Developments and challenges in the European pork sector

This paper aims to give insight into the structure of and variety in the European pork system and suggests topics for further research of the European pork sector. It provides an overview of the different types of pork chains, their quality systems. governance structures and supporting technology. The paper further describes the concentration and up-scaling found in all links of the chain in most of the countries investigated. Moreover, a development towards chain-wide quality management systems and new collaborative structures in the various chains can be recognised. However, there is also a trend towards development of pork chains that aim at high-quality production for regional and niche markets, in particular in Southern European countries. Although the paper tries to give a European picture, it focuses specifically on five countries: the Netherlands, Germany, Greece, Spain and Hungary. The paper concludes with major bottlenecks and opportunities for European pork chains, after which new research issues are raised

Drivers for innovation in niche pork netchains. A study of United Kingdom, Greece, and Spain

Purpose - This paper aims to provide insight in the set-up and governance of niche (organic, local and/or regional) pork supply chains and networks (netchains) in the UK, Greece, and Spain, characterized by societal embeddedness and differentiation in food production. Design/methodology/approach - The study consists of 29 expert interviews; it compares the different types of netchain innovation trajectories and concludes on each innovation driver and barrier what lessons can be learnt. Findings - The findings clearly demonstrate the influence of the institutional setting on these netchains; whereas in the UK there is a clear focus on operational excellence and leadership, both in Greece and Spain the focus is on preservation of tradition and culture. Research limitations/implications - The paper provides directions for further research based on the conclusion that for niche pork netchains to enjoy market growth, effective netchain driven learning structures are needed to catalyze innovation. Originality/value - Although a lot has been written on the adoption of innovations, the combination of the social network theory with innovation adoption theory seems to be absent in the present literature. So whereas normally theory on innovation adoption is looking at adoption of individual innovations, this study is taking a broader perspective by looking at the adoption of a range of innovations on a netchain level

Netchain innovation for sustainable pork supply chains in an EU context

This paper aims at providing insight in the need for innovations in the European pork sector in order to construct sustainable pork supply netchains. It provides an overview of sustainabilitypressures on netchain actors such as societal conformity, environmental impact, and economicsustainability. The paper shows that close relations between netchain and non-netchain actors iscritical to create and adopt innovative solutions to meet these challenges. The focus is on the development of pork netchains that aim at the high quality production in regional and organic niche markets. Challenges and responses are often similar, and the paper concludes with a suggested framework for further research based on the analysis of key innovation issues from twocases: a regional niche chain in Spain and an organic niche chain in The Netherland

Sustainability-related innovation adoption: the case of the Dutch pig farmer

This paper explores the process of adoption of innovations in pig husbandry systems in the Netherlands, related to sustainability challenges that the pig sector is facing. It investigates the factors that influence farmers’ decisions to build a new stable, as well as the choice to build either a conventional or a more sustainable stable. It demonstrates the impact of the adopter characteristics (such as age and knowledge), operation characteristics (such as type, size and location of the farm) and institutional setting (such as influence of government and other stakeholders) on these decisions. Jointly these represent the factors that shape the farmer's perception of the adoption of a more sustainable pig husbandry system. In the current policy context there is much interest in knowing how farmers respond to sustainability-oriented policies. Seen in this light it is reassuring that the present study shows that next to profit orientation, a positive attitude (based on knowledge about the environmental impact of farming) towards the environment is needed for the decision to build a more sustainable stable