Economía social y dinámica innovadora en los sistemas territoriales de producción y de innovación. Especial referencia a los sistemas agroalimentarios

Abstract

Cooperatives develop their economic activity according to principles which can contribute to the growth of a network of socio-economic (relational capital) and socio-political (social capital) relations which in turn, generate the trust which is required for cooperation between companies as well as between companies and scientific-technological systems. This could facilitate the creation of the (relational) organised proximity required to provide fluent relations to the relations between the different actors within the territorial production and innovation systems. However, the presence of an extensive network of cooperatives could also define specific inertias and blockage factors. This paper develops and puts this evolutionary theoretical framework to the test when dealing how the organisation and innovative dynamic of the agro-food system of the Valencian citriculture are significantly conditioned by the presence of cooperatives.Cooperatives, agro-food systems, innovation, organised proximity, social capital, and relational capital