@article{1140-2016-92499,
      recid = {12015},
      title = {AGRIBUSINESS: KNOWLEDGE AND INNOVATION PRIORITIES;  ASPIRATIONS FOR THE 21ST CENTURY},
      address = {1998},
      number = {1140-2016-92499},
      series = {NRLO Report 98/20E},
      pages = {47},
      year = {1998},
      abstract = {The present report presents the NRLO views on knowledge  and innovation priorities for Dutch agribusiness in the  years ahead as seen in an international perspective.  Knowledge and innovation priorities are highlighted against  the backdrop of key challenges facing Dutch agribusiness in  the years to come. Major challenges include:

To turn from  reactive to proactive policy-making based on a broad range  of values. The challenge facing agribusiness is that it  should assume partial responsibility for maintaining and  protecting ecological, cultural, ethical and spatial  values. To transform agro-chains into responsive, flexible  networks involving other sectors besides agribusiness (such  as the transport and distribution sectors, non-food  industries).   To strengthen its international market  position by increasing the added value supplied to EU  markets, acquiring a larger market share in emerging growth  markets (such as Eastern Europe, Latin America, China)     and investing in local markets all over the world.  To  develop new alliances between citizens and agribusiness by  creating new partnerships between highly diverse users of  rural areas and by making adjustments to production methods  in agriculture that are demanded by consumers and the  public at large. To bring about a pluralist agro-sector,  characterised by manifold relations with society, regional  diversity and diversity in forms of enterprise.

If Dutch  agribusiness is to meet these key challenges as well as to  realise their corresponding strategies it will require  profound and complex innovations. In the present report  they are called 'system innovations'. The thoroughness of  changes to be made is attendant on a number of  factors:

System innovations involve the design and  introduction of entirely new systems rather than improving  existing  ones, while requiring an approach that transcends  interdisciplinary boundaries. Exploration, design and  implementation of system innovations demand new innovation  creating networks, uniting heterogeneous parties - coming  from both within and without agribusiness - in concerted  action.  Bringing about system innovations requires  researchers, government agencies and the business community  to display different types of behaviour than those that  have been traditionally familiar.

Ten proposals are  presented in the report. They are intended to help  agribusiness take a major step forward in accomplishing  far-reaching adjustments. They have been submitted to a  large number of prominent stakeholders representing the  business community, social organisations, government  agencies and knowledge institutes.  Stakeholders' responses  show that the proposals go a long way in meeting their  ambitions.  Six of the ten proposals are related to the  development of knowledge, technology and skills geared  towards system  innovations. Two pertain to a new  educational programme. Two others are pertaining to  initiatives to renew or at least highly improve information  services.},
      url = {http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/12015},
}