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Research article2023Peer reviewedOpen access

Collective agency as a leverage point in multi-actor innovation: Two case studies from Swedish horticulture

Germundsson, Lisa Blix; Ljung, Magnus

Abstract

The aim of this study is to investigate how horticultural firms meet their need for innovation within the innovation system. A comparative process ethnography approach was applied to two cases of long-term collaboration between multiple actors in Swedish horticulture. The retrospective reconstruction of the cases through documentation and interviews allowed for triangulation of data in a grounded theory approach. The leverage points of the developing collaborative processes were found to be; having agency and a network approach, the forming of collective agency through social learning, enhancing resource access, and operationalization of results. The concept of leverage points is useful for understanding evolutionary changes in multi-actor collaborations. The use of the concept of collective agency contributes to the understanding of the dynamics of demand articulation, illustrating a reciprocal process between the actors' individual agencies, and evolving over time through their social learning. The results point to a need for policymakers and practitioners to develop a broader understanding of how actors work in the innovation system to enhance knowledge development and innovation.

Keywords

agricultural innovation systems; AKIS; demand articulation; collaboration; social learning; evolutionary perspective

Published in

Agricultural and Food Science
2023, Volume: 32, number: 3, pages: 166-178
Publisher: SCIENTIFIC AGRICULTURAL SOC FINLAND

      SLU Authors

      • Sustainable Development Goals

      SDG2 End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
      SDG9 Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation

      UKÄ Subject classification

      Horticulture
      Information Systems, Social aspects

      Publication identifier

      DOI: https://doi.org/10.23986/afsci.128680

      Permanent link to this page (URI)

      https://res.slu.se/id/publ/126864