TY - JOUR A1 - Braun, Charis Linda A1 - Bitsch, Vera A1 - Häring, Anna Maria T1 - Behind the scenes of a learning agri-food value chain: lessons from action research JF - Agriculture and Human Values N2 - The development of sustainable agri-food systems requires not only new academic knowledge, but also concrete social and organizational change in practice. This article reflects on the action research process that supported and explored the learning process in an emerging agri-food value chain in the Berlin-Brandenburg region in eastern Germany. The action research study involved value chain actors, academic researchers, and process facilitators in a learning network. By framing the network’s learning and problem solving processes in concepts of organizational learning, lessons were drawn for researchers and value chain developers. The results underline the importance of process facilitation in a learning value chain to create a social space, in which the actors in the value chain can interact and find a common basis for collaboration. In the learning process, facilitators used an iterative design to consistently align learning activities with the needs of practitioners to ensure practical relevance. To establish new practices and partnerships, value chain actors challenged existing routines and developed new ideas and visions, while at the same time improving established practices within their organizations and along the entire value chain. KW - Action research KW - Organizational learning KW - Process faciliation KW - Grounded theory KW - Local and organic food Y1 - 2021 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-2481 SN - 1572-8366 VL - 39 SP - 119 EP - 134 PB - Springer Science+Business Media B.V. ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Braun, Charis Linda A1 - Bitsch, Vera A1 - Häring, Anna Maria T1 - Developing agri-food value chains: learning networks between exploration and exploitation JF - The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension N2 - Purpose The present study explores the development of agri-food value chains from an organizational learning perspective, using the German organic food sector as an example. We illustrate how the development of local value chains unfolds over time and outline how facilitation can support this process. Design/methodology/approach The study used an action research design to facilitate change in practice and to create new knowledge. Data were collected through qualitative interviews, participant observation, and documentation of workshops and other learning activities. Data analysis and conceptualization followed a grounded theory approach. Findings The development process of value chains occurs in three phases, from joint exploration of the problem, through a phase of experimentation and implementation, to further cultivation of established collaborations among value chain actors. The development process oscillates between intra- and inter-organizational learning as well as explorative and exploitative activities. Practical implications The results of this study can help to understand and to further professionalize the practice of value chain development and provide guidance for facilitators and other stakeholder working in this field. Theoretical implications By drawing on the theory of exploration and exploitation, the study enhances the understanding of value chains collaboration in an inter-organizational setting. The study conceptualizes the development of agri-food value chains and the role of facilitators in the process. Originality/value There is little research to date that considers the development of value chains as a collaborative learning process. The presented grounded theory of local value chain development may inform further research on the transition towards a more sustainable agri-food system. KW - Action research; grounded theory; organizational learning; process facilitation; value chain development; local and organic food Y1 - 2022 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-4700 SN - 1389-224X PB - Taylor & Francis ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Behrendt, Gerlinde A1 - Peter, Sarah A1 - Sterly, Simone A1 - Häring, Anna Maria T1 - Community financing for sustainable food and farming: a proximity perspective JF - Agriculture and Human Values N2 - An increasing number of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the German organic agri-food sector involves citizens through different community financing models. While such models provide alternative funding sources as well as marketing opportunities to SMEs, they allow private investors to combine their financial and ethical concerns by directly supporting the development of a more sustainable food system. Due to the low level of financial intermediation, community financing is characterized by close relations between investors and