Innovation systems and the competition between regional vineyards

International audienceThis paper presents a first overview of the evolution of institutions and networks that drive innovation processes in the French wine industry. The notion of “Systems of Innovation” (SI) is discussed and proposed as an analytical tool, contrasting two approaches : i) an interactionist approach, taking into account relations, actors and institutions involved in concrete changes observed in the vineyards ; ii) an institutional approach, assessing the evolution of the set of institutions formally dedicated to research, education, training and innovation oriented toward the wine industry. The study is based on previous empirical works in four regional vineyards and on a first national inquiry concerning research and innovation centres. Initial findings demonstrate that the national wine SI tends to develop at regional levels, becoming a crucial factor influencing competition between regional vineyards

Assessing the role of the research in the transition to organic farming by using the Actor Network Theory: lessons from two case studies in France and Bulgaria

This paper explores the potential of Actor Network Theory (ANT) in understanding how the process of interaction and translation between human and non-human actors contribute to the development, adoption and diffusion of science-based innovations linked to the transition to organic farming. The study relies on two case studies, the French Camargue case covering a range of technical and social innovations, and the case from Bulgaria focusing on the development of a technical and product innovation, i.e. a veterinary product for organic beekeeping. The paper shows the limitations of classical approaches in studying innovations since they underestimate the role of heterogeneous actors, their status, and how they interact with each other. We argue that focusing on actors’ interactions helps to better understand the so-called “uncertainties” and “turning points” in the innovation development, as well as to interpret them as natural elements. Moreover we argue that challenges to tackle should be problematized to increase the success of research programs. We also stress the importance of opinion leaders during the implementation and diffusion phase of the innovation

Viticulture and Adaptation to Climate Change

International audienceThe aim of this article is to lay out a series of issues of current concern to researchers in the social sciences, regarding the impact of climate change on the vine and wine sector. The challenge lies in evaluating the cost of transition from one system to another through an integration of the direct and indirect effects of climate change. This adaptation, whether reactive or anticipatory, combines technical and organisational innovations with localisation strategies and institutional changes. Such actions could either try to maintain the existing situation as much as possible or could try to bifurcate towards deep changes, entailing very different costs. Given the multitude of uncertainties at play, not to mention the necessity for continuous adaptation to an ever-changing climate, these costs are hard to quantify. This article will illustrate two sets of measures for wine cultivation adaptation: 'no regrets' measures, which offer immediate benefits, and 'reversible and flexible' measures, which limit the inertia of wine-cultivating systems. In spite of the challenges, what stands out is the evident re-enforcement resulting from the collaboration between researchers and political and economic actors. In the field of wine cultivation, these collaborations can follow two paths: the study of the diversity of existing wine-growing systems and genetic resources or the possibility of more radical technological and social experimentation

Chapitre 17 - Théorie de la régulation et transformations de l’agriculture : nouveaux enjeux, nouvelles perspectives de recherche ?

Les travaux se référant à la théorie de la régulation (TR) ont très tôt retenu l’échelle sectorielle comme échelle pertinente pour illustrer, mieux comprendre ou questionner les transformations et la diversité des formes du capitalisme (Boyer et Saillard, 1995). L’agriculture et l’agroalimentaire ont constitué un domaine privilégié pour développer ces approches sectorielles (Boyer, 1990), contribuant notamment à l’établissement du concept de régime de fonct..

Chapitre 1 - Une histoire de l’innovation et de ses usages dans l’agriculture

Résumé. Les travaux sur l’innovation dans l’agriculture sont relativement récents, mais s’inscrivent dans une histoire plus longue des approches du progrès technique et des transformations du secteur agricole. Ce chapitre revient sur l’histoire de l’usage de la notion d’innovation dans l’agriculture et sur les travaux dans ce domaine, en se centrant sur les contributions de l’économie et de la sociologie. Trois périodes marquent cette histoire : jusqu’à la Seconde Guerre mondiale, la notion d’innovation n’est pas utilisée dans la littérature, mais la question du progrès technique, progressivement évacuée par les économistes, s’affirme dans les sciences agricoles ; sur les 40 années qui suivent, les approches diffusionnistes de l’innovation concernent tous les secteurs, notamment l’agriculture, dont la modernisation est accompagnée par les sociologues et les économistes ; enfin, à partir des années 1980, les critiques du modèle de développement agricole antérieur sont croissantes et s’accompagnent d’un renouvellement de la pensée sur l’innovation, donnant de nouvelles perspectives pour les recherches sur l’innovation dans l’agriculture et les domaines associés

Introduction - Renouveler les regards sur l’innovation dans les systèmes agricoles et alimentaires

L’innovation est devenue un objet de questionnement incontournable dans nos sociétés. Elle est omniprésente dans les discours d’acteurs économiques ou politiques, s’inscrit dans des politiques dédiées et dans de nouvelles institutions telles que les pôles ou les plateformes, et vient s’incarner dans la figure du héros contemporain créateur de start-up. Le thème de l’innovation a aussi gagné une place importante dans le monde scientifique, comme en témoigne la forte croissance des travaux qui ..

Innovation et développement dans les systèmes agricoles et alimentaires

Innovation is often touted as one of the key levers for promoting a more sustainable development. The book looks at innovation in the agri-food sector in light of today's major challenges by examining the different dimensions of the change and focusing on the meaning ascribed to innovation by the stakeholders. An understanding of the methods and systems for supporting the stakeholders who innovate provides professionals, politics, and civil society with useful and novel courses of action