Climate Change and High-Quality Agri-Food Production: Perceptions of Risk and Adaptation Strategies in the Calabria Region (Southern Italy)

The unique features of high-quality agri-food production are rooted in the speci-
ficities of ecosystems, interpreted through an anthropocentric lens. In Italy, such products
are nationally certified with labels that enhance both their market value and their territorial
identity. However, climate change amplifies risks such as land degradation and reduced
arability, threatening the value systems tied to ecosystems, places, and products. As a result,
the relationship between environmental conditions and certified quality is becoming more
fragile across the Italian peninsula. This paper investigates how producers and consumers
perceive the risks posed by climate change to the ecosystem characteristics of Terroir, focus-
ing on Calabria—a southern Italian region marked by socio-environmental vulnerability
and a limited number of certified products. This fragility may further hinder certified
agri-food production, with serious implications for the local agribusiness sector. Using
a qualitative methodology, the study draws on questionnaires administered to produc-
ers and farmers, alongside interviews with key stakeholders and exploratory fieldworks.
Eventually, this research aims to identify major environmental risks impacting certified
production in Calabria, examine the adaptation strategies adopted by local producers,
and assess the perceived effectiveness of institutional support. It also explores whether
certifications such as PDO and PGI can act as tools to mitigate climate-related impacts
while enhancing product value and territorial resilience. These findings can inform more
effective policies for promoting sustainable, high-quality agri-food systems under changing
climate conditions in a transcalar perspective.