Evidence and Experience of Open Sustainability Innovation Practices in the Food Sector
Open Access
- 24 June 2015
- journal article
- research article
- Published by MDPI AG in Sustainability
- Vol. 7 (7), 8067-8090
- https://doi.org/10.3390/su7078067
Abstract
The adoption of an “open sustainability innovation” approach in business could be a strategic advantage to reach both industry objectives and sustainability goals. The food sector is facing a constant increase in competition. In order to address the high competition that involves the food industry, sustainability and innovation practices can be strategically effective, especially with an open sustainability innovation approach. In the literature, we found many examples of open innovation applications and their implications for sustainable strategy. These applications are important for reducing cost and time to market, as well as for a company’s impact on the environment and food security. In this paper, the authors show the evidence of these implications. In particular, starting from the state of the art of the food sector, we highlight the empirical results of ten case studies. By analyzing these cases, we can gain a better awareness on how and why these approaches are currently being applied by food sector companies.Keywords
This publication has 52 references indexed in Scilit:
- Factors affecting technology transfer offices' performance in the Italian food contextTechnology Analysis & Strategic Management, 2015
- Challenges in exploiting open innovation's full potential in the food industry with a focus on small and medium enterprises (SMEs)Trends in Food Science & Technology, 2014
- Social Life Cycle Assessment as a Management Tool: Methodology for Application in TourismSustainability, 2013
- Future internet and the agri-food sector: State-of-the-art in literature and researchComputers and Electronics in Agriculture, 2012
- Innovation in traditional food products in Europe: Do sector innovation activities match consumers’ acceptance?Food Quality and Preference, 2010
- Mainstreaming Green Product Innovation: Why and How Companies Integrate Environmental SustainabilityJournal of Business Ethics, 2010
- Dynamics of open innovation in the food industryTrends in Food Science & Technology, 2008
- Food chain management for sustainable food system development: a European research agendaAgribusiness, 2008
- Food safety and transparency in food chains and networks Relationships and challengesFood Control, 2005
- Food SME networks: Process and governance - The case of Parma hamJournal on Chain and Network Science, 2003