investees. Against this background, we apply the proximity concept from economic geography to explore spatial and relational aspects of community financing in the German organic agri-food sector. Based on a qualitative multiple case study approach, we find that the relevance of proximity is twofold. While different forms of proximity between SMEs and their potential investors are key success factors, proximity is also considered as one desired outcome of community financing. Furthermore, our results reveal that the extent to which SMEs rely on particular proximity dimensions distinguishes two different approaches to community financing. KW - Proximity; Multiple case study; Crowdfunding; Cooperatives; Citizen shareholder corporations; Profit participation rights Y1 - 2022 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-4711 VL - 39 IS - 3 SP - 1063 EP - 1075 PB - Springer Nature ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Behrendt, Gerlinde A1 - von Münchhausen, Susanne A1 - Häring, Anna Maria T1 - How to fund learning and innovation networks for sustainable agriculture: a conceptual framework JF - The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension N2 - Purpose Learning and innovation networks for sustainable agriculture (LINSA) are considered drivers of innovation towards a more sustainable agri-food system. However, sustaining long-term funding remains a challenge for many networks. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive conceptualization of how funding relates to LINSA continuation and suggests a classification of relevant funding instruments. Design/Methodology/Approach Being purely conceptual, this paper combines perspectives of strategic management and nonprofit finance with empirical insights from innovation network literature to develop a conceptual framework on LINSA funding. Findings The conceptual framework suggests that thriving LINSA require both an appropriate funding mix, which corresponds with the benefits provided, and an anticipatory utilization of financial resources to build and maintain relevant intangible resources. The availability of funding instruments which incorporate these findings is crucial for successful LINSA. Practical Implications The conceptual framework provides guidance to practitioners and policy makers who reflect on appropriate strategies and instruments for LINSA funding. Theoretical Implications By integrating perspectives from different disciplines, namely the resource-based view and the benefits theory of nonprofit finance, this paper contributes to an increased understanding of funding in network organizations. Originality/Value This is the first paper to offer an explicit conceptualization of how funding relates to LINSA development. It also provides a classification of relevant funding instruments. KW - Learning and innovation network for sustainable agriculture; financial resources; nonprofit funding; benefits theory; resource-based view; conceptual framework Y1 - 2023 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-4724 SN - 1389-224X PB - Taylor & Francis ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Lauterbach, Josephine A1 - Bruns, Antonia Johanna A1 - Häring, Anna Maria T1 - Exploring Consumer Preference towards the On-Farm Slaughtering of Beef in Germany: A Discrete Choice Experiment JF - Foods N2 - Current production standards and communication campaigns about animal welfare in relation to beef strongly emphasise the “humane” rearing of cattle. Aspects such as transport and slaughtering conditions are often overlooked in both production standards and communications with consumers. Long transport routes and conventional slaughtering can cause significant stress to animals and have negative impacts on their welfare and on meat quality. On-farm slaughter can address these criticisms. Communicating the value of low-stress slaughtering conditions like on-farm slaughtering may offer significant sales potential for a premium market segment. In this study, we explore consumers’ preferences and willingness to pay for beef that is slaughtered on-farm rather than in conventional abattoirs. We conducted an online survey (n = 400) in 2022, with a sample that is representative of the German population with respect to gender, age, income and education. Our survey included a discrete choice experiment for the purchase of minced beef, incorporating product attributes that influence purchase decisions. These included: price, information on the social, economic and environmental benefits of regional production, different production standards (conventional/organic) and information on on-farm slaughtering. Our findings indicate that consumers derive the highest utility from a low price, followed by information about on-farm slaughtering. Participants indicated a preference for information on high animal welfare over high beef quality. We