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Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) has gained prominence worldwide over recent years and suddenly Peru has emerged as a major player in the global quinoa market. This study aims to analyze the expansion of quinoa farming in Peru in the period 1995-2014 and to discuss the changes in land-use the country has experienced as a result of the boom in the global demand for quinoa. Two statistical approaches, principal component analysis (PCA) and exponential smoothing, were applied in the data analysis to explore the evolution of the quinoa boom in Peru by periods and to forecast what the acreage expansion rate would have been if the boom had not occurred. The results show that the quinoa boom was responsible for an increase of 43% in the number of hectares planted with quinoa in 2014, in relation to the number predicted if there had been no boom. This provoked an acceleration of production in traditional quinoa farming areas and the extension of this activity to new regions. The consequences are already apparent in the land-use changes seen in Peru, namely the: (i) displacement; (ii) rebound; and (iii) cascade effects.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyse the evolution of the production and commercialisation of organic products in Brazil since 1980. Design/methodology/approach – The literature review in this study assesses scientific papers, studies conducted by Brazilian and international institutions, and trade news related to the evolution of the production and commercialisation of organic products. The analysis is based on theories of consumer behaviour and competitive strategies. Findings – The results provide evidence that the organic food market in Brazil was initially based on social ideology and a movement that was opposed to conventional farming; however, since 1980, the supply and demand patterns have changed. The commercialisation of organic products since the turn of the decade has expanded beyond ideological motivation and into the Brazilian agribusiness sector. The main reasons for this expansion are changes in preferences by the Brazilian consumer, a substantial number of whom have become more concerned with the nutritional value and quality of the food they eat. This study also demonstrates that in Brazil, as well as in other countries, organic products have become a market trend. Research limitations/implications – The limited research material concerning the ideological aspects of production and trading of organic products is a factor to be considered with respect to this study. Originality/value – The presentation of comparative elements for two phases of organic agricultural development in Brazil, especially by the establishment of comparative elements, provide value and originality to this study.

R R R R RESUMO ESUMO ESUMO ESUMO ESUMOO novo contexto econômico, delineado com a abertura de mercado e a estabilização da economia, trouxe uma série de desafios para a cadeia agroalimentar do leite, o que vêm pressionando seus elos a passar por um processo de ajustamento, a fim de superar seus principais problemas, de natureza estrutural ou de base tecnológica. Neste sentido, o presente estudo objetivou traçar um panorama da competitividade do complexo lácteo gaúcho, enfocando sua estrutura, estratégias e os processos de interação e indução, presentes nos elos da produção pecuária, na industrialização e distribuição em face das mudanças no ambiente econômico. Buscou-se também avaliar as expectativas dos agentes quanto às evoluções e perspectivas para a cadeia. Para tanto o estudo baseou-se em fonte de dados secundários e entrevistas semi-estruturas com representantes de cada elo pesquisado. Observou-se que o elo da produção pecuária se apresentou como o mais frágil da cadeia, necessitando buscar maior produtividade e escala, melhor qualidade e reduzir a variação sazonal na produção. Nos demais elos há a necessidade de se ampliar vantagens competitivas atuais, observando os movimentos competitivos mundiais e as mudanças nas preferências dos consumidores. Palavras-chaves: competitividade; agronegócio; cadeia láctea. A A A A ABSTRACT BSTRACT BSTRACT BSTRACT BSTRACTThe new economic context, characterized by the opening of the market and the stabilization of the currency, has brought several challenges to the dairy chain, which has pressed the links of the chain to adjust as a way to resolve their main problems, both structural and technological. This study has tried to do an overview on the competitiveness of the dairy complex in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, focusing on its structure, strategies and the processes of interaction and inducement perceived among its links: farming production, industrialization and distribution. We have also tried to evaluate the expectations of the agents concerning to the evolution of the chain and its oncoming perspective. Thus, the study was based on secondary data and semi-structured interviews with representatives of all links. We have found that the first link, farming production, is the most fragile one and that it needs to increase productivity and scale, to improve quality and to reduce seasonal variations on production. In the other links it is necessary to enlarge the present competitive advantages by observing the global competitive movements and the alterations on the consumers' preferences.

Technological innovation is represented by the conversion of knowledge into new products and processes which, when commercialized, generate wealth. In relations with companies, universities' role is to develop scientific knowledge, fostering industry's R&D activities. This article proposes an analysis of the technology transfer process performed by public universities in Brazil. Results demonstrate that universities are facing difficulties in requesting and licensing patents based on scientific results, due to lack of commercial contact with companies and their limitations in adapting available technologies. The increase in scientific output is not being effectively transformed into new technologies for products and services, exposing the necessity for new policies to approach university-industry relations. For universities, this may mean rethinking the role of patents in the technology transfer process, such as increasing co-authorship with companies and have companies support technological research within the university, instead of investing in legal protection, distant from market needs.

The paper examines two important elements in the development and effectiveness of horizontal business networks: governance and management. Case studies were conducted in three horizontal retailer networks in Germany with the aim of understanding how these networks are structured and which internal governance mechanisms support their development. Through secondary data and in-depth interviews, the study shows that the retail networks developed and implemented their own governance mechanisms and management structures to retain and attract a large number of members, facilitate strategic decision making and increase their effectiveness. The results highlight that governance structures are transitional and adapted according to specific contingencies. In the cases studied, the growth and effectiveness of the business networks have demanded changes in the governance structure, with greater autonomy for professional network managers. Although the retail network keeps its cooperative character, there is a trade-off, in which member-firms agree to delegate greater decision making power to managers in exchange for greater network efficiency and competitiveness.

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