Small but powerful—local value chains and sustainability‐oriented approaches in the agri‐food sector

Abstract

Regional and local value creation is seen as one solution for reducing the environmental impact of the agrifood system. The point of reference for this research is the powerless position of small actors in agri-food chains. This paper gives insights into the motivation of small-scale producers in developed countries to exit national and export markets and to opt for a sustainability orientation. Specifically, we explore how the powerlessness of small actors in global value chains may fuel the formation of regional and local value chains. Through a regional case study, we map the dairy value system and identify three different value chain structures in the Northern German dairy industry. Then, we illustrate how some small (organic) raw milk producers have changed their position in the value chain and bargaining strength by following different upgrading strategies. Their increase in bargaining power comes with efficiency losses and An earlier version of this paper with preliminary findings and a broader approach has been accepted for presentation at the ANZAM 2021 conference held in December 2021 in Perth/Australia under the title "Small, sustainable but powerful-On the transformation of value chains in the dairy industry in Northern Germany". Thanks go to the coauthors of that version, Luisa Klomburg and Hanna Siebke, for their contributions. A further developed version has been accepted for presentation at the Nordic Workshop on Interorganizational Research held in April 2022 in Kolding/ Denmark. Thanks go to the workshop participants for their constructive feedback.

Externalities in global value chains: fishing industry in the brazilian Amazon region

“…Rather, they should have a more systemic view. This idea has been in the literature for a while (Helfat & Raubitschek, 2000) and seems still in vogue (Coppola, Vollero, & Siano, 2023;Royer & Simon, 2023). The fact is that the fish farming production chain within the scope of this study does not present the integration described by Taylor (2005) and Simchi-Levi, Kaminsky and Simchi-Levi (2009).…”