Natural capital accounting and biodiversity in the Italian winemaking industry

Publication date: 29/01/2024
Extent: 22 pages

Contributions by: Federica Doni, University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy; Antonio Corvino, University of Foggia, Italy; and Silvio Bianchi Martini, University of Pisa, Italy

Chapter synopsis:

Biodiversity is a key resource for our planet’s natural systems. This chapter analyses the Italian context by exploring the relationship between biodiversity and the winemaking sector. This chapter first introduces the Italian winemaking sector. It then discusses how biodiversity is defined in the winemaking sector. The chapter goes on to analyse a range of reports on sustainability and biodiversity produced by a sample of five leading Italian winemaking companies. It then discusses a particular case study of Cantine Teanum, a family-run small-medium enterprise (SME) situated in the Apulia Region, By conducting a semi-structured interview with Cantine Teanum, the authors investigated ‘why’ and ‘how’ biodiversity is beginning to play a significant role in the winemaking industry. The findings provide an interesting insight about the main actions and policies carried out by winemakers and, at the same time, barriers in protecting biodiversity in vineyard management.

DOI: 10.19103/AS.2023.0128.10