Chrisovalantis Malesios

Agricultural University of Athens · Department of Agricultural Economics & Rural Development (RE&D)

The purpose of this study is to assess the relationship between social, environmental and operational practices and performance with financial performance, focusing on small-and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). We seek to establish a relationship between the sustainability and the financial performance of SMEs in terms of economic development, as e...

The main aim of this paper is to facilitate small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to adopt environmental management (EM) and corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices. The study reveals SMEs‟ motivation, pressure, targets and methods for EM and CSR practices. Additionally, the paper investigates how these variables relate to employee numb...

The circular economy (CE) represents a major paradigm shift of moving from the concepts of linear to circular supply chains across multiple industries. Although some aspects of CE adoption within industrial supply chains have been researched extensively (particularly addressing challenges of design, implementation and operations), the research that...

Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) play an important role in any economy as they contribute to GDP and employment. However, sustainability (right combination of economic, environmental and social) of SMEs is a major concern as they prioritise economic performance over environmental and social to remain competitive. Majority of prior research...

The advancement of sustainability trajectories is a critical challenge for most of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). SMEs require specific considerations with regard to business methodologies for achieving and enhancing sustainability, since their business case is far from similar to larger counterparts. As a consequence, tools for impleme...

Over recent decades, intense urbanization, city expansion, and unregulated construction have led to a scarcity of green spaces and environmental degradation. Green spaces significantly enhance residents' quality of life by supporting mental and physical health, improving environmental conditions, and benefiting the local microclimate. However, addi...

Environmental degradation combined with the need to ensure food security for a rapidly growing world population have prompted the adoption of Sustainable Weed Management Practices (SWMP), which are expected to reduce crop losses while preserving natural resources. However, evidence shows that farmers are reluctant to adopt them and European farming...

This paper investigates the socioeconomic effects of shutting down the Public Power Corporation (PPC) plants in Western Macedonia, Greece. It details the area's socioeconomic profile, the delignification process, and regulations for transitioning to green energy. A survey of 400 residents was analyzed using descriptive statistics and statistical te...

In an attempt to increase our understanding of bio-based consumption behavior, this study examines antecedents and consequences of consumer satisfaction associated with three different bio-based products: (i) bio-based wall paint, (ii) bio-based household cleaning detergent, and (iii) a kitchen chair made of biosynthetic material. The proposed stru...

The chapter aimed to investigate a) whether the Regional Unit of Western Attica-Greece is a robust and smart region in terms of sustainable development policies (studying also its dimensions, i.e., environmental, cultural, economic, and social development) based on its citizens' perspectives and b) the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on these polic...

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have a significant impact on the economy, but their negative effects on the environment and society pose challenges for sustainability. Achieving sustainability is difficult for SMEs, as environmental and social performances do not always lead to cost reduction, and they struggle to balance their performanc...

Tenebrio molitor gained recognition for its nutritional value for human and/or animal consumption, its utilization as a model species in research studies, and its ability to degrade many types of plastics. However, it is a stored-product pest infesting a wide range of commodities in storages. The impact of temperature on the development of T. molit...

The occupational exposure to softwood and hardwood wood dust was determined during forestry work in timber stands. In the determination of inhalable wood dust, three tree species (Fagus sylvatica, Quercus sp. and Pinus brutia) and three chainsaw operating parameters were taken into account (in total six assessment indicators). The first operating p...

The primary sector is particularly important in Greece, especially considering the country’s current financial crisis, which has lasted since 2010. In an innovative way, this paper investigates the role of Contractual Agriculture as a tool for financing farming production costs in Greece. This study presents the findings of a survey of 222 producer...

Marchalina hellenica Gennadius (Hemiptera: Marchalinidae) is a scale insect native to Greece and Turkey and presently invasive in Australia, where it damages pine plantations. The silver fly, Neoleucopis kartliana Tanasijtshuk (Diptera: Chamaemyiidae), is the most abundant predator of M. hellenica in Greece and is presently being investigated as a...

Objective The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between pesticide exposure and depression. Methods A cross-sectional study was performed in a study population of 252 Greek male farmers using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression (CES-D) scale. Cumulative pesticide exposure was categorized in three mutually exclus...

