Digital technologies, sustainable open innovation and shared value creation: evidence from an Italian agritech business

Abstract

Purpose The aim of this research was to explore the mechanisms underpinning open innovation (OI) success and its sustainability in agrifood businesses. First, the authors explored the importance of 4.0 technologies in data collection from crowds, subsequently examining how new technologies might drive forward the development of collaborative strategies with suppliers. Reductions in resource wasting were observed. The role of 4.0 technologies in increasing supply chain sustainability overall was the main focus of the study.Design/methodology/approach This research builds on a single inductive case study method. The authors performed an in-depth analysis of data from an Italian agritech distributor. Data – aside from multiple semi-structured interviews – were collected via several different sources. The results have been summarized in an integrated holistic conceptual framework.Findings The findings show that 4.0 technologies allow for swift information exchanges between consumers, the agritech business and suppliers. As a result, consumers might demand new products and, consequently, the agritech business can arrange new offerings with suppliers, completing the OI and shared value creation circle. Likewise, the possibility of adopting a just-in-time approach of sorts may reduce the wasting of resources. The absorptive capacities and knowledge management capabilities of the agritech business play a fundamental role in OI performance, sustainability and success.Originality/value This research seminally explores how 4.0 technologies and knowledge management techniques can enable OI in agrifood businesses. Additionally, the ways in which OI may foster the development of sustainability-orientated supply chain strategies have been conceptualized.

Financing innovation in agri-food industries: an analysis of the Italian micro, small and medium enterprises

“…When looking at innovation in AFS, literature is growing on this topic as the importance of technological innovation in this area is emerging on various levels (Spanaki et al, 2022;Rialti et al, 2022). Firstly, innovation is necessary to enable the sector to improve its performance, ensuring greater stability and food security, even in times of crisis (International Fund for Agricultural Development, 2015).…”

“…For example, in 2018, Italy was the first European country for agriculture's added value with €32.2 billion (ISTAT, 2019), and the food and beverage industries have a turnover that has been increasing for the previous few years, passing from €95 billion in 2013 to €114 billion in 2018 (ISTAT, 2019). Furthermore, during the Coronavirus pandemic, AFS confirmed its relevance of AFS: despite the strong contraction of its gross domestic product in 2020, the AFS consolidated its weight within the national economy (ISTAT, 2020b), and, at the same time, it is seen as an important driver for sustainability in Italy (Rialti et al., 2022).…”

Guest editorial: Open innovation in the food industry: what we know, what we don’t know, what we need to know

“…In addition to adopting a network perspective, Mahdad et al (2020) also focus on a combination of two emerging trends in the agri-food industry that should attract the interest of future research: the link between OI and new business models and the consequences and opportunities of the rapid technological development, respectively. In their article, Rialti et al (2022) address these issues at the organizational level. We believe that at the organizational as well as at the inter-organizational level, the question of how new opportunities provided by Industry 4.0 and biotech technologies will drive value creation and capture in collaborative ecosystems will be a major focus within OI research in the coming years.…”

“…The article stresses the necessity of an open approach in guiding the transition from the “old” to the “new” way of doing business, accommodating the requests of consumers by an intensive and open collaboration with suppliers. The paper by Rialti et al (2022) also stresses the benefits in terms of food waste reduction, begin open and meticulously collaborate with supplier, allowing the “last-mile” companies to place orders only when they are needed, in line with a just-in-time philosophy. As a result, the study remarks on the opportunities for agritech in becoming open, creating a tied network with supplier and including the customers in the development of new offerings.…”

“…Moreover, as highlighted Misra and Mention (2022), the agri-food industry comprises complex value chains and networks consisting of input, production, processing and output stages. Of the eight articles in this special issues, one study addresses the intra-organizational level (Palumbo et al , 2022), and five studies mainly address the organizational level (Buallay, 2021; Dias et al , 2022; Rialti et al , 2022; Penco et al , 2022; Venturelli et al , 2022). The bias toward the organizational and inter-organizational level of analysis seems to mirror the general focus of agri-food industry OI-oriented research.…”