TY - JOUR
T1 - Innovation networks and the institutional actor-producer relationship in rural areas: The context of artisan food production
AU - McKitterick, Lynsey
AU - Quinn, Barry
AU - McAdam, Rodney
AU - Dunn, Adele
PY - 2016/12/31
Y1 - 2016/12/31
N2 - This paper takes a multiple theoretical perspective, utilising concepts from the knowledge exchange and the rural, social networks literatures to explore artisan food enterprise engagement with institutional networks for innovation. A qualitative methodology is adopted, involving semi-structured interviews and group discussions with producers and institutional actors, and participant observation. The findings highlight that while informal networks, including business networks, family associations and international sources play a more important role in innovation for artisan food firms than institutional networks, institutional networks play a critical role in developing social capital and knowledge exchange among producers and in acting as a bridge to informal, embedded networks for these enterprises. The findings demonstrate how sectoral contextual factors shape interactions in the institutional actor-producer relationship, and how they impact upon involvement in institutional networks and in turn facilitate and restrict innovation in this context.
AB - This paper takes a multiple theoretical perspective, utilising concepts from the knowledge exchange and the rural, social networks literatures to explore artisan food enterprise engagement with institutional networks for innovation. A qualitative methodology is adopted, involving semi-structured interviews and group discussions with producers and institutional actors, and participant observation. The findings highlight that while informal networks, including business networks, family associations and international sources play a more important role in innovation for artisan food firms than institutional networks, institutional networks play a critical role in developing social capital and knowledge exchange among producers and in acting as a bridge to informal, embedded networks for these enterprises. The findings demonstrate how sectoral contextual factors shape interactions in the institutional actor-producer relationship, and how they impact upon involvement in institutional networks and in turn facilitate and restrict innovation in this context.
KW - artisan
KW - agri-food
KW - rural
KW - knowledge exchange
KW - social capital
KW - institutional.
UR - https://pure.ulster.ac.uk/en/publications/innovation-networks-and-the-institutional-actor-producer-relation-3
U2 - 10.1016/j.jrurstud.2016.09.005
DO - 10.1016/j.jrurstud.2016.09.005
M3 - Article
SN - 0743-0167
VL - 48
SP - 41
EP - 52
JO - Journal of Rural Studies
JF - Journal of Rural Studies
ER -