The sustainable management of forest resources is greatly influenced by forest operations (FO). Interactions between humans and nature describe how people engage with and are impacted by the natural world. As we enter the Anthropocene epoch, we are being compelled to reevaluate our past and present methods of managing and planning our forest operat...

Evidence from studies in the global north has shown the beneficial effects of green spaces (GS) for our psychological and physiological health. In this study, we examine whether the connection between GS, wellbeing, and restoration is also applicable to low/middle-income countries (LMICs), using Tanzania as a case study. During May–July 2021, an on...

Protected Areas (PAs) are the most widely applied tool for biodiversity conservation. The primary role of these areas is to protect and restore ecosystems, but it has become increasingly evident that in order to designate effective PAs it is also crucial to take into consideration how they contribute to sustainable local socio-economic targets. In...

Protected Areas (PAs) are the most widely used tool for biodiversity conservation globally. In the European Union there are plans to protect 30% of land and 30% of water by 2030. Although PAs were initially proposed as a polity tool with a key aim to protect and restore biodiversity it is now widely recognised that they can also promote local socio...

The aim of the present paper is to investigate whether the Regional Unit of Western Attica constitutes a sustainable and smart geographic area, based on the perceptions of its residents, as well as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the sustainable urban development policies it implements. To achieve this goal, quantitative research was conduct...

This study investigates the effect of nine consumer barriers to bio-based food products in shaping purchase intentions. A structural model is developed to assess: (i) the influence of prior experience with bio-based products and demographics on the perceived impact of the consumption barriers, (ii) how these nine barriers affect consumers' interest...

In the present study, occupational exposure to softwood ( Pinus brutia ) and hardwood ( Fagus sylvatica and Quercus petraea ) wood dust was determined during forestry work in a timber yard. In the determination of inhalable wood dust, three operating parameters of the chainsaw were taken into account. The first operating parameter was the chainsaw...

Protected Areas (PAs) are widely used to conserve biodiversity by protecting and restoring ecosystems while also contributing to socioeconomic priorities. An increasing number of studies aim to examine the social impacts of PAs on aspects of people"s well-being, such as, quality of life, livelihoods, and connectedness to nature. Despite the increas...

In recent years, the growing popularity of plastic materials made from renewable biomass sources has prompted research on stakeholder views. This is because the circularity and decoupling credentials producing such materials can be substantial but also bring to the forefront pressing questions around public receptiveness and support. To this regard...

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) often lag behind major corporations in implementing sustainability management practices, limiting their capacity to mitigate negative social and environmental impacts. A notable challenge is the lower percentage of SMEs with sustainability objectives. This research aims to examine the links among sustainabi...

Objectives: Evidence suggests that farm workers represent a high-risk population for the development of depression. The aim of the study was to clarify the association between pesticide exposure/poisoning and depression. Methods: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis were conducted in this systematic review and meta...

Minimizing a company’s operational risk by optimizing the performance of the manufacturing and distribution supply chain is a complex task that involves multiple elements, each with their own supply line constraints. Traditional approaches to optimization often assume determinism as the underlying principle. However, this paper, adopting an entropy...

In recent years, a worldwide expansion in the frequency of large, uncontrolled, and catastrophic wildfre events has occurred, creating drastic social, economic, and environmental damage, especially in wildland–urban interface (WUI) zones. This damage includes losses of life, infrastructure, and ecosystem services. The impacts of wildfres at the W...

Protected Areas are a cornerstone of biodiversity conservation policies, providing significant benefits both for nature and people. This study investigates the diversity, extent, and social and spatial distribution of the social outcomes of the Eifel National Park in Germany and how these are linked with the level of public support for the park, as...

In recent years, a worldwide expansion in the frequency of large, uncontrolled, and catastrophic wildfire events has occurred, creating drastic social, economic, and environmental damage, especially in wildland–urban interface (WUI) zones. This damage includes losses of life, infrastructure, and ecosystem services. The impacts of wildfires at the W...

