Assessing environmental innovation capacity and needs of mussel farmers in Italy: A mixed-method approach

Mussel farming represents a key segment of Italian aquaculture but faces significant economic and environmental sustainability challenges. This study examines the environmental innovation capacity and needs of mussel producers in Italy's Campania region through a mixed-method approach combining Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) with qualitative insights from farmers, experts, and research and development (R&D) projects literature. DEA was applied to 24 mussel farms using financial data from 2016 to 2019 to calculate efficiency as a reliable proxy for innovation capacity, revealing low average efficiency (mean: 0.236) and high variability. The regression analysis revealed that firm liquidity and profitability emerged as significant determinants of efficiency. A structured questionnaire survey with 14 producers showed strong interest in expanding farming areas, modernizing equipment, and adopting environmental innovations that are also economically beneficial, such as waste management and energy saving solutions. Producers demonstrated limited awareness of the environmental impact of their activity as well as the need for financial support and technical training. The review of R&D projects indicated that environmental innovation is mainly understood in terms of replacing plastic with biodegradable materials in farming equipment. However, emerging technologies are not yet available, whereas waste management solutions appear more feasible. Interviews and discussions with experts further highlighted structural weaknesses in the sector, undermining both development and propensity to innovate. Findings suggest that fostering environmental innovation in mussel farming requires integrated strategies that combine policy inducement mechanisms, including financial incentives, training, quality control, and promotion of production standards, with continued experimentation in technological change and a deep understanding of the specific socio-environmental context in which innovation must be applied.