Simone Piras
I am agricultural and rural economist working in the Social, Economic and Geographical Sciences (SEGS) department of the James Hutton Institute. I have an interdisciplinary background in development studies (economic and socio-political development). Prior to joining the James Hutton Institute, I received my PhD in Agricultural and Food Economics and Statistics from the University of Bologna, Italy, in 2016, and carried out three years of post-doctoral research at the same University. I was a visiting researcher at the Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Development in Transition Economies (IAMO), Germany, and I have study and research experience in Estonia, Georgia, and the Republic of Moldova.
My research activities evolve along two main lines: (1) the socio-economic development of rural areas, with a focus on smallholder farming and the relationship between economic and demographic change, including migration; and (2) the economics of food value chains, with a focus on loss and waste, and consumers' and farmers' behaviours. Besides traditional statistical and econometric methods, I have an expertise in survey design, experimental economics, and agent-based modelling.
Current research projects
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H2020 FOODLAND "Food and Local, Agricultural and Nutritional Diversity" (2020-2024), coordinated by the University of Bologna, Italy. The project aims at promoting diversity of diets and more resilient supply chains in six countries from Northern and Eastern Africa. We implement lab-in-the-field economic experiments with rural smallholders and urban consumers to identify the behavioural determinants of their production and consumption choices, and decision-making patterns.
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H2020 LOWINFOOD "Actor Design of Low-Waste Food Value Chains through the Demonstration of Innovative Solutions to Reduce Food Losses and Waste" (2020-2025), coordinated by the University of Tuscia, Italy. The project aims at testing a number of innovations to reduce food waste along food supply chains. We are leading Work Package 8 "Innovations to prevent and reduce fish losses and waste", where we promote the dialogue among stakeholders of the fish supply chain in Scotland and Germany, and Task 1.3 "Evaluation of economic and social impact", where we analyse the economic and social impact of deploying the innovations in all food supply chains.
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H2020 RADIANT "ReAlising Dynamic vAlue chaiNs for undeuTilised crops" (2021-2025), coordinated by the Universidade Catolica Portuguesa, Portugal. The RADIANT project brings together a consortium of value chain actors, researchers and end users, to codevelop solutions and tools for boosting agrobiodiversity via dynamic value chains of underutilised crops (UCs). We lead Task 5.3 "Farmers’ and consumers’ expectations and preferences for UCs", where we use choice experiments and deliberative choice experiments to identify barriers to the uptake of UCs by farmers, and measure consumers' willingness to pay for derived food products. We test five UCs in as many workshops across different European pedoclimatic regions.
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MDT project INTR-EXP-MET "Introducing experimental methods for the study of resource and land-related decisions in rural Scotland" (2021-2022). We aim at introducing economic experiments to Hutton employees and PhD students by making them play a real, incentivised behavioural game and illustrating the potential of such methods in a workshop. In parallel, we will establish a mobile experimental economic laboratory for future experimental research in Scottish rural areas.
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RESAS RD 3.4.1 "Demographic change in remote areas" (2016-2021). We develop a novel economic-demographic model to assess the impact of different economic scenarios of population change in Scottish sparsely populated areas, and draw policy implications.
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RESAS RD 1.4.3b "Realising multiple benefits and managing trade-offs" (2016-2021). We assess the potential for ecological focus areas and agri-environment climate schemes to deliver multiple benefits (economic, social, and ecological) at a landscape scale, with a focus on payment-by-result options and incentives to promote coordination and cooperation between farmers.
Past research projects
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Horizon 2020 RELOCAL "Resituating the local in cohesion and territorial development" (2017-2021), coordinated by the University of Eastern Finland. In the framework of Work Package 8 "Coherence and Scenarios", we examine the logic underpinning different types of interventions targeting spatial justice in 33 EU case study localities, including the Isle of Lewis (Scotland), and develop plausible scenarios for 2030. Types of spatial injustice considered include territorial disadvantage, neighbourhood segregation, and place disempowerment.
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ESPON ESCAPE "European Shrinking Rural Areas Challenges, Actions and Perspectives for Territorial Governance" (2019-2020), coordinated by the University of Eastern Finland. We analyse the phenomenon of population shrinking in EU rural areas by means of eight in-depth case studies and quantitative analysis of past and future trends in demographic and socio-economic variables.
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AHDB "Grower platform to support resilient rotations" (2016-2021). We assess the impact of different rotation schemes on the economics of crops, primarily potatoes, by means of a panel dataset complied by growers all over Britain.
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RESAS RD 3.2.4 "Food culture and dietary choices" (2016-2021). We develop an agent-based model of consumer food behaviours to assess the potential impact of eating networks in workplace canteens on the healthiness and sustainability of individual diets.