conclude that highlighting on-farm slaughtering could be a significant benefit in marketing premium beef products. KW - consumer preferences; animal welfare; on-farm slaughter; slaughter conditions; premium beef marketing Y1 - 2023 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-7753 SN - 2304-8158 IS - 12 PB - MDPI ER - TY - CHAP A1 - Haack, Michaela A1 - Schäfer, M A1 - Krieger, C A1 - Häring, Anna Maria ED - Bibic, Vanessa ED - Schmidtke, Knut T1 - Bio und Regional in der Gemeinschaftsverpflegung - Herausforderungen und Ansatzpunkte am Beispiel der Einführung von Bio-Weiderindfleisch T2 - One Step Ahead - einen Schritt voraus! : Beiträge zur 16. Wissenschaftstagung Ökologischer Landbau : Frick, 7. bis 10. März 2023 KW - Gemeinschaftsverpflegung; Bio-Rindfleisch; Regionalität Y1 - 2023 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-7140 SN - 978-3-96831-055-8 SP - 694 EP - 697 PB - Verlag Dr. Köster ER - TY - CHAP A1 - Dörr, J A1 - Lauterbach, Josephine A1 - Haack, Michaela A1 - Böhm, U A1 - Häring, Anna Maria ED - Bibic, Vanessa ED - Schmidtke, Knut T1 - Regionales Weiderindfleisch: Ansatzpunkte für den Aufbau von Wertschöpfungsverbünden T2 - One Step Ahead - einen Schritt voraus! : Beiträge zur 16. Wissenschaftstagung Ökologischer Landbau : Frick, 7. bis 10. März 2023 KW - Rindfleisch aus Weidehaltung; regionale Wertschöpfungskette Y1 - 2023 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-7152 SN - 978-3-96831-055-8 SP - 698 EP - 701 PB - Verlag Dr. Köster ER - TY - CHAP A1 - Wiedemann, Anne A1 - Lauterbach, Josephine A1 - Häring, Anna Maria ED - Bibic, Vanessa ED - Schmidtke, Knut T1 - Ethische Werte von regionalem Lammfleisch kommunizieren T2 - One Step Ahead - einen Schritt voraus! : Beiträge zur 16. Wissenschaftstagung Ökologischer Landbau : Frick, 7. bis 10. März 2023 KW - Biodiversität; Marketing; Ökosystemdienstleistungen; Lammfleisch Y1 - 2023 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-7162 SN - 978-3-96831-055-8 SP - 786 EP - 789 PB - Verlag Dr. Köster ER - TY - CHAP A1 - Braun, Charis Linda A1 - Juister, Evelyn A1 - Häring, Anna Maria ED - Bibic, Vanessa ED - Schmidtke, Knut T1 - Zusammen(-arbeit) lernen: Wissensaufbau in regionalen Wertschöpfungsketten T2 - One Step Ahead - einen Schritt voraus! : Beiträge zur 16. Wissenschaftstagung Ökologischer Landbau : Frick, 7. bis 10. März 2023 KW - Wertschöpfungsketten; Organisationales Lernen; Zusammenarbeit und Co-Creation; Aktionsforschung Y1 - 2023 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-7193 SN - 978-3-96831-055-8 SP - 794 EP - 797 PB - Verlag Dr. Köster ER - TY - CHAP A1 - von Münchhausen, Susanne A1 - Behrendt, Gerlinde A1 - Cronien, Evelien A1 - Fieldsend, Andrew A1 - Häring, Anna Maria ED - Faustina, Sandra ED - Pinto-Correas, Teresa T1 - The role of different types of organisations supporting interactive innovation in agriculture and forestry T2 - Digital Book of Proceedings 14th European IFSA Symposium Farming Systems Facing Climate Change and Resource Challenges N2 - A large variety of organisations provides support for cooperative approaches in the field of research and innovation in agriculture, forestry and rural development, and acts as Innovation Support Services (ISS). The findings from ProAkis (2015) show that different types of organisations such as administrative offices, public or semi-public advisory services, rural academies/universities, producer organisations, other NGOs or private consultants engaged in the Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System (AKIS) can act as ISS. The funding of ISS can be public, private or a mix of both. A first literature review indicates that studies often focus on the larger “enabling environment” and the structure of the Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems (AKIS). Moreover, many authors pay particular attention to the role of public or semi-public advisory organisations (Knierim et al., 2015; Sulaiman 2015). The aim of this paper is to assess the different types of organisations that provide support for interactive innovation, and to analyse the particular role of each type of organisation for interactive innovation projects. Particular attention will be payed to the divers group of organisations that are not part of a (semi)-public advisory organisation. The paper is based on the analysis of more than 200 case studies of publically or privately funded interactive innovation projects within the EU and beyond. The selection of cases took place under the framework of the project LIAISON funding by the EU research and innovation programme Horizon 2020 (grant agreement No 773418). European and national databases contain several thousands of projects in agriculture, forestry and rural development. We selected projects applying the interactive innovation approach from a) EU programmes (EIP-Agri, Horizon2020, Interreg, and