The sustainability role in the purchasing choice of agri-food products in the United Arab Emirates and Italy

The paper starts from the assumption that a greater level of sustainability in national food systems can be achieved with the contribution of the consumer. Nowadays, the consumer can condition the choices of the production system, with a greater demand for reassurance on the quality, safety, and traceability of food products. To confirm this hypothesis, this study intends to verify sensitivity to sustainability, purchase behavior, and type of sustainable products in consumer samples of two territorial contexts, the United Arab Emirates and Sicily. The analysis of the results shows the interest of the UAE consumers for organic products and Sicily consumers for local products from a short and zero-kilometer supply chain which is the expression of traditions and opportunities for socio-economic development in the region. The picture is enriched with some food for thought on aspects closely linked to agri-food sustainability.