Bibliography
- Piras, S.; Righi, S.; Banchelli, F.; Giordano, C.; Setti, M. (2023) Food waste between environmental education, peers, and family influence. Insights from primary school students in Northern Italy, Journal of Cleaner Production, 383, Art. 135461
- Tobiasz-Lis, P.; Piras, S.; Dmochowska-Dudek, K.; Currie, M.; Duckett, D.; Copus, A.; Wójci, M. (2023) Towards spatial justice across Europe through placebased interventions Lessons learned from considering mediumhorizon future scenarios, In: M. Fritsch, P. Kahila, S. Németh & J. W. Scott (eds), Spatial Justice and Cohesion: The Role of Place-Based Action in Economic and Community Development. London and New York: Routledge, Chapter 7, 19pp
- Kovács, E.K.; Bachórz, A.; Blumstein Bunzl, N.; Mincyte, D.; Parasecoli, F.; Piras, S.; Varga, M. (2022) The War in Ukraine and Food Security in Eastern Europe, Gastronomica, 22(3), 1-7
- Piras, S.; Righi, S.; Banchelli, F.; Giordano, C.; Setti, M. (2022) Food waste between education, peers, and family influence. Insights from primary school students in Northern Italy, Journal of Cleaner Production, 383, Article No. 135461
- Giordano, C.; Graziano, P.; Lazzarini, M.; Piras, S.; Spaghi, S. (2022) Sustainable Community Movement Organisations and household food waste: The missing link in urban food policies?, Cities, 122, Article No. 103473
- Piras, S.; Righi, S.; Setti, M.; Koseoglu, N.; Grainger, M.J.; Stewart, G.B.; Vittuari, M. (2022) From social interactions to private environmental behaviours: The case of consumer food waste, Resources, Conservation and Recycling,176, Article No. 105952
- Piras, S.; Righi, S.; Banchelli, F.; Giordano, C.; Setti, M. (2022) Food waste between environmental education, peers, and family influence Insights from primary school students in Northern Italy, 27th EAERE Annual Conference, 28 June - 1 July 2022, Rimini, Italy
- Piras, S.; Somervail, P.; Engelmann, T. (2022) MS10 Supply chain dialogue in the fish value chain can start following the agreed protocol , H2020 Lowinfood milestone
- Piras, S.; Engelmann, T.; Somervail, P.; Maclean, L.; Koseoglu, N.; Sandison, F.; Kapour, G.; Pietrangeli, R.; Nasso, M. (2022) D41 Protocol for the stakeholder dialogue - fish, H2020 Lowinfood deliverable
- Cock, P.; Gurd, J.; Kuhfuss, L.; Piras, S. (2022) Introducing experimental methods for the study of resource and landrelated decisions in rural Scotland Final project report, MDT project report.
- Piras, S.; Kuhfuss, L.; Marini Govigli, V.; Alboni, F.; Kapour, G.; Setti, M. (2022) Dataset on producers’ socioeconomic conditions, operational and technological states, and on experimental results (quantitative measures) at project level D31, H2020 FoodLAND (project report)
- Clement, J.; Suurmets, S.; Barlagne, C.; Piras, S.; Kuhfuss, L.; Marini Govigli, V.; Setti, M. (2022) Protocols to implement economic and biometric experiments with consumers D22, H2020 FoodLAND (project report)
- Holland, J.; Brown, J.L.; MacKenzie, K.; Neilson, R.; Piras, S.; McKenzie, B.M. (2021) Over winter cover crops provide yield benefits for spring barley and maintain soil health in northern Europe., European Journal of Agronomy, 130, Article No. 126363
- Piras, S.; Wesz, VJ. Jnr.; Ghinoi, S. (2021) Soy expansion, environment and human development: an analysis across Brazilian municipalities., Sustainability,13, Article No. 7246
- Wesz Junior, V.J.; Piras, S.; Grisa, C.; Ghinoi, S. (2021) Assessing Brazilian agri-food policies: what impact on family farms?, arXiv:2105.14996
- Piras, S.; Tobiasz-Lis, P.; Currie, M.; Dmochowska-Dudek, K.; Duckett, D.; Copus, A. (2021) Spatial justice on the horizon? A combined theory of change scenario tool to assess place-based interventions., European Planning Studies, 30(5), 952-973
- Aramyan, L.; Grainger, M.J.; Logatcheva, K; Piras, S.; Setti, M.; Stewart, G.B.; Vittuari, M. (2021) Food waste reduction in supply chains through innovations: a review., Measuring Business Excellence, 25(4), 475-492
- Piras, S.; Botnarenco, S.; Masotti, M.; Vittuari, M. (2021) Post-Soviet smallholders between entrepreneurial farming and diversification. Livelihood pathways in rural Moldova., Journal of Rural Studies, 82, 315-327
- Piras, S.; Pancotto, F.; Righi, S.; Vittuari, M.; Setti, M. (2021) Community social capital and status: The social dilemma of food waste., Ecological Economics, 183, Article No. 106954
- Copus, A.; Kahila, P.; Dax, T.; Kovács, K.; Tagai, G.; Weber, R.; Grunfelder, J.; Meredith, D.; Ortega-Reig, M.; Piras, S.; Löfving, L.; Moodie, J.; Fritsch, M.; Ferrandis, A. (2021) European shrinking rural areas: Key messages for a refreshed long-term vision, TERRA: Revista de Desarrollo Local, 8, 280-309
- Kuhfuss, L.; Piras, S.; Flanigan, S.; Hawes, C.; Begg, G. (2021) How to promote the collective uptake of agri-environmental schemes by farmers? A literature review., Landscape 2021 Conference: Diversity for Sustainable and Resilient Agriculture, 20-22 September 2021, online presentation.
