In rural Australia, social sustainability is typically reflected in the maintenance of social
networks among residents of a rural area, the viability of the rural towns and the
associated provision of infrastructure, facilities and services. State and wider
community support to develop the ‘macro elements’ of social capital is essential to
create a competitive agribusiness sector, which contributes to social and economic
sustainability in rural and regional areas.
A government community partnership can exist when there is a common understanding
of the opportunities and constraints facing regional agribusiness development. Such a
situation provides the opportunity for community empowerment. The Victorian
Agribusiness Networks program is an example of how government is engaging and
empowering agribusiness communities in regional Victoria. Victorian agribusiness
forums are part of the social and economic framework of their region and involve all
stakeholders in the agribusiness sector. In the attempt to drive innovation in the
agribusiness sector in the region, members of the forums share knowledge and
information, and collaborate with regional research and development (R&D) institutions
including universities and other training institutions.
The development of agribusiness forums in Victoria may be seen as case studies for
partnerships between government, industry and community in the regional development
of the agribusiness sector. The agribusiness forums can provide a strategic direction to
activities that contribute to economic development and wealth creation and improved
social and community infrastructure for communities dependent on the food, fiber and
forestry industries.
Supply chain management, agricultural policies and anti-trust: the case of
Parmigiano Reggiano and Grana Padano
Francesco Braga, Michele Nardella
The application of Anti-trust regulation to Food and Agribusiness chains is often
complex and the repercussion of any decision may be felt in somewhat perverse ways
by different levels of the chain, in particular when they experience different bargaining
power. Existing agricultural policies have often addressed a (perceived) lack of
bargaining power by producers, and have introduced some measures to “balance” it.
These “measures”, as legitimate and established as they may be considered by the
producers, may be in “conflict” with the anti-trust regulation, and anti trust authorities
may intervene and introduce significant changes and chain re-alignment.
This paper considers one example of such “conflict”: the 1996 decision by the Italian
Antitrust Authority (IAA) to stop “non-competitive” behavior in the Parmigiano Reggiano