A Model to Promote Sustainable Social Change Based on the Scaling up of a High-Impact Technical Innovation

Abstract

The scaling up of the innovations concept has gained importance in recent years, underlining the importance of disseminating successful innovations on a large scale to increase their socio-economic impact, seeking to sustain broad rural development and promoting public policies that generate equal and sustainable results. However, few projects take advantage of the adoption of innovative technologies to promote social change. This paper reports on an intervention model that incorporates common elements, from the literature, of scaling up, and includes novel such as linking technological and social innovations, with an exit strategy to build sustainable processes and results. The model is based on a trans-disciplinary approach, and leadership, that involves local communities and stakeholders to establish synergies, to give coherence to the whole process, and to build an exit strategy involving territorial dynamics related to the innovation. The model includes a clear definition of the objects, and the process, that should be transformed, and the specific methodologies to involve local communities and stakeholders, to reach the final target user. The model was applied to develop the project, More Nutritious Potatoes, for scaling up new yellow potatoes varieties with improved agronomic and nutritional attributes. To implement the project, the research team, local communities, and stakeholders agreed on specific actions to improve food security and nutrition in a sustainable manner. The operational objectives were, the strengthening of capabilities for autonomy and governance in public policies, the entrepreneurship to build inclusive businesses, the valorization of agro-biodiversity, the acquisition of good food habits, and the promotion of social equity. The methodologies employed allowed building of social and scientific capabilities for Colombia.

Innovación social desde el emprendimiento social: Panorama de la bibliografía global y colombiana

“…Dichas relaciones dificultan el liderazgo femenino en la toma de decisiones en general y en los procesos productivos en particular (Sinclair et al, 2022), al tiempo que promueven una masculinidad irresponsable en cuanto al autocuidado (p. e. en términos de altos niveles de consumo de alcohol) y la distribución de los ingresos (Cuéllar-Gálvez et al, 2018).…”

Effects of innovative entrepreneurship and the information society on social progress: an international analysis

“…As mentioned in the Introduction, however, opportunity entrepreneurship, especially innovative entrepreneurship, contributes to economic growth and job creation (Acs, Storey 2004;Audretsch 2012;Baumol 1993;Bosma et al 2017;Cuéllar-Gálvez et al 2018;Demartini 2018;Reynolds 2017;Schumpeter 1939;Shane, Venkataraman 2000;Wennekers et al 2005). This type of entrepreneurship possesses the characteristics closest to the concept of entrepreneur adopted in this study, because such entrepreneurs have (i) the necessary economic and non-economic resources to be transformed into innovative products or services; (ii) the necessary skills and knowledge to manage their business activities; (iii) the necessary freedom to transform the resources and bring them to the market as final goods or finished products.…”

“…Two main motivations have been identified: the exploitation of an opportunity to provide the goods and services required by society and the need to be self-employed as a subsistence mechanism (Bosma et al 2017). The type of entrepreneurship generating the greatest impact on economic growth and development is opportunity entrepreneurship oriented toward innovation (Acs, Storey 2004;Audretsch 2012;Baumol 1993;Bosma et al 2017;Cuéllar-Gálvez et al 2018;Demartini 2018;Reynolds 2017;Schumpeter 1939;Shane, Venkataraman 2000;Wennekers et al 2005). Kleine (2010) indicated that since the second half of the 20th century, discussions about countries' development have been guided by different perspectives.…”

An analytical model to evaluate the performance of associative seed producer organizations in the framework of Plan Semilla - Agrosavia (Colombia)

“…In order to guarantee the development of small-farmer organizations in the marketplace, it is important that seed producer organizations have adequate capabilities that allow the development of mutually beneficial collective actions (Cuéllar et al, 2018). In spite of this, in our national context, the producers and their organizations have few capacities to successfully develop their commercial functions.…”