and food availability (as a component of food security) within the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), emphasizing the critical importance of agriculture across its member states. This significance is particularly pronounced in less industrialized countries such [...] Read more.
This study investigates the agri-food sector, food trade, and food availability (as a component of food security) within the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), emphasizing the critical importance of agriculture across its member states. This significance is particularly pronounced in less industrialized countries such as Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Afghanistan. The rationale behind this research stems from the observation that food trade and food security issues in the ECO region remain insufficiently addressed in the academic literature. Given the strategic geographical position of ECO countries—at the intersection of Europe, Asia, and the Middle East—these states possess considerable potential to function as vital trade hubs. The present study addresses this research gap by offering conceptual insights and empirical data relevant to the region’s policymakers, traders, and other stakeholders. Methodologically, the research integrates both qualitative and quantitative approaches. On the qualitative side, it includes historical and documentary analysis concerning ECO’s evolution and its agri-food sector’s development. Quantitatively, the study employs a regression model to examine the moderating effect of food imports on the relationship between food exports and food availability across member states. The results indicate a significant interaction effect: food imports moderate the negative association between exports and domestic food availability. Drawing on these findings, the paper formulates a set of policy recommendations to enhance agricultural trade strategies and strengthen food security in ECO countries. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Agri-Food Sector and the Development of Local Markets)
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