Preface

This book focuses on the challenges to implement sustainability in diverse contexts such as agribusiness, natural resource systems and new technologies. The project arose from the editor’s experience during the International Edamus M.Sc. course on “economics of quality for sustainable development”—the School of Agricultural, Forestry, Food and Environmental Science (SAFE), University of Basilicata, is a partner of the Edamus Mundus Programme. The exchange of ideas and the experience with students from all continents led to the idea to gather in one volume the experiences of researchers at the SAFE of the University of Basilicata in Southern Italy. Basilicata’s production system is mainly based on the agricultural sector and exploitation of natural resources. However, in recent years, it has witnessed industrial development driven by the discovery of oilfields. SAFE research took up the challenge posed by market competition to create value through the sustainable use of the region’s renewable and non-renewable resources. Moreover, due to its unique geographical position in the middle of the Mediterranean basin, Basilicata is an excellent field laboratory for testing sustainable solutions adaptable to other Mediterranean areas. The book offers a broad, multidisciplinary approach to identifying and testing different solutions tailored to the economic, social and environmental characteristics of the region and the surrounding areas. The volume is a collection of multidisciplinary case studies involving SAFE researchers and their scientific partners. It is intended as a stimulating contribution to the debate on the development of sustainable techniques, methods and applications for the Mediterranean regions. Last, but not least, a global event like Expo 2015 represents a unique opportunity to present the volume. The book consists of three parts, with agro-food systems examined in Part I, natural resource systems and the environment in Part II and new technologies in Part III. The first part includes the case studies related to experiences in the agro-food system. The first article addresses food security in the southern Mediterranean,