- Currie, M.; Mc Morran, R.; Hopkins, J.; McKee, A.; Glass, J.; Wilson, R.; Meador, E.; Noble, C.; Craigie, M.; Piras, S.; Bruce, F.; Williams, A.; Pinker, A.; Jones, S.; Maynard, C.; Atterton, J. (2021) Understanding the response to Covid-19 - Exploring options for a resilient social and economic recovery in Scotland’s rural and island communities, SEFARI
- Koseoglu, N.M.; Piras, S.; Somervail, P.; MacLean, L. (2021) D1.4 Socio-economic data collection protocol, H2020 Lowinfood, pp. 1-203.
- Scherhaufer, S.; Giordano, C.; Koseoglu, N.; Di Fiore, G.N.; Carloni, E.; Piras, S.; Gollnow, S.; MacLean, L.; Somervail, P.; Falasconi, L.; Obersteiner, G. (2021) D1.1 Methodological framework, H2020 LOWINFOOD Public Deliverables, pp.1-94.
- Copus, A.; Kahila, P.; Fritsch, M.; Dax, T.; Kovács, K.; Tagai, G.; Weber, R.; Grunfelder, J.; Löfving, L.; Moodie, J.; Ortega-Reig, M.; Ferrandis, A.; Piras, S.; Meredith, D. (2021) ESCAPE Synthesis Report., European Shrinking Rural Areas (ESCAPE): Challenges, Actions and Perspectives for Terrestrial Governance, ESPON,10pp.
- Vittuari, M.; Falasconi, L.; Masotti, M.; Piras, S.; Segrè, A.; Setti, M. (2020) ‘Not in my bin’: consumer’s understanding and concern of food waste effects and mitigating factors., Sustainability, 12, Article No. 5685.
- Piras, S. (2020) Home-grown food and the benefits of sharing: The "intergenerational pact" in postsocialist Moldova., Journal of Agrarian Change, 20, 460-484.
- Hopkins, J.; Piras, S. (2020) Economic-demographic foresight and place-based impacts in sparsely populated Scotland., Online report.
- Copus, A.; Kahila, P.; Fritsch, M.; Dax, T.; Kovács, K.; Tagai, G.; Weber, R.; Grunfelder, J.; Löfving, L.; Moodie, J.; Ortega-Reig, M.; Ferrandis, A.; Piras, S.; Meredith, D. (2020) European shrinking rural areas: challenges, actions and perspectives for territorial governance (ESCAPE). Applied Research. Final Report, Final Report, ESPON, 2020, 58pp.
- Piras, S.; Tagai, G.; Grunfelder, J. (2020) ESCAPE Final Report - Annex 2 Measuring, mapping and classifying simple and complex shrinkage., ESCAPE - European Shrinking Rural Areas: Challenges, Actions and Perspectives for Territorial Governance (ESCAPE), Applied Research. Final Report, ESPON, 82pp.
- Hopkins, J.; Piras, S. (2020) Population projections and an introduction to economic-demographic foresight for Scotland’s sparsely populated areas (2018-43)., Research Brief for RESAS RD 3.4.1: Demographic change in remote areas, Objective 3.5 (Milestone 1), 21pp.
- Piras, S.; Currie, M.; Duckett, D.; Copus, A.; Tobiasz-Lis, P.; Dmochowska-Dudek, K. (2020) D8.3 Report on alternative scenarios for case study regions: Trajectories of spatial justice and actions to achieve it across Europe., RELOCAL H2020 Project Report, D8.3 020720, Version 2.0, 23 June 2020, 135pp.
- Grunfelder, J.; Tagai, G.; Piras, S. (2020) European shrinking rural areas: challenges, actions and perspectives for territorial governance (ESCAPE)., Applied Research. Interim Report - Annex 1, ESPON, 106pp.
- Copus, A.; Piras, S.; Kahila, P.; Fritsch, M.; Dax, T.; Kovacs, K.; Taggai, G.; Weber, R.; Grunfelder, J.; Löfving, L.; Ortega-Reig, M.; Ferrandis Martinez, A.; Meredit, D. (2020) European shrinking rural areas: challenges, actions and perspectives for territorial governance. (ESCAPE)., Applied Research. Interim Report, Version 4, ESPON, 60pp.
