Quality labels as drivers of periurban livestock farming resilience

The purpose of this study is to analyse the contribution of local food certifications in maintaining and developing the farming system in periurban areas. The case study is the periurban area of Pisa, a medium-sized Italian city, representative of urban sprawl and Mediterranean farming systems. The methodology combines quantitative and qualitative analysis. 12-years statistical data on the evolution of the livestock system were compared with interviews to the local food chain’s actor, to assess the evolution of “Carne Bovina di Pisa”, a private label promoted by the local livestock producers’ association. While statistical data have revealed a constant decreasing of livestock producers in the area, results from interviews have shown that this project has allowed to maintain livestock in the periurban farms, where farmers especially engaged in short food supply chains. Nevertheless, despite the initial enthusiasm of both farmers and consumers toward the product, several factors have hampered the evolution of such project and so the evolution of the farming system. These factors are especially connected to the distribution and marketing of supermarkets. By the one side supermarkets can mobilise bigger quantities of product, and allow a greater visibility of the project, by the other side they have difficulties in the adaptation to traditional and artisanal product processing. The constant capacity of intermediary actors to mediate between different actors, may support the resilience of such projects. For this reason, actions of coordination are needed to guarantee the sustainability of the certified food chains.