AKKAgro Keten Kennis
Project TFK-96.093b

Innovation and Organisation in Agro-food Chains

Afgerond Gestart 1 januari 1997 · looptijd 4 years

Beschrijving

Problem description:
In order to improve competitiveness firms in agrofood chains are extending their efforts in process and product innovation. As agrofood products pass several stages of the production and distribution chain before they reach the consumer, successful innovation in agrofood chains often requires adaptations and investments by firms in several stages of the chain. Whether firms are willing to invest in combined innovations, depends on the distribution of the benefits of innovation, and this depends on the organisation of the chain.

Objective:
This project aims to provide more insight in the relationship between the economic organisation of the chain and the investments for innovation by several firms in the chain. Important elements of the economic organisation of the chain are the division of ownership (i.e. property rights), the power relationships and the kind of contracts that are used. As investments for innovation in agrofood chains are often of a relationship-specific kind, the economic organisation of the chain influences what kind of investments will be done and by whom.

Research Description:
The project surveys the literature on economic organisation in order to find explanations for specific organisational forms of agrofood chains. Transaction costs economics and incomplete contract theory are used to design hypotheses on the relationship between economic organisation and investments decisions by chain participants.

Case studies will be carried out to explore the issue of efficient chain organisation in a changing market structure and with changing technological opportunities. The focus in the case study is on farmer-owned co-operative and on the fresh produce sector. Old co-operatives are restructuring and new co-operatives are emerging. The chal-lenge for old and new co-operatives is to find an efficient system of organisational attributes to face the chal-lenges of a dynamic and international environment.

Kenmerken

Projectnummer
TFK-96.093b
Status
Afgerond
Startdatum
1 januari 1997
Looptijd
4 years
Omvang
€ 655.000

Ketenkennis (2)

Wat dit project heeft bijgedragen, ingedeeld naar kennisveld. Klik op een code voor alle projecten in dat veld.

  • 1.6

    Innovatiekracht van ketens strategisch onderzoek

  • 1.7

    Ketenorganisatie strategisch onderzoek

Publicaties (9)