Coordination and integration among farms within agri-food chains are crucial to tackle the issue of fragmentation within the primary sector, both at the European and national level. The Italian agri-food system still complains about the need to aggregate supply to support market dynamics, especially for niche and quality products that characterize the Made in Italy. It is well known that the Italian agri-food sector is closely linked to the relationship between agriculture on one hand and culture/tradition on the other, which is reflected in the high number of quality products that have obtained EU PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) and PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) recognition. The development of vertical forms of coordination has found significant support in recent years from the integrated supply chain design approach, which is increasingly becoming an essential tool for implementing rural development policies. In this context, the study provides a comparison between companies that have joined the Integrated Supply Chain Projects of the Rural Development Program and those that have not applied. The aim is to highlight any differences in order to understand policy impact. The analysis is based on the Emilia-Romagna region Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN) data, and the sample consists of more than 2 thousand farms. The statistical analysis conducted compares treated and non-treated using the Welch-t-test for independent unmatched samples. The main results show higher values for treated farms when structural variables are analyzed, like the utilized agricultural area or the agricultural work unit. In general, higher balance sheet performances emerged for treated farms. In conclusion, this study shows that the Integrated Supply Chain Projects represent a worthwhile tool both to increase cooperation, food quality, and to enhance a competitive agricultural sector.

Agarwala, N., Maity, S., & Sahu, T. N. (2022). Efficiency of Indian banks in fostering financial inclusion: an emerging economy perspective. Journal of Financial Services Marketing. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41264-022-00203-7

Arfini, F., Donati, M. (2013). Organic Production and the Capacity to Respond to Market Signals and Policies: An Empirical Analysis of a Sample of FADN Farms. Agroecol. Sustain. Food Syst., 37, 149–171.

Bazzani, G. M., Vitali, G., Cardillo, C., et al. (2021). Using FADN Data to Estimate CO2 Abatement Costs from Italian Arable Crops. Sustainability, 13(9), 5148. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13095148

Bonfiglio, A., Abitabile, C., & Henke, R. (2022). A choice model-based analysis of diversification in organic and conventional farms. Bio-Based and Applied Economics, 11(2), 131–146. https://doi.org/10.36253/bae-12206

Buscemi, V. (2017). Integrated Supply Chain Design in the 2007-2013 Rural Development Programming (Italian). Available online: https://agriregionieuropa.univpm.it/it/content/article/31/48/la-progettazione-integrata-di-filiera-nella-programmazione-2007-2013-lo (accessed on 1 February 2024).

Cagliero, R., Cisilino, F., Scardera, A. (2011). Evaluating Rural Development Programmes Using FADN Data. Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

Cagliero, R., Arzeni, A., Cisilino, F., et al. (2022). Ten years after: Diffusion, criticism and potential improvements in the use of FADN for Rural Development assessment in Italy. Economia Agro-Alimentare, 23(3), 1–24. https://doi.org/10.3280/ecag2021oa12769

Cardillo, C., & Cimino, O. (2022). Small Farms in Italy: What Is Their Impact on the Sustainability of Rural Areas? Land, 11(12), 2142. https://doi.org/10.3390/land11122142

Cardillo, C., Di Fonzo, A., & Liberati, C. (2023). The Farm’s Orientation towards Sustainability: An Assessment Using FADN Data in Italy. Land, 12(2), 301. https://doi.org/10.3390/land12020301

Cisilino, F., Cesaro, L. (2009). Organic versus Conventional Farming: A Marketing Survey on Wine Production. In: The Crisis of Food Brands, Hingley. Routledge: Abingdon, UK. p. 15.

Cisilino, F., Bassi, I. (2010). FADN Data for the Evaluation of Rural Development Plans and Programs: The Case Of The Friuli Venezia Giulia RDP 2000-2006 (Italian). Available online: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/263620528_I_dati_RICA_INEA_per_la_valutazione_di_piani_e_programmi_di_sviluppo_rurale (accessed on 4 March 2024).

Cisilino, F., Bodini, A., & Zanoli, A. (2019). Rural development programs’ impact on environment: An ex-post evaluation of organic farming. Land Use Policy, 85, 454–462. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2019.04.016

Cisilino, F., & Vanni, F. (2019). Agri-environmental collaborative projects: Challenges and perspectives in Italy. Economia Agro-Alimentare, 2, 459–479. https://doi.org/10.3280/ecag2019-002014

Cisilino, F., Giampaolo, A., Licciardo, F., et al. (2023a). New support for co-operation provided by Integrated Chain Projects in Emilia-Romagna Rural Development Programs 2014–2022. In: Proceedings of the Agricoltura, alimentazione e mondo rurale di fronte ai cambiamenti dello scenario globale: politiche e strategie per la sostenibilità e la resilienza—SIDEA LIX Annual Conference; 21–22 September 2023; Marina di Orosei (NU) Italy.

Cisilino, F., Giampaolo, A., Licciardo, F., et al. (2023b). The Tuscany Integrated Supply Chain Projects 2014–2022: A New Path to Support the Agri-Food Industry. Land, 12(6), 1230. https://doi.org/10.3390/land12061230

Coderoni, S., Esposti, R., Baldoni, E. (2016). The Productivity and Environment Nexus with Farm-Level Data: The Case of Carbon Footprint Applied FADN to Italian Farms. In: Proceedings of the ICAS VII Seventh International Conference on Agricultural Statistics; 26–28 October 2016; Rome, Italy.

Cristiano, S., Tarangioli, S. (2010). On-going evaluation and integrated supply chain design between challenges and opportunities for the development of the agricultural and forestry sectors (Italian). Available online: https://agriregionieuropa.univpm.it/it/content/article/31/22/valutazione-going-e-progettazione-integrata-di-filiera-tra-sfide-e-opportunita (accessed on 8 March 2023).

