L Bonney

From serendipity to sustainable competitive advantage: Insights from Houston's Farm and their journey of co-innovation

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to demonstrate the importance of a strategic approach to collaborative innovation and the use of a value chain research methodology for identifying opportunities for co‐innovation.Design/methodology/approach – Value chain analysis is used to map three flows in the Houston Farms value chain; material flow, information flow and relationships. Having diagnosed the current level of co‐innovation we then identify improvement projects and opportunities for co‐innovation to reduce cost and add value, for the benefit of the value chain as a whole.Findings – The application of the value chain analysis methodology to the Houston Farms value chain revealed the importance of strategy and robust processes in key areas for co‐innovation – R&D and new product development. It also revealed that small businesses can enjoy a degree of success as a result of comparative advantage in certain areas but that sustainable competitive advantage cannot occur by chance – identifying the pote...

A NOTE ON ENTREPRENEURSHIP AS AN ALTERNATIVE LOGIC TO ADDRESS FOOD SECURITY IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD

The purpose of this paper is to explore an ongoing application of the entrepreneurial method applied to the problem of food security in the developing world as an alternative logic. Food production and marketing channels in the developing world are often based on scientific logic starting with an ideal outcome and then strategically designing a plan to achieve it. This study is unique in that it describes the application of an entrepreneurial approach to food product and marketing in less developed nations. A field study is used to illustrate how entrepreneurship is being harnessed to help build a more efficient and effective agricultural value chain in Papua New Guinea (PNG) based on a more entrepreneurial approach. Value chain analysis uses effectual logic to leverage innovation and create value for the consumer, the organization and society; thereby enhancing food security for the desperately poor in PNG. The use of the entrepreneurial method is offered as an alternative model for future international aid interventions and policy.

Benchmarking Entrepreneurship Education In U.S., Australian, And New Zealand University Agriculture Programs

The present study examines the extent of entrepreneurship education in Australian, New Zealand and U.S. agricultural colleges and programs. The findings suggest that entrepreneurship is important in agriculture, which is reflected in a majority of programs having some coverage in their curriculum of entrepreneurship. In addition, the courses taught are focused on developing entrepreneurial capabilities such as opportunity recognition and assessment, risk management and networking to create value.

Branding as innovation within agribusiness value chains

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore how traditional agribusiness firms can differentiate their product through innovation and branding at the value chain level, through the application of entrepreneurial marketing (EM). Traditionally, fresh vegetable products have been marketed as unbranded commodities. Design/methodology/approach – To address the research aim, this paper used a case study, which included semi-structured interviews with managers and personnel and unstructured observation of supply chain processes. Findings – The findings are based on a Tasmanian fresh broccoli value chain and suggest that EM could be effectively integrated at a multi-firm level. Clear communication, knowledge sharing, and trusting relationships are necessary to create a shared vision and a sustainable value chain. Research limitations/implications – An increasing number of firms in the agribusiness sector are looking for strategies that can enhance value for themselves and members of their chain. EM as a str...

Regional development and the Toowoomba Surat Basin Enterprise organization

ABSTRACT This paper discusses the development of the Toowoomba Surat Basin Enterprise economic development organization and how it used marketing and marketing support activities to enhance the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and foster entrepreneurial activity by local firms.

Applying a community entrepreneurship development framework to rural regional development

ABSTRACT This article develops a community entrepreneurship development (CED) framework and illustrates its use in a case study of the current and potential value of agriculture to the Barossa Valley in South Australia. The CED offers a framework for rural regional development that both practitioners and policymakers can use to develop and leverage entrepreneurial competencies and other forms of community capital to foster entrepreneurship at the community level. It assesses the potential for leveraging Emery and Flora’s [(2006). Spiraling-up: Mapping community transformation with community capitals framework. Community Development, 37(1), 19–35] community capital framework to build entrepreneurship and innovation. The findings suggest that the success of firm-level entrepreneurship is often dependent upon leveraging the rural region’s idiosyncratic natural capitals with human and social/entrepreneurial capitals to result in community-level entrepreneurial market development initiatives.

Tasmania's Bioeconomy: Employing the Seven Capitals to Sustain Innovative and Entrepreneurial Agrifood Value Chains

Tasmania, Australia’s southernmost and smallest island state, depends strongly on its bioeconomy. Currently the farm gate production of Tasmania’s bioeconomy contributes around 7.4% to the overall Gross State Product (GSP). This figure is considerably higher than for Australia, where the bioeconomy contributes 2.5% to the overall Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Based on this measure, Tasmania’s economy is more in line with the economies of Brazil (5.7%) or New Zealand (7.2%). It is estimated that Tasmania’s bioeconomy currently contributes 16–20% of overall economic output, when taking into account the economic impact of related value chains that reach from agricultural suppliers to retailers. Government policy for economic growth in Tasmania aims to build up this sector over the following decades. To achieve the stated growth targets, technologies must be combined with business capabilities in order to effectively and efficiently commercialize innovation while maintaining sound environmental practices. A technology-driven, irrigation-led transformation is currently underway in the state, turning Tasmania’s bioeconomy into a highly knowledge-intensive sector of the economy. To fully realize the economic, environmental and social potential of investment in irrigation infrastructure, there must be similar investments in research, knowledge creation, marketing, value chain innovations and capability development.