The Special Issue "Advances in Mathematical Models for Supply Chain Management" of "Mathematics" Journal aims to explore recent advancements in mathematical modeling techniques and their applications in solving real-world supply chain problems. The Special Issue invites contributions that cover a wide range of topics related to mathematical models...

Background and aim of the study: Research evidence suggest that farm workers represent a high-risk population for developing depression due to pesticide use. Farm workers who had experienced pesticide poisoning are at greater risk for depression compared to those who had not. The findings concerning the association between general pesticide exposur...

This paper explores local public support for nature protected areas (PAs) to identify primary social factors explaining support. The model was built and tested using survey data collected from approximately 2300 in- dividuals living inside or near six Protected Areas in five different European countries using both face-to-face and online methods. R...

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of incorporating nature-based solutions in urban design, in order to create sustainable and resilient cities. Inspired by these events, the present study aims at exploring the mental health benefits of nature exposure during the outbreak. Secondarily, we investigate changes in use patterns toward...

Protected areas (PAs) are the foremost policy tool for biodiversity conservation internationally. In order for PAs to deliver desired conservation outcomes effectively, equitably, and for the long-term, they require a high level of support from local communities. A mosaic of factors have been proposed aiming to explain the level of support for PAs...

The goal of this paper is to determine whether a company's performance on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) indicators influences customer choice, and if so, which ones are the most important, as well as whether the COVID-19 pandemic had an effect on changing this hierarchy. Additionally, it intends to investigate the influence of regional...

The beneficial effects of green and blue areas on human wellbeing are significant. Physical activity is a crucial factor for the promotion of good human health and wellbeing, and running constitutes one of the most popular forms of outdoor physical activity. This study examines the effect of six urban “route landscapes” with different landscape cha...

This study investigates structural linkages of perceived product quality, value, price, innovation, quality, risk, brand image, marketing awareness and labelling on customer satisfaction and loyalty towards bio-based products usage. The study employs the structural equation modelling technique for data analysis across a sample of 100 Greek consumer...

The primary sector is particularly important for the Greek economy, especially in light of the country's current financial crisis, which has lasted since 2010. The purpose of this research is to investigate the current state of agricultural financing across the value chain, as well as to investigate the potential of Contractual Agriculture and its...

The current study examines the relationships of Oryzaephilus surinamensis (L.) (Coleoptera: Silvanidae) with Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) and Tenebrio molitor L. (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) through Gaussian and Poisson regression models on cracked maize. For this purpose, variable temperatures (25 • C, 30 • C, and 35 • C...

The aim of this study was to assess the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in sheep farms in Greece and identify potential indicators to improve field surveillance. Ninety-four samples of milk, drinking water, animal feed, bedding, and faeces were collected from 5 dairy sheep farms. The samples were processed for isolation of Staphylococcus a...

The recent worldwide increase of large, uncontrolled, and catastrophic wildfires events, caused important socio-economic issues and with considerable effects to the natural environment. Wildfires’ impacts on social-ecological systems derive from the complicated and multidimensional interconnected relationships between society and ecosystems. To enf...

Human exposure to particulate matter (PM) is of great scientific interest due to its impact on both human health and the environment (climate change, reduced visibility, deterioration of archaeological sites, etc.). The aim of the current paper was to study the concentration of large-sized particulate matter (PM10) in relation to the season of the...

In the past decade studies focusing on social impacts of Protected Areas (PA) have increased significantly capturing a number of aspects such as the impact on people’s quality of life, income and connectedness to nature. A main concern in the literature is that issues around social equity are often neglected by PA management authorities referring t...

This study examines consumer preferences for bio-based products. Drawing from a sample of Greek consumers ( n = 533) and the use of self-reported scales, we assess the effects of individuals’ characteristics such as innovativeness, trust in science and technology, environmental concern, and previous experience with bio-products on consumer preferen...

In recent decades, large sections of trail paths throughout Greece have been maintained, revived, and marked, creating a wide network with a total length of approximately 3500 km. The trail paths are one of the main levers of tourism development as they contribute to the preservation, protection, and promotion of the countryside, cultural heritage,...

The aim of this research is to facilitate small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to achieve superior performance through the adoption of circular economy (CE) principles. It analyses the current state of sustainability practices and performance across key CE areas of action (design, procurement, production, distribution, consumption and recover)...

