Multi-criteria evaluation model to face phytosanitary emergencies: The case of citrus fruits farming in Italy

Abstract

In the last decade, citrus fruits farming, at the international level, revealed an upward trend changing the traditional scenarios of the offer, with the exchange of products coming from all areas of the world, thanks to the progressive abrogation of fare barriers. The material exchange is causing spreading of diseases that have caused a severe damage, such as the epidemics and culture extinctions with a high economic, health, environmental and social impact. In such a context, the definition of possible methods to face the emergencies is absolutely necessary. This research suggests the adoption of an evaluation model for phytosanitary emergencies (Citrus Tristeza Virus - CTV), a model that is sustainable from the economic, social, biotic and phytosanitary perspective. It is based on an integrated model that considers the application of a participatory planning technique and of an evaluation method included among the tools of the Social Multi-Criteria Evaluation (SMCE). The results highlighted that the hypothesis 1 "cohabitation with the Citrus Tristeza virus" is the predominant hypothesis, followed at short distance by the hypothesis 2 "total eradication and re-implantation", while the hypothesis 3 "abandonment or extirpation" gained a marginal meaning. It was possible to assert that the hypothesis 1 was the one that presented the highest sustainability.

Keywords

• economic
• planning
• citrus tristeza virus
• social choice
• naiade method
• social multi-criteria evaluation (smce