Food Sector as an Interactive Business World: A Framework for Research on Innovations

Michał Gazdecki, Grzegorz Leszczyński and Marek Zieliński
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Michał Gazdecki: Department of Economics and Economy Policy in Agribusiness, Faculty of Economics, Poznań University of Life Sciences, 60-637 Poznań, Poland
Grzegorz Leszczyński: Department of Marketing Strategies, Poznań University of Economics and Business, 61-875 Poznań, Poland
Marek Zieliński: Department of Marketing Strategies, Poznań University of Economics and Business, 61-875 Poznań, Poland

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 11, 1-19

Abstract: The objective of this paper is to enhance the dominant research perspective of innovations in the food market (power or supply chain centric) with an interactive/network approach. Many scholars identify the development challenges facing the food sector, including economic factors, changes in lifestyle, climate change, changes to the food consumption mix, shrinkage of Earth’s resources and interactions between food production and the environment, in the context of sustainable development. A new approach to innovations in the food market may shift it towards a more sustainable path of development. Based on a literature review, we present the specific conditions for innovation in the food market and discuss previous research as being focused on the power of operators and flows in supply chains. Methodologically, this paper puts these considerations in the context of interaction and business networks. We note that the concept of power and dependence can be embedded with the concept of interdependence, and flows in supply chains can be replaced by the concept of cooperation in business networks. We conceptualize a research framework based on innovative activities in business relationships and networks and we propose the following themes as research avenues for further research: (1) What drives innovation in food ecosystems? (2) When is the power-centric approach to innovations more effective than taking the perspective of interdependence? (3) How do network-born innovations develop in the food sector? (4) How do actors handle innovation in their business models? (5) What is the impact of innovations on the food sector?

Keywords: business networks; business relationships; co-creation; open innovations; food markets; sustainable food supply (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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