D’Alessio, M. (2010). Integrated Supply Chain Design. A Guide for Implementing the Tool at the Regional Level (Italian). Available online: https://www.reterurale.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeBLOB.php/L/IT/IDPagina/2612 (accessed on 2 March 2024).

Derrick, B., & White, P. (2016). Why Welch’s test is Type I error robust. The Quantitative Methods for Psychology, 12(1), 30–38. https://doi.org/10.20982/tqmp.12.1.p030

Emilia-Romagna Region. (2017). Administrative Acts—Regional Council. Resolution No. 227 (27/02/2017) sitting No. 8. REG. (EU) No 1305/2013—RDP 2014/2020 - supply chain projects—approval of regional public notices for operation types 4.1.01, 4.2.01, 16.2.01 and training proposal for operation type 1.1.01 (Italian). Available online: https://bur.regione.emilia-romagna.it/dettaglio-inserzione?i=3e513594a72f443282f762673d3b83ca (accessed on 5 March 2024).

Fagerland, M. W., & Sandvik, L. (2009). Performance of five two-sample location tests for skewed distributions with unequal variances. Contemporary Clinical Trials, 30(5), 490–496. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cct.2009.06.007

Fagerland, M. W. (2012). t-tests, non-parametric tests, and large studies—A paradox of statistical practice? BMC Medical Research Methodology, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2288-12-78

Forleo, M. B., Giaccio, V., Mastronardi, L., et al. (2021). Analysing the efficiency of diversified farms: Evidences from Italian FADN data. Journal of Rural Studies, 82, 262–270. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2021.01.009

Istituto Nazionale di Statistica. (2023). Available online: https://www.istat.it/it/archivio/82599#:~:text=La%20Sicilia%2C%20con%20una%20superficie,%2C0%20kmq%2C%208%25 (accessed on 12 January 2024).

Italian Rural Network. (2024). Available online: https://www.reterurale.it/PIF (accessed on 25 March 2024).

Kelly, E., Latruffe, L., Desjeux, Y., et al. (2018). Sustainability indicators for improved assessment of the effects of agricultural policy across the EU: Is FADN the answer? Ecological Indicators, 89, 903–911. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2017.12.053

Licciardo, F., Zanetti, B., Giampaolo, A., et al. (2022). Integrated supply chain planning in the Tuscany RDP 2014-2022 (Italian). Available online: https://rica.crea.gov.it/download.php?id=1759 (accessed on 29 February 2024).

Licciardo, F., Giampaolo, A., Marseglia, F. P., et al. (2023). Integrated supply chain planning in the Emilia-Romagna RDP 2014-2022 (Italian). Council for Agricultural Research and Agricultural Economy Analysis. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.22815.12960

Rete di Informazione Contabile Agricola. (2024). Available online: https://rica.crea.gov.it/APP/documentazione/?page_id=2231 (accessed on 10 January 2024).

Ruxton, G. D. (2006). The unequal variance t-test is an underused alternative to Student’s t-test and the Mann–Whitney U test. Behavioral Ecology, 17(4), 688–690. https://doi.org/10.1093/beheco/ark016

Scaramuzzi, S., Belletti, G., & Biagioni, P. (2020). Integrated Supply Chain Projects and multifunctional local development: the creation of a Perfume Valley in Tuscany. Agricultural and Food Economics, 8(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40100-019-0150-8

Tarangioli, S. (2012). The integrated approach in the RDPs 2007-2013. National Rural Network 2007-2013, Mipaaf, Rome (Italian). Available online: https://www.reterurale.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeBLOB.php/L/IT/IDPagina/23375 (accessed on 10 January 2024).

Tarangioli, S. (2013). The Integrated Approach in the 2007/2013 RDPs. Available online: https://www.reterurale.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeBLOB.php/L/EN/IDPagina/12552 (accessed on 10 January 2024).

Tarangioli, S. (2019). The integration and collective actions of rural development policy in the post-2020 CAP (Italian). Available online: https://agriregionieuropa.univpm.it/it/content/article/31/56/lintegrazione-e-le-azioni-collettive-della-politica-di-sviluppo-rurale-nella (accessed on 5 February 2024).

Turchetti, L., Gastaldin, N., Marongiu, S. (2021). Enhancing the Italian FADN for Sustainability Assessment: The State of Art and Perspectives. Econ. Agro-Aliment. Food Econ., 23, 1–21. https://doi.org/10.3280/ecag2021oa12771

Tukey, J. W. (1977). Exploratory Data Analysis. Addison-Wesley.

Ventura, F., Diotallevi, F., Ricciardulli, N. (2011). Evaluation of policy measures for agri-food networks in Italian rural development programmes. In: Working Paper 122, Workshop EAAE, Evidence-Based Agricultural and Rural policy Making: Methodological and Empirical Callenges of Policy Ealuation.

Welch, B. L. (1947). The Generalization of “Student’s” Problem When Several Different Population Variances Are Involved. Biometrika. 34, 28–35. https://doi.org/10.2307/2332510

Welch, B. L. (1951). On the Comparison of Several Mean Values: An Alternative Approach. Biometrika, 38, 330–336. https://doi.org/10.1093/biomet/38.3-4.330

Zezza, A. (2016). The Experience of Integrated Supply Chain Projects: Experiences in the Cereal Sector (Italian). Available online: https://agriregionieuropa.univpm.it/it/content/article/31/44/lesperienza-dei-progetti-integrati-di-filiera-esperienzenel-settore (accessed on 12 January 2024).

Zimmerman, D. W. (2004). A Note on Preliminary Tests of Equality of Variances. Br. J. Math. Stat. Psychol. 57, 173–181. https://doi.org/10.1348/000711004849222