Exploring Social Capital Development for Innovation in Agri-Food Business Support Programmes

This research examines the relationship between social capital development and innovation within agri-food business support programmes, seeking to foster sustainable leadership and management in the sector. By exploring how social capital influences farmers' innovation capabilities, valuable insights are provided for promoting rural entrepreneurship and supporting agri-food businesses. The literature review identifies gaps in understanding the development of various forms of social capital and its impact on rural enterprise and farm innovation. Knowledge gaps also persist in rural advisory literature concerning facilitating two-way information flow for innovation and the role of social capital in advisor-client relationships. A conceptual framework is developed to illustrate the knowledge transfer process, considering different actors, forms, and scales of social capital, as well as antecedents and challenges influencing its development and outcomes. A case study strategy is employed, incorporating in-depth interviews (N=54), observations (N=10), and document analysis across seven agri-food business support programmes in both the Republic and Northern Ireland, providing cross-border insights into regional variations. Key findings reveal that participants' motivations for innovation vary across programmes, and effective management, bonding, and bridging social capital development are associated with greater innovation. Trust and communication play a critical role in linking relationships, while challenges include the Covid-19 pandemic and rural conservatism. Contributions include understanding how business support programmes facilitate social capital development and increase innovation capacity. The cross-border approach offers insights into regional variations and policy implications for rural entrepreneurship, sustainability, and innovation. A revised theoretical framework enhances understanding of the interplay between social capital and business support programmes. In conclusion, social capital development is vital for driving innovation in agri-food business support programmes. Policymakers and practitioners can use these insights to design effective support programmes, promoting rural entrepreneurship and supporting agri-food businesses more efficiently.