- Copus, A.; Piras, S.; Tobiasz-Lis, P.; Dmochowska-Dudek, K.; Wójcik, M.; Napierala, T. (2020) D8.2 Synthesis Report: Towards an operational concept of spatial justice., D8.2 Synthesis Report: TH2020 RELOCAL, Version 1, 30 September 2019.
- Kandemier, C.; Reynolds, C.; Verma, M.; Grainger, M.; Stewart, G.; Righi, S.; Piras, S.; Setti, M.; Vittuari, M.; Quested, T. (2020) Modelling approaches to food waste: discrete event simulation; machine learning; Bayesian networks; agent-based modelling; and mass balance estimation, In: Reynolds, C., Soma, T., Spring, C. & Lazell, J. (eds.) Routledge Handbook of Food Waste. London: Routledge 326-343
- Piras, S.; Currie, M.; Copus, A. (2019) 2030 Scenario and updated mechanism map: Strengthening communities in the Isle of Lewis, Scotland., H2020 RELOCAL, Version 1, 18 December 2019.
- Masotti, M.; Piras, S.; Righi, S.; Setti, M.; Aramyan; L., Logatcheva, K.; Vittuari, M. (2019) Behavioural economics: assessing food waste innovations diffusion through ABM models - Insights from Italy and the Netherlands., Horizon 2020 REFRESH Project Website.
- Grainger, M.J.; Piras, S.; Righi, S.; Setti, M.; Stewart, G.B.; Vittuari, M. (2019) Behavioural economics: Linking Bayesian and agent-based models to assess consumer food waste., Horizon 2020 REFRESH website.
- Kuhfuss, L.; Piras, S.; Flanigan, S.; Hawes, C.; Begg, G. (2019) Pro-environmental practices among farmers at a landscape scale: why and how? An interdisciplinary review of the literature., Report for RESAS (143b, deliverable D6), Interdisciplinary Review of Existing Landscape Scale Interventions Delivering multiple Benefits, 37pp.
- Piras, S.; Righi, S.; Banchelli, F.; Giordano, C.; Setti, M. (2023) Food waste between environmental education, peers, and family influence. Insights from primary school students in Northern Italy, Journal of Cleaner Production, 383, Art. 135461
- Kovács, E.K.; Bachórz, A.; Blumstein Bunzl, N.; Mincyte, D.; Parasecoli, F.; Piras, S.; Varga, M. (2022) The War in Ukraine and Food Security in Eastern Europe, Gastronomica, 22(3), 1-7
- Piras, S.; Righi, S.; Banchelli, F.; Giordano, C.; Setti, M. (2022) Food waste between education, peers, and family influence. Insights from primary school students in Northern Italy, Journal of Cleaner Production, 383, Article No. 135461
- Giordano, C.; Graziano, P.; Lazzarini, M.; Piras, S.; Spaghi, S. (2022) Sustainable Community Movement Organisations and household food waste: The missing link in urban food policies?, Cities, 122, Article No. 103473
- Piras, S.; Righi, S.; Setti, M.; Koseoglu, N.; Grainger, M.J.; Stewart, G.B.; Vittuari, M. (2022) From social interactions to private environmental behaviours: The case of consumer food waste, Resources, Conservation and Recycling,176, Article No. 105952
- Holland, J.; Brown, J.L.; MacKenzie, K.; Neilson, R.; Piras, S.; McKenzie, B.M. (2021) Over winter cover crops provide yield benefits for spring barley and maintain soil health in northern Europe., European Journal of Agronomy, 130, Article No. 126363
- Piras, S.; Wesz, VJ. Jnr.; Ghinoi, S. (2021) Soy expansion, environment and human development: an analysis across Brazilian municipalities., Sustainability,13, Article No. 7246
- Wesz Junior, V.J.; Piras, S.; Grisa, C.; Ghinoi, S. (2021) Assessing Brazilian agri-food policies: what impact on family farms?, arXiv:2105.14996
- Piras, S.; Tobiasz-Lis, P.; Currie, M.; Dmochowska-Dudek, K.; Duckett, D.; Copus, A. (2021) Spatial justice on the horizon? A combined theory of change scenario tool to assess place-based interventions., European Planning Studies, 30(5), 952-973
- Aramyan, L.; Grainger, M.J.; Logatcheva, K; Piras, S.; Setti, M.; Stewart, G.B.; Vittuari, M. (2021) Food waste reduction in supply chains through innovations: a review., Measuring Business Excellence, 25(4), 475-492
- Piras, S.; Botnarenco, S.; Masotti, M.; Vittuari, M. (2021) Post-Soviet smallholders between entrepreneurial farming and diversification. Livelihood pathways in rural Moldova., Journal of Rural Studies, 82, 315-327
- Piras, S.; Pancotto, F.; Righi, S.; Vittuari, M.; Setti, M. (2021) Community social capital and status: The social dilemma of food waste., Ecological Economics, 183, Article No. 106954
- Copus, A.; Kahila, P.; Dax, T.; Kovács, K.; Tagai, G.; Weber, R.; Grunfelder, J.; Meredith, D.; Ortega-Reig, M.; Piras, S.; Löfving, L.; Moodie, J.; Fritsch, M.; Ferrandis, A. (2021) European shrinking rural areas: Key messages for a refreshed long-term vision, TERRA: Revista de Desarrollo Local, 8, 280-309
- Vittuari, M.; Falasconi, L.; Masotti, M.; Piras, S.; Segrè, A.; Setti, M. (2020) ‘Not in my bin’: consumer’s understanding and concern of food waste effects and mitigating factors., Sustainability, 12, Article No. 5685.