In recent decades large sections of trail paths throughout Greece have been maintained, revived and marked, creating a wide network of a total length of approximately 3,500 km. Their main part, of course, is occupied by the extensions of the European Long Trails E4 and E6. The trail paths are one of the main levers of tourism development as they co...

Abstract: In recent decades large sections of trail paths throughout Greece have been maintained, revived and marked, creating a wide network of a total length of approximately 3,500 km. Their main part, of course, is occupied by the extensions of the European Long Trails E4 and E6. The trail paths are one of the main levers of tourism development...

In the present research project, we compare three different pollination types (viz., with insects, without insects, and solely with honeybees) of three widespread sweet cherry cultivars, with the aim of conducting measurements and drawing conclusions pertaining to the impact of pollinators on fruit set, yield, and fruit quality in commercial orchar...

Circular Economy (CE) practices have the potential to enhance sustainability performance of organisations and thus help respond to United Nations Sustainability Development Goals. The aim of this research is to examine the adoption of CE in small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and its impact on sustainability performance. We analyze the curren...

The UN's sustainable development goals underscore engaging supply-chain stakeholders with environmentally friendly practices. Small- and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) are key participants in several supply chains, but their operations often produce a significant environmental impact. Their transition to sustainable practices is challenging because...

Purpose There is a critical gap in assessing how institutional voids affect SMEs' growth, investment commitment and reputation. The purpose of this paper is to explain how institutional void affects these three dimensions of SME performance; and to develop an institutional void-SME performance framework that can be applied for strategising, resourc...

Pollination services provide substantial benefits to human populations and, more specifically, to agriculture. The aim of the current paper was to explore the possibility of providing organized honeybee pollination services in Greece, a country where such services are hardly developed, as is also the case in many other European countries. The vast...

Adaptation to climate change as well as the increasing demand for a new approach in post fire socioecological resilience and Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) in forest management requires a different way of thinking of forest roads planning, in terms of Social-Ecological Systems (SES) Framework. Social-ecological systems are complex, adaptive and empha...

Although the contribution of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to economic growth is beyond doubt, they collectively affect the environment and society negatively. As SMEs have to perform in a very competitive environment, they often find it difficult to achieve their environmental and social targets. Therefore, making SMEs sustainable is o...

This paper determines the association between theory-based behavioural predictors and the types of face masks chosen as protection against COVID-19. A study conducted on Greeks who volunteered as subjects (N = 1,157) found significant differences between the users of the single-use masks and the users of the cloth masks, which were based on their e...

This paper describes an approach to measure the intensity and the territorial dispersion of spatial proximity effects, which affect efficiency scores obtained through data envelopment analysis in the field of municipal waste management systems (MWMSs). In particular, we show that these analyses cannot be conducted by relying on efficiency scores th...

Honeybees are closely linked with natural and agricultural ecosystems, due to their ability to pollinate a large array of food crops and native plants worldwide, particularly in intensively cultivated areas. Greece is a country where pollination services are hardly developed. Using data from the Regional Unit of Pella, Northern Greece, as well as a...

Forest operations engineering deals with all the essential infrastructure operations aiming at the efficient management of forested areas, which constitutes a prerequisite for the development of mountainous economies. Thus, the need for addressing this objective in an effective way, in conjunction with other issues associated with the protection an...

This paper examines which demographic and attitudinal characteristics relate to an individual's knowledge and perception of the environmental footprint of single-use mask s/he is using in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on a self-selected sample of Greek citizens (N = 462), it is found that demographic characteristics and pro-environmenta...

During the first wave of the COVID‐19 pandemic, management authorities of numerous Protected Areas (PAs) had to discourage visitors from accessing them in order to reduce the virus transmission rate and protect local communities. This resulted in social–ecological impacts and added another layer of complexity to managing PAs. This paper presents th...

The impact of stakeholders' pressure and business uncertainties on the correlation between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and organizational performance within small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) is under researched. This study aims to derive the correlation of CSR antecedents, CSR practices, stakeholders' pressures, business uncertain...