What factors impact on technological traceability systems diffusion in the agrifood industry? An Italian survey

Since the 1990s, governments look to traceability as a part of their safety and quality assurance strategies. This study aims to analyse the diffusion levels of the traceability systems in the Italian agrifood industry. A theoretical framework was developed considering the meaning of traceability as well as the drivers, benefits, barriers and intentions of a company that adopts a traceability system. Nineteen hypotheses were defined and tested through correlation and empirical analysis. Data was obtained through a survey conducted on a sample of Italian agrifood companies. The results showed that variables like what role, educational level and company size affect an agrifood company’s propensity to adopt a traceability system