- Piras, S. (2020) Home-grown food and the benefits of sharing: The "intergenerational pact" in postsocialist Moldova., Journal of Agrarian Change, 20, 460-484.
- Piras, S.; Botnarenco, S. (2018) Problems of farm succession in the post-Soviet space: insights from the Republic of Moldova., Journal of Land Use Science, 13, 631-644.
- Piras, S.; García Herrero, L.; Burgos, S.; Colin, F.; Gheoldus, M.; Ledoux, C.; Parfitt, J.; Jarosz, D.; Vittuari, M. (2018) Unfair trading practice regulation and voluntary agreements targeting food waste: D3.2 A policy assessment in select EU member states., Horizon 2020 REFRESH Project Report, 83pp.
- Piras, S.; Pancotto, F.; Righi, S.; Vittuari, M.; Setti, M. (2018) Food waste as a (negative) measure of social capital. A study across Italian Provinces., DEMB Working Paper Series 127, May 2018, 45pp.
- Piras, S.; Vittuari, M.; Möllers, J.; Herzfeld, T. (2018) Remittance inflow and smallholder farming practices. The case of Moldova., Land Use Policy, 70, 654-665.
- Grainger, M.J.; Aramyan, L.; Piras, S.; Quested, T.; Righi, S.; Setti, M.; Vittuari, M.; Stewart, G.B. (2018) Model selection and averaging in the assessment of the drivers of household food waste to reduce the probability of false positives., PLoS One, 13, Article No. e0192075.
- Grainger, M.J.; Aramyan, L.; Logatcheva, K.; Piras, S.; Righi, S.; Setti, M.; Vittuari, M.; Stewart, G.B. (2018) The use of systems models to identify food waste drivers., Global Food Security, 16, 1-8.
- Giordano, C.; Piras, S.; Boschini, M.; Falasconi, L. (2018) Are questionnaires a reliable method to measure food waste? A pilot study on Italian households., British Food Journal,120, 2885-2897.
- Ghinoi, S.; Wesz Junior, V.J.; Piras, S. (2018) Political debates and agricultural support policies: Discourse coalitions behind the creation of Brazil’s Pronaf., Land Use Policy, 76, 68-80.
- Burgos, S.; Gheoldus, M.; Colin, F.; Stenmarck, A.; Hultén, J.; Yohanan, L.; Parfitt, J.; Vittuari, M.; Piras, S.; McFarland, K.; Wunder, S. (2017) Systems maps and analytical framework. Mapping food waste drivers across the food supply chain - D3.1, Horizon 2020 REFRESH Project Report, 126pp.
- Grainger, M.J.; Stewart, G.B.; Piras, S.; Righi, S.; Setti, M.; Vittuari, M. (2017) D4.3- Model integration: Integrated socio-economic model on food waste., Horizon 2020 REFRESH Project Report, 46pp.
- Piras, S. (2016) Post-Soviet Moldova: One State, many national identities. (original title: La Moldova post-sovietica: Uno Stato, tante identità nazionali)., In: Bellezza, S.A. (ed.). Geopolitical atlas of the post-Soviet space: Borders and conflicts (original title: Atlante ge-opolitico dello spazio post-sovietico: Confini e conflitti), Brescia: La Scuola, pp67-81.
- Piras, S.; Righi, S.; Setti, M.; Vittuari, M. (2016) Socio-economic implications of food waste: Business behavioural typologies and interrelationships., Horizon 2020 REFRESH Project Report, 87pp.
- Möllers, J.; Herzfeld, T.; Piras, S.; Wolz, A. (2016) Structural transformation of small farms in Moldova: implications for poverty reduction and shared prosperity., Moldova Poverty Assessment 2016. World bank Group Report No. 105724-MD, Washington, DC, 60pp.
- Grainger, M.J.; Stewart, G.B.; Piras, S.; Righi, S.; Setti, M.; Vittuari, M. (2016) D4.2 - Model development and data protocol., Horizon 2020 REFRESH Project Report, 47pp.
