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18 pages, 368 KB

Open AccessArticle

Public Policies, Open Innovation Ecosystems and Innovation Performance. Analysis of the Impact of Funding and Regulations

by Joana Costa and António Carrizo Moreira

J. Open Innov. Technol. Mark. Complex. 2022, 8(4), 210; https://doi.org/10.3390/joitmc8040210 - 30 Nov 2022

Cited by 25 | Viewed by 8387

Abstract

Open innovation (OI) has been implemented to develop competitive advantages based on the management of innovation with external players. As such, it is expected that the generalized adoption of OI practices needs to be nurtured by governmental public policies in order to enhance OI-based ecosystems. The role of open innovation ecosystems is known by the importance of multiple synergies among players/stakeholders, which are expected to be supported by regulations and funding to consolidate firms’ innovation results. This paper analyzes the role of regulations and funding on firms’ innovation performance using the double-hurdle estimation procedure. The results show that, in the first tier, inbound knowledge flows positively affect performance, and, in the second tier, public funds further reinforce innovation performance and fiscal and security regulations. In contrast, as regulations are perceived as barriers, they fail to impact innovation performance. With this paper, we manage to shed light on the importance of public policy funds in the support of thriving OI-based ecosystems as enhancers of firms’ innovation performance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Open Innovation in Startups: Competitive Strategies for Differentiation)

15 pages, 654 KB

Open AccessArticle

Adoption of Sustainable Agriculture Intensification in Maize-Based Farming Systems of Katete District in Zambia

by Petan Hamazakaza, Gillian Kabwe, Elias Kuntashula, Anthony Egeru and Robert Asiimwe

Land 2022, 11(6), 880; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11060880 - 9 Jun 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 5490

Abstract

Sustainable agricultural intensification (SAI) has been hailed as the solution to increasing crop productivity among farmers. Despite the significant promotion, there still remains a dearth of information on the adoption and intensity of SAI in Zambia. This study sought to identify factors that influence farmers’ adoption of SAI practices and intensity of use. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 300 smallholder farmers of Katete district in Zambia. The Cragg’s double hurdle model was used to assess the key decision factors for SAI adoption and intensity of use. Empirical estimates revealed that limited years of farming and smaller total cropped field size were statistically significant decision factors that led to a reduced likelihood of SAI adoption. The results of the truncated model showed that smaller farm sizes and limited access to farmer extension services reduced the adoption intensity of SAI practices, whereas farmer affiliation with farmer associations and farmer training in crop production increased SAI adoption intensity. We recommend an increase in farmer training on and sensitization to the benefits of SAI practices aligned to their respective landholdings. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social and Environmental Trade-Offs in African Agriculture: Achieving Sustainable Development Goals)

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17 pages, 600 KB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

The Role of Sensory Perception in Consumer Demand for Tinned Meat: A Contingent Valuation Study

by Daniel Vecchiato, Biancamaria Torquati, Sonia Venanzi and Tiziano Tempesta

Foods 2021, 10(9), 2185; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods10092185 - 15 Sep 2021

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3121

Abstract

This study presents an analysis of consumer preferences for a new food product: Tinned Chianina meat. Respondents (N = 249) participated in a sensory test, where they were also asked to declare their willingness to pay (WTP) for the tasted product. The WTP data were collected after the sensory test by means of the contingent valuation method using a payment card elicitation format. Data were analysed with Cragg’s double-hurdle model to understand which factors influenced market participation (WTP > 0) and then the variables that influenced the declared WTP. According to our results, sensory perception played a key role in explaining both participation in the market and the magnitude of the expressed WTP. Moreover, we found that the sensory aspects have a different effect on the decision to participate in the market and on the magnitude of the expressed WTP. Smell and flavour are the most important in determining the probability of entering the market, while texture has the greatest impact on the declared WTP. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Consumer Behavior and Food Choice)

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13 pages, 539 KB

Open AccessArticle

What Drives the Use of Organic Fertilizers? Evidence from Rice Farmers in Indo-Gangetic Plains, India

by Praveen Koovalamkadu Velayudhan, Alka Singh, Girish Kumar Jha, Pramod Kumar, Kingsly Immanuelraj Thanaraj and Aditya Korekallu Srinivasa

Sustainability 2021, 13(17), 9546; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13179546 - 25 Aug 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 5002

Abstract

There is a growing concern about the sustainability of agriculture due to the indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers in several parts of the world. In India, the Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) is a region where the externalities of excessive use of chemical fertilizers for cereal production manifest in groundwater pollution, air pollution due to emissions, and soil degradation. In this context, we study the adoption of organic fertilizers in the region and the determining factors. We use data collected from 400 rice farmers to empirically test the link between farmers’ perceptions, revenue expectations, socioeconomic factors, and the policy environment to adopt organic fertilizers. We use Tobit and Cragg’s double hurdle model to study the farmers’ expenditure and adoption of organic fertilizers, respectively. The results show that only 32% of the farmers adopted organic fertilizers in the region. Further, membership in farmer organizations, training, and education are the key variables that determine the adoption of organic fertilizers, in addition to a positive perception of the benefits of their usage. The findings highlight the need for efficient extension efforts in organic fertilizers and suggest policy interventions that promote collective learning through farmer groups. Full article

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15 pages, 349 KB

Open AccessArticle

Paying for Sustainable Coffee in a Developing Country: Consumers’ Profile in Costa Rica

by Jorge A. Valenciano-Salazar, Francisco J. André and Mario Soliño

Sustainability 2021, 13(16), 9360; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13169360 - 20 Aug 2021

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 5599

Abstract

This article analyzes the willingness to pay of Costa Rican consumers for three environmental certifications in the coffee market, namely, Carbon Neutral, Fairtrade, and ISO 14001. A face-to-face survey was applied to 1191 Costa Rican inhabitants. The results show that Costa Rican consumers are willing to pay price premiums around 30% for all the considered environmental certifications. In addition, a Cragg’s hurdle model shows that household income, the level of education, and environmental or community activism increase the likelihood of consumers paying price premiums for environmental certifications, while men are less likely to pay than women. It was also found that the size of the price premiums that respondents are willing to pay are positively related to income, gender (female), and education, and negatively related to age. Once the effect of socioeconomic variables has been controlled for, we conclude that consumers are more willing to pay for the CN certification than for the other two. The results can be useful for participants in the coffee value chain; coffee producers can use environmental certifications both to enhance their participation in green markets, particularly in developing countries, and to improve their environmental performance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economic Analysis of Environmental Goods for Policy)

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