LIFE+); b) nationally/regionally or privately funded projects; and c) informal initiatives or networks in the agri-food, forestry, bioeconomy or nature conservation area. Preliminary results indicate that publically funded IIS play a core role for legal/administrative compliance of projects. Semi-public advisory services take up this role as well, and they are strong in linking farmers with scientists, technicians, entrepreneurs etc. However, they often exist and offer efficient ISS only for those industries that have a long tradition for a sector or area (e.g. dairy, pork, poultry or club fruit). Niche sectors or industries with little policy engagement often lack the support of a publically funded advisory service but profit more from producer organisations or rural academies/universities when they take up the role of ISS. Y1 - 2022 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-7668 SP - 195 ER - TY - CHAP A1 - Lauterbach, Josephine A1 - Haack, Michaela A1 - Häring, Anna Maria ED - Bibic, Vanessa ED - Schmidtke, Knut T1 - Artgerecht, regional und biodiversitätsfördernd - Welche Mehrwerte sind Rindfleischkäufer*innen besonders wichtig? T2 - One Step Ahead - einen Schritt voraus! : Beiträge zur 16. Wissenschaftstagung Ökologischer Landbau : Frick, 7. bis 10. März 2023 KW - Rindfleisch; Weidehaltung; Cluster Analyse; Faktoranalyse; Konsumenten Y1 - 2023 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-7104 SN - 978-3-96831-055-8 SP - 668 EP - 671 PB - Verlag Dr. Köster ER - TY - CHAP A1 - Hofstätter, J A1 - Häring, Anna Maria A1 - Scholz, S ED - Bibic, Vanessa ED - Schmidtke, Knut T1 - Blühstreifen für Brandenburg - Neue Richtlinie, neue Perspektiven T2 - One Step Ahead - einen Schritt voraus! : Beiträge zur 16. Wissenschaftstagung Ökologischer Landbau : Frick, 7. bis 10. März 2023 KW - Blühstreifen; Förderpolitik; Ackerbau; Brandenburg Y1 - 2023 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-7113 SN - 978-3-96831-055-8 SP - 682 EP - 685 PB - Verlag Dr. Köster ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Fieldsend, Andrew A1 - Varga, Eszter A1 - Biró, Szabolcs A1 - von Münchhausen, Susanne A1 - Häring, Anna Maria T1 - Multi-actor co-innovation partnerships in agriculture, forestry and related sectors in Europe: Contrasting approaches to implementation JF - Agricultural Systems N2 - CONTEXT Innovation is an important driver of increased productivity, sustainability and resilience in agriculture, forestry and related sectors. An analysis of how different types of multi-actor co-innovation partnerships function can help to identify the reasons why some are more successful than others in ‘speeding up’ innovation. OBJECTIVE To provide a framework for the analysis of the co-innovation process, we developed a multidimensional conceptual typology of co-innovation activities based on a review of 200 such partnerships involving farmers and foresters from across Europe. This framework is based on innovation systems theory and the prevailing policy context of the ‘multi-actor approach’. METHODS The overarching concept or dependent variable measured by the typology is ‘effectiveness of co-innovation by a multi-actor partnership’ and the two dimensions of the overarching concept are the ‘structural components of the Organisational Innovation System’, with four categories, and ‘attitude towards interaction’, with two categories. The result is a matrix of eight ‘ideal types’ of co-innovation activity. These eight types are characterised according to first-order constructs derived from our research data. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS The results show that the co-innovation process can successfully take contrasting forms according to the ‘contextual contingencies’ encountered by the partnership. In other words, no one ideal type is intrinsically ‘superior’ to another but may be more ‘appropriate’ in given circumstances. Factors influencing approaches to implementation include actor capacities, aspirations and networks, the co-innovation topic and its influence on the partnership size and the workplan structure, the type of co-innovation activity outputs and the need to engage with the ‘larger periphery’ of stakeholders, and the nature of the enabling environment. SIGNIFICANCE The typology is not a classification since the ideal types represent organisational forms that might exist rather than real partnerships. However, the analytical framework it provides will help policy makers and programme managers to develop targeted interventions, according to actor needs and local circumstances, for ‘speeding up’ innovation. KW - Co-innovation effectiveness; Organisational Innovation System; Attitude towards interaction; Ideal type Y1 - 2022 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-6475 SN - 1873-2267 SN - 0308-521X VL - 202 PB - Elsevier ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Markow, Jekaterina