- Burgos, S.; Gheoldus, M.; Vittuari, M.; Politano, A.; Piras, S.; Aramyan, L.; Valeeva, N.; Wenbon, M.; Hanssen, O.J.; Scherhaufer, S.; Ottner, R.; Silvennoinen, K.; Paschall, D.; Braun, S.; Cseh, B.; Ujhelyl, K. (2016) Policy evaluation framework., FP7 FUSIONS Project Report, 73pp.
- Piras, S. (2012) Post-Soviet Moldova (original title: La Moldova postsovietica)., Aracne, Rome, 256pp.
- Tobiasz-Lis, P.; Piras, S.; Dmochowska-Dudek, K.; Currie, M.; Duckett, D.; Copus, A.; Wójci, M. (2023) Towards spatial justice across Europe through placebased interventions Lessons learned from considering mediumhorizon future scenarios, In: M. Fritsch, P. Kahila, S. Németh & J. W. Scott (eds), Spatial Justice and Cohesion: The Role of Place-Based Action in Economic and Community Development. London and New York: Routledge, Chapter 7, 19pp
- Kandemier, C.; Reynolds, C.; Verma, M.; Grainger, M.; Stewart, G.; Righi, S.; Piras, S.; Setti, M.; Vittuari, M.; Quested, T. (2020) Modelling approaches to food waste: discrete event simulation; machine learning; Bayesian networks; agent-based modelling; and mass balance estimation, In: Reynolds, C., Soma, T., Spring, C. & Lazell, J. (eds.) Routledge Handbook of Food Waste. London: Routledge 326-343
- Vittuari, M.; Segrè, A.; Falasconi, L.; Piras, S.; Brenes-Peralta, L.; García Herrero, L.; Pagani, M.; De Menna, F. (2019) Drivers of food losses and their implications for the agro-food chain: selected case studies, In: Vittuari, M., Devlin, J., Pagani, M. & Johnson, T.G. (eds.) The Routledge Handbook of Comparative Rural Policy, 1st Edition, London: Routledge, 325-338
- Piras, S. (2019) Post-Soviet rural areas towards European integration: The difficult transition of Moldova, In: Vittuari, M., Devlin, J., Pagani, M. & Johnson, T.G. (eds.) The Routledge Handbook of Comparative Rural Policy, 1st Edition, Routledge, London, 493-499
- Piras, S.; Somervail, P.; Engelmann, T. (2022) MS10 Supply chain dialogue in the fish value chain can start following the agreed protocol , H2020 Lowinfood milestone
- Piras, S.; Engelmann, T.; Somervail, P.; Maclean, L.; Koseoglu, N.; Sandison, F.; Kapour, G.; Pietrangeli, R.; Nasso, M. (2022) D41 Protocol for the stakeholder dialogue - fish, H2020 Lowinfood deliverable
- Cock, P.; Gurd, J.; Kuhfuss, L.; Piras, S. (2022) Introducing experimental methods for the study of resource and landrelated decisions in rural Scotland Final project report, MDT project report.
- Piras, S.; Kuhfuss, L.; Marini Govigli, V.; Alboni, F.; Kapour, G.; Setti, M. (2022) Dataset on producers’ socioeconomic conditions, operational and technological states, and on experimental results (quantitative measures) at project level D31, H2020 FoodLAND (project report)
- Clement, J.; Suurmets, S.; Barlagne, C.; Piras, S.; Kuhfuss, L.; Marini Govigli, V.; Setti, M. (2022) Protocols to implement economic and biometric experiments with consumers D22, H2020 FoodLAND (project report)
- Currie, M.; Mc Morran, R.; Hopkins, J.; McKee, A.; Glass, J.; Wilson, R.; Meador, E.; Noble, C.; Craigie, M.; Piras, S.; Bruce, F.; Williams, A.; Pinker, A.; Jones, S.; Maynard, C.; Atterton, J. (2021) Understanding the response to Covid-19 - Exploring options for a resilient social and economic recovery in Scotland’s rural and island communities, SEFARI
- Koseoglu, N.M.; Piras, S.; Somervail, P.; MacLean, L. (2021) D1.4 Socio-economic data collection protocol, H2020 Lowinfood, pp. 1-203.
- Scherhaufer, S.; Giordano, C.; Koseoglu, N.; Di Fiore, G.N.; Carloni, E.; Piras, S.; Gollnow, S.; MacLean, L.; Somervail, P.; Falasconi, L.; Obersteiner, G. (2021) D1.1 Methodological framework, H2020 LOWINFOOD Public Deliverables, pp.1-94.
