Development Strategies of Agro-Food Sector in Basilicata Region (Italy): Evidence from INNOVAGRO Project

Abstract

Agricultural production in Basilicata Region is strongly characterized by a high degree of fragmentation, the large percentage of small family businesses and a generalized low propensity to entrepreneurship. Although there are productive realities that are suited to entrepreneurship, going beyond the local market dimensions. The low propensity of agricultural producers to associate in consortium or any other formal collaboration is also a factor to be reinforced in order to improve the competitiveness of the respective supply chains. The project “Development of an innovative network for the promotion of extroversion of agro-food companies in Adriatic - Ionian Area” (INNOVAGRO) intents to capitalize existing experiences and to adopt innovative solutions in order to develop an intraregional approach combining innovative ICT technologies, the establishment of a Transnational Innovative Agro-food Network and the promotion of environmentally- friendly farming practices. This work illustrates a detailed context analysis aimed at addressing the general issues promoted by the INNOVAGRO project on specific features characterizing Basilicata Region in supporting new development strategies based on synergic relationships between the tourism sector and agro-food production.