Technological innovation in agricultural co-operatives in China: Implications for agro-food innovation policies |
| |
| Institution: | 1. Wenzhou University Business School, Wenzhou 325035, China;2. China Academy for Rural Development (CARD), Zhejiang University, China;3. Minjiang University, Fuzhou 350108, China;4. Supply Chain Management, 8 Woodland Road, Priory Road Complex, Bristol BS8 1TU, UK;1. School of Public Affairs and CARD, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou 310058, China;2. Courant Research Centre “Poverty, Equity and Growth”, University of Göttingen, Wilhelm-Weber-Str. 2, Göttingen 37073, Germany;1. Business School, University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu Campus, Yliopistokatu 2, P.O. Box 111, FI-80101 Joensuu, Finland;2. Pohjois-Karjalan Osuuskauppa, Nurmeksentie 2, P.O. Box 102, FI-80101 Joensuu, Finland;1. China Acadmy for Rural Development, School of Public Affairs, Zhejiang University, China;2. School of Management, Zhejiang University, China;3. Department of Agricultural Economics, Purdue University, USA;1. International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Abuja, Nigeria;2. International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, Nigeria;3. International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Lilongwe, Malawi;4. Center for Development Research (ZEF), Bonn University, Germany;5. International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania |
| |
| Abstract: | Technological innovation has become a major source of farmer co-operatives’ competitive advantage, however empirical research on co-operatives innovation in a developing country context is rare. We adopt an ethnographic case study method collecting data from 32 co-operatives managers of four exemplar co-operative cases and agricultural experts in China and collected much archival data. In addition, a Delphi study was conducted to collect data on the innovation performance. Based on the distinctive characteristics of co-operatives, we found that first knowledge spillovers and technology acquisition modes are two constructs which best capture the dynamic of technological innovation in co-operatives and develop a typology based on them. Second, grassroots and social innovation in a Chinese co-operative context have their own characters and indeed a hybrid of capitalism (e.g., agribusiness) and New Rural Re-structuring principles (i.e., similar to ICA ones). Third and finally, we provide detailed agro-food policy implications for each of the four types of co-op innovation. The results of the research may be learned by co-ops and policy makers in other developing economies who face similar challenges as in China. |
| |
| Keywords: | Agricultural co-operatives Technological innovation Agro-food policy Case study China |
| 本文献已被 ScienceDirect 等数据库收录！ |
|