- Copus, A.; Kahila, P.; Fritsch, M.; Dax, T.; Kovács, K.; Tagai, G.; Weber, R.; Grunfelder, J.; Löfving, L.; Moodie, J.; Ortega-Reig, M.; Ferrandis, A.; Piras, S.; Meredith, D. (2021) ESCAPE Synthesis Report., European Shrinking Rural Areas (ESCAPE): Challenges, Actions and Perspectives for Terrestrial Governance, ESPON,10pp.
- Hopkins, J.; Piras, S. (2020) Economic-demographic foresight and place-based impacts in sparsely populated Scotland., Online report.
- Copus, A.; Kahila, P.; Fritsch, M.; Dax, T.; Kovács, K.; Tagai, G.; Weber, R.; Grunfelder, J.; Löfving, L.; Moodie, J.; Ortega-Reig, M.; Ferrandis, A.; Piras, S.; Meredith, D. (2020) European shrinking rural areas: challenges, actions and perspectives for territorial governance (ESCAPE). Applied Research. Final Report, Final Report, ESPON, 2020, 58pp.
- Piras, S.; Tagai, G.; Grunfelder, J. (2020) ESCAPE Final Report - Annex 2 Measuring, mapping and classifying simple and complex shrinkage., ESCAPE - European Shrinking Rural Areas: Challenges, Actions and Perspectives for Territorial Governance (ESCAPE), Applied Research. Final Report, ESPON, 82pp.
- Hopkins, J.; Piras, S. (2020) Population projections and an introduction to economic-demographic foresight for Scotland’s sparsely populated areas (2018-43)., Research Brief for RESAS RD 3.4.1: Demographic change in remote areas, Objective 3.5 (Milestone 1), 21pp.
- Piras, S.; Currie, M.; Duckett, D.; Copus, A.; Tobiasz-Lis, P.; Dmochowska-Dudek, K. (2020) D8.3 Report on alternative scenarios for case study regions: Trajectories of spatial justice and actions to achieve it across Europe., RELOCAL H2020 Project Report, D8.3 020720, Version 2.0, 23 June 2020, 135pp.
- Grunfelder, J.; Tagai, G.; Piras, S. (2020) European shrinking rural areas: challenges, actions and perspectives for territorial governance (ESCAPE)., Applied Research. Interim Report - Annex 1, ESPON, 106pp.
- Copus, A.; Piras, S.; Kahila, P.; Fritsch, M.; Dax, T.; Kovacs, K.; Taggai, G.; Weber, R.; Grunfelder, J.; Löfving, L.; Ortega-Reig, M.; Ferrandis Martinez, A.; Meredit, D. (2020) European shrinking rural areas: challenges, actions and perspectives for territorial governance. (ESCAPE)., Applied Research. Interim Report, Version 4, ESPON, 60pp.
- Copus, A.; Piras, S.; Tobiasz-Lis, P.; Dmochowska-Dudek, K.; Wójcik, M.; Napierala, T. (2020) D8.2 Synthesis Report: Towards an operational concept of spatial justice., D8.2 Synthesis Report: TH2020 RELOCAL, Version 1, 30 September 2019.
- Piras, S.; Currie, M.; Copus, A. (2019) 2030 Scenario and updated mechanism map: Strengthening communities in the Isle of Lewis, Scotland., H2020 RELOCAL, Version 1, 18 December 2019.
- Copus, A.; Dax, T.; Grunfelder, J.; Kovacs, K.; Taggai, G.; Meredith, D.; Scardaccione, G.; Spiegeldalhder, M.R.; Ferrandis Martinez, A.; Weber, R.; Kahila, P.; Pósfai, I.; Wilson, R.; Piras, S.; Machold, I.; Tamme, O. (2019) European shrinking rural areas: challenges, actions and perspectives for territorial governance. (ESCAPE)., Applied Research. Inception Report (Appendices),version 13 May 2019., ESPON, 97pp.
- Piras, S. (2019) Children behaviour and food waste at School and at home. (Original title: Indagine: Lo spreco alimentare nei comportamenti dei ragazzi a Scuola e a casa. Rapporto divulgativo dei risultati)., Final Project Research Report: Progetto RES, Come cavolo mangi. CEAS di Nonantola e dell'Unione dei Comuni del Sorbara, 26pp.
- Masotti, M.; Piras, S.; Righi, S.; Setti, M.; Aramyan; L., Logatcheva, K.; Vittuari, M. (2019) Behavioural economics: assessing food waste innovations diffusion through ABM models - Insights from Italy and the Netherlands., Horizon 2020 REFRESH Project Website.
- Grainger, M.J.; Piras, S.; Righi, S.; Setti, M.; Stewart, G.B.; Vittuari, M. (2019) Behavioural economics: Linking Bayesian and agent-based models to assess consumer food waste., Horizon 2020 REFRESH website.
- Kuhfuss, L.; Piras, S.; Flanigan, S.; Hawes, C.; Begg, G. (2019) Pro-environmental practices among farmers at a landscape scale: why and how? An interdisciplinary review of the literature., Report for RESAS (143b, deliverable D6), Interdisciplinary Review of Existing Landscape Scale Interventions Delivering multiple Benefits, 37pp.
