Institutional Quality Effect on Agri-Food Transition in Developing Countries

The fight against climate change is an urgent objective for the survival of the planet. There are quite a few studies on the economic, technological and political factors that influence carbon dioxide emissions. However, agri-food systems, which are responsible for a third of global emissions, are quite neglected in the analyses explaining global emissions. This study fills this gap by analysing another essential, but neglected, component of the ecological transition, namely the agri-food transition, the evolution of which has been studied in the light of institutional quality. The direct and indirect effects of institutional quality on the agri-food transition in a panel of 37 developing countries (DCs), over the period 1996-2020. Through several empirical approaches, our results show that there are no direct effects of institutional quality on the agri-food transition. On the other hand, these effects are achieved through demographic factors, freedom of economic activities and through indoctrination. Specifically, we highlight the mediating role of economic growth, international trade, human activities, as well as informal institutions such as indoctrination. These findings underscore the importance of institutional mechanisms and the adoption of norms, values and behaviours can encourage transitions towards sustainable agriculture and food systems.