The macro-environment for liquid biofuels in the German science, mass, media and government

The purpose of this study is to investigate under which dimensions the macro-environment for liquid biofuels has been structured during time, respectively by science, mass media, and government in Germany, and how these three social expressions related to each other. Research was carried out on German official government documents, mass media news, and scientific papers on the topic 'liquid biofuels'. Text Mining was used to extract knowledge from their content. The results indicate that in configurating the macro-environment for liquid biofuels there is some degree of proximity between media and government, less between media and science, and the least between government and science

The macro-environment for liquid biofuels in the US mass media, science and government

The purpose of this study is to investigate under which dimensions the macro-environment for liquid biofuels has been structured during time, respectively by science, mass media, and government in Germany, and how these three social expressions related to each other. Research was carried out on German official government documents, mass media news, and scientific papers on the topic ‘liquid biofuels’. Text Mining was used to extract knowledge from their content. The results indicate that in configurating the macro-environment for liquid biofuels there is some degree of proximity between media and government, less between media and science, and the least between government and scienc

F1/F2 Corn Variety Study

This study was initiated to quantify the agronomic performance penalties resulting from use of second-generation hybrid seed corn (saved seed). While this is not common practice in the United States, it is common in many corn-producing areas around the world. The agronomics of this practice were evaluated to determine the value (if any) of planting second-generation seed corn. A yield and grain quality study was conducted at the Iowa State University Northeast Research and Demonstration Farm near Nashua, Iowa to compare F1 (commercial seed), F2 (saved seed), and a combination of F1/F2 seed with three different corn hybrids differing in relative maturity (RM)

Stakeholder Engagement for Responsible Innovation in the Private Sector: Critical Issues and Management Practices

Although both EU policy makers and researchers acknowledge that public or stakeholder engagement is important for responsible innovation (RI), empirical evidence in this field is still scarce. In this article, we explore to what extent companies with a disposition to innovate in a more responsible way are moving towards the ideal of mutual responsiveness among stakeholders, as it is presented in the RI literature. Based on interviews with companies and non-economic stakeholders in the Dutch Food industry, it can be concluded that innovative food companies are still far from implementing the ideal of mutual responsiveness in a significant way. The tension between the call for the active involvement of stakeholders in the literature and actual stakeholder engagement practices is explained by identifying a number of critical issues regarding stakeholder engagement, which are specific to actors involved in RI in the private sector. Finally, management practices designed to deal with these critical issues regarding stakeholder engagement are identifie

Maintaining the CSR-identity of Sustainable Entrepreneurial Firms: The role of corporate governance in periods of business growth

This chapter focuses on the maintenance of the CSR-identity of sustainable entrepreneurial firms (SEFs) during periods of business growth. Our aim is to explore to what extent corporate governance mechanisms can be seen as effective mechanisms to maintain the CSR-identity of growing SEFs. To this end, a comprehensive literature review is conducted to obtain conceptual insights, which are subsequently empirically illustrated by a multiple case study of SEFs (N = 7). We conclude that the following barriers to business growth might have an impact on the CSR-identity of SEFs: overtrading/uncontrolled growth, control and delegation, decentralization and formation, indirect expression of identity. Furthermore, we conclude that the following mechanisms of corporate governance might prevent or compensate for the dilution of the CSR-identity of SEFs in periods of business growth: strategy, human resource management, organizational culture, formal monitoring, coordination, media involvement and social monitoring. Finally, we provide recommendations for practitioners, based on our results

The impact of entrepreneurial orientation on innovation adoption and innovation generation, and ultimately performance of vegetable farmers in West Java, Indonesia

In emerging high value markets, farmers are challenged by growth options. They can benefit from the growth options depending on their entrepreneurial orientation and how they engage in product quality improvement through adopting and generating innovations. Our study investigates the combined effects of entrepreneurial orientation and innovation adoption and generation on farm performance. Using Structural Equation Modeling we tested the relationships among 282 vegetable farmers in West Java, Indonesia. The findings show that entrepreneurial orientation positively affects innovation inputs, innovation adoption and innovation generation, and innovation adoption has a positive effect on performance. We conclude with recommendations for farmers and policy makers to emphasize innovation adoption to promote farm performance

De Nederlandse Voedsel en Warenautoriteit in het systeem voor borging van voedselveiligheid; een verkenning naar de toepasbaarheid van een institutioneel-economisch perspectief

Dit rapport behandelt één maatschappelijk probleem en vijf beleidsproblemen rond voedselveiligheid. Deze worden geanalyseerd vanuit institutioneel-economisch perspectief. Ook drie beleidsopties rond de opzet van de Voedsel en Warenautoriteit worden zo geanalyseerd. Belangrijkste doel van dit onderzoek is gelegen in het nagaan van de toepasbaarheid van het institutioneel-economisch instrumentarium door het LEI op dergelijke vraagstukke

The importance of innovation adoption and generation in linking entrepreneurial orientation with product innovation and farm revenues

The growth of modern agrifood markets, especially in Indonesia, has stimulated entrepreneurially oriented farmers to seize business opportunities through innovation. This paper aims to investigate in a dynamic agrifood market if entrepreneurial orientation enhances innovation adoption and generation and if both of these actions enhance product innovation and, eventually, farm revenues of vegetable farmers in West Java, Indonesia. The findings demonstrate that entrepreneurial orientation enhances innovation adoption and generation, which in turn enhance product innovation. Finally, product innovation enhances farm revenues. The findings contribute to a better understanding of the role of innovation in facilitating entrepreneurially oriented farmers to perform better when facing a dynamic market. Entrepreneurial orientation enables farmers to innovate by taking risks to anticipate future demand, through either adoption of available innovations or generation of their own innovations, and both options result in new or improved products and eventually enhanced farm revenues