Vol. 15 No. 3 (2026)
Full Research Articles

The role of Biodistricts in enhancing farms’ labour productivity: a Post-Keynesian analysis

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  • Chiara Grazini,
  • Giulio Guarini,
  • Alberto Sturla
Chiara Grazini
Economics, engineering, society, business organization Department, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
Giulio Guarini
Economics, engineering, society, business organization Department, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
Alberto Sturla
Council for agricultural research and Economics, Centre for policies and bioeconomy (CREA PB), Italy
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36253/bae-18332

Published 2026-09-08

Keywords

  • Biodistricts,
  • labour productivity,
  • external economies of scale,
  • local sustainable development

How to Cite

Grazini, C., Guarini, G., & Sturla, A. (2026). The role of Biodistricts in enhancing farms’ labour productivity: a Post-Keynesian analysis. Bio-Based and Applied Economics, 15(3), 29–41. https://doi.org/10.36253/bae-18332

Copyright (c) 2026 Chiara Grazini, Giulio Guarini, Alberto Sturla

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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Abstract

Biodistricts (BDs) leverage the “significant local presence” of organic farming and its supply chain to reach farmers’ economic and environmental viability. Despite growing policy recognition in European strategies, empirical evidence of their effectiveness on farms’ competitiveness remains limited. Using Italian FADN data and a post-Keynesian econometric model with dynamic panel data, this paper explores the BDs’ impact on farm labour productivity growth, capturing innovation processes and competitiveness. Results suggest BD membership significantly enhances labour productivity growth, highlighting the role of territorial specialisation and collaborative networks. These benefits extend beyond organic farms, as the district’s “industrial atmosphere” facilitates broader knowledge spillovers. Findings call for policies to strengthen social capital and promote sustainable farming practices, leveraging BDs as a strategy for enhancing farms’ labour productivity and sustainability through agglomeration externalities, whereby the farms’ spatial concentration facilitates knowledge sharing, joint resource use, and coordinated practice.

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