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Sustainability
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Agricultural Economics, Advisory Systems and Sustainability
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Agricultural Economics, Advisory Systems and Sustainability

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Agriculture".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2025 | Viewed by 857

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Georgios Kountios

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Agricultural Economics and Entrepreneurship, Faculty of Agriculture, International Hellenic University, 57400 Sindos, Greece
Interests: agricultural economics; agricultural advisory; agricultural knowledge and innovation systems (AKIS); ICT in agriculture; agricultural education; agricultural extensions; precision agriculture

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Agricultural sustainability requires a balance between economic growth and environmental protection. Agricultural economics, combined with advisory systems, ICT and precision agriculture, offers critical tools for advancing sustainable, resilient farming systems. Together, these approaches support sustainable practices, resource efficiency and adaptability to new challenges.

The Special Issue, "Agricultural Economics, Advisory Systems and Sustainability", seeks research on the role of economics, advisory systems and technological innovation in sustainable agriculture. Aligned with Sustainability’s interdisciplinary scope, it will showcase strategies for sustainable growth and resilience.

This Special Issue invites contributions on topics such as the following: economic frameworks supporting sustainable agriculture; AKIS and advisory services in sustainable practices; ICT and precision agriculture for resource management; the impact of policy on sustainable farming; case studies on integrating advisory systems for sustainability and new trends in agricultural extension services.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • Agricultural economics;
  • Agricultural advice;
  • Agricultural knowledge and innovation systems (AKIS);
  • ICT in agriculture;
  • Agricultural education;
  • Agricultural extensions;
  • Precision agriculture.

I look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Georgios Kountios
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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2400 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

  • agricultural economics
  • agricultural advice
  • agricultural knowledge and innovation systems (AKIS)
  • ICT in agriculture
  • agricultural education
  • agricultural extensions
  • precision agriculture
  • agricultural policy
  • farm management
  • rural development

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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

20 pages, 2212 KiB  
Article
A Sustainability Index for Agrarian Expansion: A Case Study in Mato Grosso (Brazil)
by Angélica C. Graebin, Claudia Weise, Klaus Reichardt and Durval Dourado Neto
Sustainability 2025, 17(11), 5210; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17115210 - 5 Jun 2025
Viewed by 187
Abstract
Since the early 2000s, sustainable development in agriculture has attracted substantial political attention, institutional support, and financial commitment, raising expectations for tangible outcomes. Yet, measurable progress remains uneven. As a leading food exporter, Brazil, in particular, has come under global scrutiny for practices [...] Read more.
Since the early 2000s, sustainable development in agriculture has attracted substantial political attention, institutional support, and financial commitment, raising expectations for tangible outcomes. Yet, measurable progress remains uneven. As a leading food exporter, Brazil, in particular, has come under global scrutiny for practices deemed unsustainable—such as deforestation, excessive use of agrochemicals, and socio-environmental conflicts—despite its agricultural sector being a vital contributor to global food security. To provide policymakers with a robust monitoring tool, this study develops a nonlinear regression model that quantifies rural sustainability across economic, social, and environmental dimensions. We selected seven indicators—gross value added, average rural income, life expectancy, schooling years, preservation-area deficit, legal-reserve deficit, and water-scarcity deficit—to compute individual sub-indexes. These are combined into a composite rural sustainability index and applied to data from 141 municipalities in Mato Grosso. The results demonstrate that only municipalities achieving high and balanced scores in all three pillars can be deemed sustainable. Our framework contributes to the growing body of triple-index methodologies by offering a replicable, statistically robust tool tailored to agrarian contexts. It provides actionable insights for regional decision-makers aiming to balance productivity, environmental preservation, and social well-being in agricultural frontier regions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Economics, Advisory Systems and Sustainability)
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25 pages, 1157 KiB  
Article
Market Opportunities for Differentiated Locally Grown Fresh Produce: Understanding Consumer Preferences
by Azucena Gracia, Miguel I. Gómez and Petjon Ballco
Sustainability 2025, 17(9), 3932; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17093932 - 27 Apr 2025
Viewed by 325
Abstract
The intensification of agricultural practices, such as the extensive use of synthetic fertilizers, the expansion of irrigation systems, and land use conversion, has led to substantial biodiversity loss and the disruption of ecosystem functions. Traditional washing procedures for fresh produce involve substantial water [...] Read more.
The intensification of agricultural practices, such as the extensive use of synthetic fertilizers, the expansion of irrigation systems, and land use conversion, has led to substantial biodiversity loss and the disruption of ecosystem functions. Traditional washing procedures for fresh produce involve substantial water usage and can generate wastewater, which requires proper management to prevent environmental contamination. By skipping the washing stage, these reduced water and energy inputs contribute to more sustainable agricultural practices. Although this approach may benefit sustainability and the environment, the market success of a product with a sustainable attribute ultimately depends on consumer acceptance and their willingness to pay (WTP) for it. This study investigates consumer preferences and WTP for a local potato variety called “Agria”, with a specific focus on the sustainability attribute concerning the sale of washed versus unwashed potatoes. We conducted an experimental study with consumers in northeastern Spain, where this potato variety is grown, and simulated market shares under varying price scenarios. The methodology involved a choice experiment that evaluated three characteristics: price, local origin, and presentation (washed versus unwashed). The methodology also incorporated attribute non-attendance (ANA) to capture all aspects of the decision-making process. The findings reveal that consumers preferred the locally grown variety over those from other origins and were willing to pay a premium. Although consumers preferred washed potatoes, they would purchase unwashed potatoes at a discount price of EUR 0.2/kg. The results provide marketing and pricing strategies for local producers and retailers and market share projections aligned with consumer preferences for local food. Empirically, the study contributes to the literature on consumer preferences and sustainable food systems by (i) integrating the “washed versus unwashed” attribute with local origin to inform more effective marketing strategies; and (ii) supporting local potato growers through the identification of viable lunch strategies for a differentiated, unwashed product that extends shelf life, reduces food waste, and promotes sustainability by lowering water and energy use in post-harvest processing. For methodologically, it applies ANA in the context of potato choice experiments—an approach rarely used in this domain—to enhance the understanding of consumer decision-making. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Economics, Advisory Systems and Sustainability)
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