Research On Open Innovation Strategies And Eco Innovation In Agro Food Industries

This book contains some contributions obtained from Project ECO2015-70262-R “Influence of openness on eco-innovation in agro-food industries”. This Project has been funded by the former Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness. The main objective of this research is to analyse the influence of open innovation strategies on the development of environmental innovations in the agro-food companies. Eco-innovation has generated a growing body of theoretical and empirical contributions from both quantitative and qualitative perspectives in the last years and this book contains some examples of research and case studies on the topic.

Innovation Strategies for the Food Industry: Tools for Implementation, Second Edition explores how process technologies and innovations are implemented in the food industry, by i.e., detecting problems and providing answers to questions of modern applications. As in all science sectors, Internet and big data have brought a renaissance of changes in the way academics and researchers communicate and collaborate, and in the way that the food industry develops. The new edition covers emerging skills of food technologists and the integration of food science and technology knowledge into the food chain. This handbook is ideal for all relevant actors in the food sector (professors, researchers, students and professionals) as well as for anyone dealing with food science and technology, new products development and food industry. Includes the latest trend on training requirements for the agro-food industry Highlights new technical skills and profiles of modern food scientists and technologists for professional development Presents new case studies to support research activities in the food sector, including product and process innovation Covers topics on collaboration, entrepreneurship, Big Data and the Internet of Things

Sustainable entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial ecosystems research is ever evolving and this timely book stimulates further exploration, offering a research agenda and alternative approaches. Presenting new scientific evidence together with policy and other practical implications, chapters demonstrate the vibrancy and diversity of approaches in the field.

The world's population continues to grow year after year, putting pressure on all global resources. This book provides examples of how we can deal with all the challenges associated with aspects of population growth in the quest for sustainable development. It presents case studies on different areas of sustainability in the food industry, which includes food production and consumption. The collection of illustrative examples includes cases from agriculture and fisheries, the food refining sector, the supply chain, wholesale and retail channels, and other relevant aspects that enhance our understanding of how sustainability takes place in this global sector. The book will appeal to a wide readership, from practitioners to researchers, teachers and students worldwide.

Innovations of agri-food systems during the last 50 years have been guided by a globalized agro-industrial paradigm, which has contributed to climate change, degradation of natural resources, soil depletion, social inequalities, loss of biodiversity and various food-related health problems. Despite the increasing emphasis of food policies and research to address these issues with ecologically sustainable innovations, there are still no studies that explain how to utilize and integrate ecodesign practices in food products development in a world of finite resources. This book explains how to employ ecodesign in business models to address the economic, social, environmental, and nutritional problems that face the worlds food systems. The lessons of the ÉcoTrophélia project ? a unique program implemented by a group of European agricultural higher education institutions to involve students in designing and developing food ecoinnovation projects ? are explored. Through an analysis of these projects, the authors describe the tools, methods and standards that were developed to institute ecodesign into the business models of 11 ecologically-friendly food products. This book provides operational good practices that can be implemented in educational programs and agri-food industries, to orient learning and practices towards greater sustainability.

Food and beverage companies are increasingly choosing to enhance internal idea development by pursuing an ‘open innovation’ approach, allowing the additional exploitation of external ideas and paths to market. Drawing on a range of important case studies, Open innovation in the food and beverage industry investigates the challenges and opportunities afforded by the incorporation of open innovation into the food industry. Part one provides a comprehensive overview of the changing nature of innovation in the food and drink industry, acknowledging trends and considering the implications and impact of open innovation. Part two then reviews the role of partners and networks in open innovation, with collaboration, co-creation of value with consumers, the effectiveness of cluster organizations and the importance of network knowledge all discussed, before part three goes on to explore the establishment and varied management aspects of open innovation partnerships and networks. Finally, open-innovation tools, processes and managerial frameworks are the focus of part four, with discussion of the development, application and psychology of a range of initiatives. With its distinguished editor and international team of expert contributors, Open innovation in the food and beverage industry is a unique guide to the implementation and management of open innovation for all food industry professionals involved in management, research and product development, as well as academics with an interest in open innovation across all industries. Investigates the challenges and opportunities afforded by the incorporation of open innovation into the food industry Provides a comprehensive overview of the changing nature of innovation in the food and drink industry and reviews the role of partners and networks in open innovation Explores the establishment and varied management aspects of open innovation partnerships and networks and discusses the development, application and psychology of a range of initiatives

This book presents an integrated and multidisciplinary approach to quality and innovation in the food sector with particular emphasis on consumer perception of quality. Chapters cover such topics as identification of environmental variables, practices crops, and cultivars to improve nutritional and functional quality of different food matrices; increased preservation of biodiversity through the use of genetic resources; nutritional and functional characterization of food matrices; and evaluation of the main bioactive substances that give food its functional qualities.

This is a fully rewritten and extended version of the successful first edition of a textbook which focuses on consumer-driven food product innovation using a systems-oriented approach. It integrates marketing and consumer sciences with technological aspects such as processing, logistics and information technology, and presents an integrated view of how new food product development is to be situated in a chain-oriented approach. Attention is also paid to the impact of changes in the environment of the agri-food system on food innovation, such as the changing consumer, the growing concern about food safety and new insights in human nutrition. Topics covered include changing markets, consumer perception of product quality, quality function deployment, the use of new and improved technology in food production, logistics and information technology, the role of regulation and legislation, quality management and control systems such as HACCP and TQM. The chapters of the first edition have been updated and extended. New chapters have been added, on consumer behaviour, corporate strategy, food safety and nutritional aspects of food innovation. Researchers and professionals in the food industry as well as students of food science, food technology and management will find this publication provides valuable information on the latest developments in the product innovation by agri-food systems.

The main aim of opening up innovation is to optimize the process of creating innovations, while pooling human, financial and material resources. Various profiles of actors are thus brought together in order to collaborate to achieve common objectives and share their particular interests. This book describes the challenges of collaboration in the development of innovations in a context where the sustainability of value chains is central. The diversity of collaborative forms, shared spaces (FabLab, LivingLab, co-working spaces), the intrinsic characteristics of innovation, and the actors actively involved in its emergence are all addressed in this book. The structuring of partners collaborating in innovative projects in specific environments is also discussed. Furthermore, it questions the social responsibility of companies and their innovative role in generating sustainable solutions for stakeholders.

The concept of open innovation has become increasingly popular in the management and policy literature on technology and innovation. However, despite the large volume of empirical work, many of the prescriptions being proposed are fairly general and not specific to particular contexts and contingencies. The proponents of open innovation are universally positive but research suggests that the specific mechanisms and outcomes of open innovation models are very sensitive to context and contingency. This is not surprising because the open or closed nature of innovation is historically contingent and does not entail a simple shift from closed to open as often suggested in the literature. Research has shown that patterns of innovation differ fundamentally by sector, firm and strategy. Therefore, there is a need to examine the mechanisms that help to generate successful open innovation. In this book, the authors contribute to a shift in the debate from potentially misleading general prescriptions, and provide conceptual and empirical insights into the precise mechanisms and potential limitations of open innovation research and management practice.