Abstract
The aim of this paper is to explore Crowdfunding as a new form of Open Innovation for SMEs and family business in the Agri-Food sector which usually do not have the same skills and tools to operate with conventional own Crowdsourcing methods. The study first has analyzed the principal literature and data available on Crowdfunding and the Food industry in order to describe the state of the art in this subject. Afterwards the focus of the paper goes to the analysis of the Italian case. The study used a deep qualitative approach because of an important lack of data and information on this subject. Nine depth interviews to key informants of the sector have been carried out investigating the market players, the normative regulations, the businesses models and the evolution of Crowdfunding for the Agri-Food industry in Italy. The research finds that Crowdfunding for Agri-Food industry can be important for both its profitability and the development of the sector, but that nowadays the Italian market is still in its primordial phase. Crowdfunding is very suitable for SMEs business which represents the vast majority of the Agri-Food Italian market and the use of this instrument could be beneficial for it.
Acknowledgements
The authors profoundly thanks "Fondazione Giovanni Goria" and "Istituto per l'Ambiente e l'Educazione Scholé Futuro Onlus" to have supported all the research process, a special thanks also to Prof. Silvana Dalmazzone and Prof. Mario Salomone for their precious suggestions.
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Articles in the same Issue
- Research Articles
- The Impact of Information on Willingness to Pay and Quantity Choices for Meat and Meat Substitute
- Choosing Organic and Healthy Food in Times of Economic Uncertainty: Evidence from Panel Data Analysis in France
- Market Structure of the Feed Industry in Germany: Causing Asymmetric Spatial Price Transmission?
- The Future of Demand for Food Away from Home and Prepared Food: Cohort and Age Effects in Japan
- Not Just for Money. Crowdfunding a New Tool of Open Innovation to Support the Agro-Food Sector. Evidences on the Italian Market
- A Multi-objective Approach for Supply Chain Network Design: Tilapia Pisciculture in Paraná State - Brazil
Articles in the same Issue
- Research Articles
- The Impact of Information on Willingness to Pay and Quantity Choices for Meat and Meat Substitute
- Choosing Organic and Healthy Food in Times of Economic Uncertainty: Evidence from Panel Data Analysis in France
- Market Structure of the Feed Industry in Germany: Causing Asymmetric Spatial Price Transmission?
- The Future of Demand for Food Away from Home and Prepared Food: Cohort and Age Effects in Japan
- Not Just for Money. Crowdfunding a New Tool of Open Innovation to Support the Agro-Food Sector. Evidences on the Italian Market
- A Multi-objective Approach for Supply Chain Network Design: Tilapia Pisciculture in Paraná State - Brazil