A1 - Fieldsend, Andrew A1 - von Münchhausen, Susanne A1 - Häring, Anna Maria T1 - Building agricultural innovation capacity from the bottom up: Using spillover effects from projects to strengthen agricultural innovation systems JF - Agricultural Systems N2 - CONTEXT Current research emphasises that agricultural innovation projects are influenced in multiple ways by the Agricultural Innovation Systems (AIS) in which they operate. Yet little attention has been paid to the reverse direction of this relationship, i.e. how agricultural innovation projects affect AIS in the course of their innovative activities. Accordingly, there are currently no tools to measure such AIS spillovers from agricultural innovation projects. OBJECTIVE This paper shows that even where agricultural innovation projects have not been designed with the explicit aim of influencing AIS they can have spillovers on the AIS in which they operate. Based on this finding, it argues that designing agricultural innovation projects in a way that maximises such positive and reduces negative AIS spillovers would be a useful tool for strengthening agricultural innovation capacities in a particular territory or sector. METHODS Based on the concept of agricultural innovation projects as Organisational Innovation Systems (OIS) that are embedded in AIS, the paper develops an analytical framework for assessing spillovers of such projects on AIS and applies it to a case study of an Operational Group in the German Federal State of Hessen. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS The case study shows that agricultural innovation projects may yield diverse spillovers on the AIS in which they operate. In addition to considering how agricultural innovation projects are shaped – constrained and/or enabled – by AIS, the research community on agricultural innovation should pay more attention to this side of the interrelation of AIS and agricultural innovation projects. Designing agricultural innovation projects responsibly so that spillovers on AIS are monitored can help to improve national or sectoral AIS. SIGNIFICANCE This paper points to an underexplored issue in research on agricultural innovation and, related to this, a thus far unused potential policy tool for improving national and sectoral AIS. It further develops the concept of innovation projects as OIS into an approach for assessing the effects of projects on AIS; an area of project assessment that until now has not been adequately covered. KW - Agricultural innovation system KW - Agricultural innovation project KW - Organisational innovation system KW - Spillover effect KW - Project assessment Y1 - 2023 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-6853 SN - 0308-521X IS - 209 PB - Elsevier ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Lauterbach, Josephine A1 - Haack, Michaela A1 - Häring, Anna Maria T1 - Co-production of Business Models for Pasture-Based Beef in North-East Germany – Integrating Consumers Preferences JF - Proceedings in system dynamics and innovation in food networks 2022 N2 - Pasture-based cattle rearing systems provide numerous ecosystem services and meet current consumer demands for animal welfare. However, the development of regional value chains from pasture-based beef are inhibited in economically less developed regions, such as North East Germany, as they lack regional slaughtering and processing capacities and show weak cooperation between stakeholders. The real world lab "WertWeideVerbund" aims to co-produce new beef value chains and business models, addressing consumer demands and value chain actors’ interests at the same time. Target group specific and regionally adapted communication approaches are part of these business models and aimed at unlocking market potentials. We conducted an online survey to define consumer groups for pasture-based beef, evaluate their preferences for communication approaches and define their willingness to pay for those products. The questionnaire was partly based on previously collected qualitative data from focus groups and on an extended literature review of existing quality standards for pasture-based beef. The survey revealed different consumer segments based on demographics, frequency of beef purchase, general shopping behaviour and willingness to pay for pasture-raised beef. Respondents preferred communication approaches with a focus on animal welfare and were not particularly interested in regional origin and ranked it equal to other aspects such as information on producers, quality and taste, and biodiversity and climate protection, indicating that there is a demand for further explanation on the advantages of regional production. KW - pasture-raised beef; communication; marketing; animal welfare; regional origin Y1 - 2022 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-6839 SN - 2194-511X SP - 167 EP - 177 ER -