Local Entrepreneurs’ Involvement in Strategy Building to Facilitate Agro-Food Waste Valorisation within an Agro-Food Technological District: A SWOT-SOR Approach

Maurizio Prosperi, Roberta Sisto, Antonio Lopolito and Valentina Cristiana Materia
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Maurizio Prosperi: Department of Sciences of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy
Roberta Sisto: Department of Economics, Management and Territory, University of Foggia, 71121 Foggia, Italy
Antonio Lopolito: Department of Economics, Management and Territory, University of Foggia, 71121 Foggia, Italy

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 11, 1-15

Abstract: The paper focuses on Agro-food waste valorization conceived as a long-term, complex socio-technical process involving several different actors belonging to multiple levels. Although this process is typically affected by a series of uncertainties, the convergence of stakeholders’ expectations proves to be a means to overcoming barriers, as it acts as the foundation of a shared agenda setting which formalizes the coordination efforts among the actors involved in an innovation process. Applying the strategic niche management (SNM) framework to the case of the Apulia Agro-Food Technology District (DARe), whose mission is to promote a bio-based industry for food-waste valorization, the paper proposes an operational tool capable of designing the strategy based on the entrepreneurs’ knowledge. The DARe aims to promote the technological innovation of agro-food firms located in the South of Italy. The results of a SWOT-SOR analysis led to the establishment of a twofold strategy aimed at (a) promoting the innovation of more active and dynamic firms, and (b) reducing the gap between “pioneer” and “laggard” firms, with the result of promoting integrated innovation throughout the entire district.

Keywords: agro-food waste valorization; socio-technical transition; strategic niche management (SNM); socio-technical barriers; convergence of expectations; SWOT-SOr; agenda setting (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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