Digital innovation through networking among agro-food SMEs: the role of R&amp;D projects

Silvestri, Raffaele; Ingrao, Carlo; Fiore, Mariantonietta; Carloni, Elisa

doi:10.1108/bfj-12-2021-1339

Cited by 11 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…Agri-food MSMEs are linked to rural areas whereby management is based on local agriculture systems, and production and marketing processes are often fully managed by entrepreneurs. The MSMEs often have limitations in terms of innovative approaches due to their small sizes and fragmentation of the production system (Silvestri, 2022). However, digital business platforms developed quickly during the COVID-19 pandemic offering "contactless delivery" services.…”

Section: Digital Platform For Agriculturementioning

confidence: 99%

COVID-19, local food system and digitalisation of the agri-food sector

Musa

Besar

Anshari

2022

JIBR

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Purpose This paper aims to evaluate the responses taken during the pandemic of COVID-19 in sustaining agricultural activities and safeguarding local food supply via digital platforms by applying the case study method. Design/methodology/approach This paper uses a case study approach due to its systematic way of collecting data, analysing information and reporting results to understand the particular problem. For this study, secondary data consisting of government reports and documents are used to give a broader understanding of the impact of COVID-19 on the local food system and digital platform for agricultural produce. Findings The impact of COVID-19 on the agri-food sector is the move towards a more resilient and sustainable local food system, whereby nations emphasise food security by encouraging local food production. This is done by boosting micro, small and medium enterprises’ (MSME) output, “supporting local” initiatives and leveraging digital platforms and FinTech in business transactions. Research limitations/implications This study highlights that MSMEs’ adoption of digital platforms, particularly in the agri-food sector, demonstrates their willingness to embrace new business models that leverage technological advancements while maintaining the personal touch that attracts customers. Practical implications This study implies that although the pandemic outbreak created prolonged uncertainties with an immediate impact on the economy and ways of doing business transactions, digital platforms and FinTech ensured continuous food supply during the period. Originality/value This paper provides initial valuable insight to academics, practitioners and policymakers in agriculture and innovation management. It can be observed that digital platform and FinTech plays an essential role in ensuring safety and undisrupted food supply, especially in the case of fresh produce grown by local small-scale farmers and MSMEs. This creates a more resilient agri-food system and reduces the pressure from the conventional model of food purchase and social distancing requirements.

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Section: Digital Platform For Agriculturementioning

confidence: 99%

COVID-19, local food system and digitalisation of the agri-food sector

Musa

Besar

Anshari

2022

JIBR

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“…Nowadays, the rural digital economy has gradually become a new driving force for rural economic development [10]. With the advantages of superior technology and intelligence, the rural digital economy has played a key role in improving the quality and efficiency of industrial development in rural areas [11][12][13]. Regarding the research on boosting rural industrial revitalization through the rural digital economy, Liu and Long believe that agricultural modernization can strengthen the optimal allocation of rural resource elements and then achieve agricultural sustainable development [14,15].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

How the Rural Digital Economy Drives Rural Industrial Revitalization—Case Study of China’s 30 Provinces

Tian

Liu

et al. 2023

Sustainability

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The Chinese government is implementing a rural revitalization strategy and speeding up rural modernization. The rapid development of the rural digital economy has become a new driving force for the revitalization of rural industries. By analyzing how rural industrial revitalization is driven by the rural digital economy, this study constructs a rural digital economy from the three dimensions of optimal allocation of rural resource elements, the effective connection of urban–rural markets, and the integrated development of rural industries. The entropy value method was used to assess the comprehensive level of development of the rural digital economy and industrial revitalization. Based on the agricultural and rural development data of 30 provinces in China from 2014 to 2019, we construct a dual fixed effect model to empirically analyze how the rural digital economy drives rural industrial revitalization. The results show that, first, the rural digital economy promotes the revitalization of rural industries through the following main approaches: optimal allocation and utilization of rural resources, effective connection of urban–rural markets, and industrial integration development. Second, using the benchmark regression test, it can be concluded that if the development level of the rural digital economy is increased by 1 percent, the development of rural industrial revitalization will increase by 0.066 percent, indicating that the development of the rural digital economy can significantly drive the revitalization of rural industries. Third, the driving effect of the rural digital economy on the revitalization of rural industries is heterogeneous in different regions and industrial structures. The effect of the rural digital economy on the revitalization of rural industries in the western region, the region with a high proportion of the output value of the primary industry, is higher than in the east and central regions, which have a low proportion of the output value of the primary industry.

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“…Ajer et al (2023) investigated factors influencing agro-food micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) innovations in Uganda. Silvestri et al (2023) examined the role of business networking on new digital innovation, which leads to the competitiveness and sustainability of agro-food small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs). Hutahayan and Yufra (2019) evaluated the effect of innovation speed and competitiveness of agro-food SMEs in Malang, Indonesia.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Revisiting Innovation Typologies among Agro-food Small and Medium-Size Enterprises (SMEs) in a Developing Country

Amah,

Oshi

2023

GJHRM

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Innovation has been identified as an enhancer of competitiveness of Small and Medium-Size Enterprises (SMEs). Moreover, a growing body of scholarly research demonstrate the that organisations stand to gain competitive advantage if they combine the right mix of culturally embedded innovative and knowledge sharing practices. Despite the vast amount of studies that have spawned concerning innovation in SMEs, very few have been done among Agro-food SMEs in developing countries of Sub-Saharan Africa, such as Nigeria. Given the importance of the agri-food sector, particularly with respect to the many SMEs in developing countries, this study considers it fruitful to identify the typologies of innovation of such firms in Nigeria, in order for them to compete in world markets. Moreover, this study draws its relevance from the fact that agri-SMEs in Nigeria still lag behind those in developed countries in terms of innovation. Based on the reviewed literature, this study advances two conceptual frameworks for further studies on Agro-food SMEs in developing countries, viz: (i) the relationship between culturally-embedded innovation and competitiveness (ii) the relationship between knowledge-based innovation and competitiveness.

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Digital innovation through networking among agro-food SMEs: the role of R&D projects

Cited by 11 publications

References 40 publications

COVID-19, local food system and digitalisation of the agri-food sector

COVID-19, local food system and digitalisation of the agri-food sector

How the Rural Digital Economy Drives Rural Industrial Revitalization—Case Study of China’s 30 Provinces

Revisiting Innovation Typologies among Agro-food Small and Medium-Size Enterprises (SMEs) in a Developing Country

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