Comparative Economic Analyses between Conventional and Eco- Compatible Cactus Pear Cultivation in Italy

This paper contains the results of a comparative economic analysis betweenproduction units in which cactus pear cultivation was carried out by conventionalmethods and units in which an organic method was used. The survey was dividedinto two phases during which the main economic-territorial characteristics ofconventional and organic cactus pear cultivation were identified, and then a sampleof representative production units was selected which permitted the economicresults of the two cultivation methods to be ascertained. Significant elements ofdifferentiation emerged from the comparison as regards average yields per surfacearea, labour use, production costs, profits, distribution circuits, etc. – thusincrementing the low number of economic-business analyses available on thissubject.