- Piras, S.; Righi, S.; Banchelli, F.; Giordano, C.; Setti, M. (2022) Food waste between environmental education, peers, and family influence Insights from primary school students in Northern Italy, 27th EAERE Annual Conference, 28 June - 1 July 2022, Rimini, Italy
- Kuhfuss, L.; Piras, S.; Flanigan, S.; Hawes, C.; Begg, G. (2021) How to promote the collective uptake of agri-environmental schemes by farmers? A literature review., Landscape 2021 Conference: Diversity for Sustainable and Resilient Agriculture, 20-22 September 2021, online presentation.
- Barlagne, C.; Piras, S.; Clement, J.; Thabet, C.; Souissi, I.; Mokhtari, N.; Tura, M. (2023) Integrating experimental economics and biometric methods to improve understanding of consumers’ decision making A novel protocol and its application to the case of olive oil in Tunisia and Morocco, XVII EAAE Congress "Agri-food systems in a changing world: Connecting science and society", 29 August - 1 September 2023, Rennes, France
- Piras, S.; Mulazzani, L.; Barlagne, C.; Nchimbi Msolla, S.; Mwanri, A.; Ddungu, R.; Ogenrwoth, B.; Hanafi, A.; Chimoita, E.; Kapour, G.; Setti, M. (2023) Smallholders’ food security between farming and migration Evidence from five Northern and Eastern African countries, XVII EAAE Congress "Agri-food systems in a changing world: Connecting science and society", 29 August - 1 September 2023, Rennes, France
- Ghinoi, S.; Piras, S.; Tasciotti, L.; Wesz Junior, V.J. (2023) The economic and ecological impact of soy expansion in Brazil A Synthetic Control Method approach, XVII EAAE Congress "Agri-food systems in a changing world: Connecting science and society", 29 August - 1 September 2023, Rennes, France
- Hopkins, J.; Piras, S.; Kapour, G. (2022) How could a net zero economy impact rural demography? Insights from a regional model for Scotland, Presentation to session 'Online-G03-O2 Demographic Change, Population, Migration and Mobility Behaviour', European Regional Studies Association Congress, 22 August 2022, Pécs, Hungary.
- Barlagne, C.; Gallina Toschi, T.; Piras, S.; Suurmets, S.; Clement, J.; Tura, M.; Lazzarini, C.; Mokhtari, N.; Ait Elkassia, A.; Thabet, C.; Souissi, A.; Bendini, A. (2022) Protocol for a joint auctioneye tracking measurement of consumers preferences for extra virgin oil in Tunisia and Morocco, EUROSENSE 2022: A Sense of Earth. 10th European Conference on Sensory and Consumer Research, 13-16 September 2022, Turku, Finland
- Giordano, C.; Graziano, P.; Lazzarini, M.; Piras, S.; Spaghi, S. (2021) Alternative Food Networks and Household Food Waste Evidence from an Italian Case Study, Giordano, C.; Graziano, P.; Lazzarini, M.; Piras, S.; Spaghi, S. (2021). Alternative Food Networks and Household Food Waste: Evidence from an Italian Case Study, RETASTE Conference abstracts, Vol. 1, p.36.
- Giordano, C.; Graziano, P.; Lazzarini, M.; Piras, S.; Spaghi, S. (2021) Alternative Food Networks and Household Food Waste Evidence from an Italian Case Study, Giordano, C.; Graziano, P.; Lazzarini, M.; Piras, S.; Spaghi, S. (2021). Alternative Food Networks and Household Food Waste: Evidence from an Italian Case Study, RETASTE Conference abstracts, Vol. 1, p.36.
- Piras, S.; Banchelli, F.; Giordano, C.; Righi, S.; Setti, M. (2021) Children’s Food Waste Behaviour Between Concept-Based Education, Peers, and Family Influence Insights from Primary School Canteens in Northern Italy, Piras, S.; Banchelli, F.; Giordano, C.; Righi, S.; Setti, M. (2021). Children’s Food Waste Behaviour Between Concept-Based Education, Peers, and Family Influence. Insights from Primary School Canteens in Northern Italy, RETASTE Conference Abstracts, p.165.
- Piras, S.; Banchelli, F.; Giordano, C.; Righi, S.; Setti, M. (2021) Children’s Food Waste Behaviour Between Concept-Based Education, Peers, and Family Influence Insights from Primary School Canteens in Northern Italy, Piras, S.; Banchelli, F.; Giordano, C.; Righi, S.; Setti, M. (2021). Children’s Food Waste Behaviour Between Concept-Based Education, Peers, and Family Influence. Insights from Primary School Canteens in Northern Italy, RETASTE Conference Abstracts, p.165.