Social innovation in high-quality agricultural systems: metrics for assessing processes and outcomes

Abstract

Social innovation and high-quality agricultural systems are important for rural development. However, there is little information on methods for measuring the process and outcome of social innovation, particularly at the regional level. This study aimed to answer the research question: Which social innovation metrics can be applied to analyze rural development at the regional level? We carried out a systematic review of the literature on factors and indicators of social innovation, assessed the characteristics of social innovation in value-added agricultural production systems in developed countries, and proposed social innovation indicators for evaluating value-added agricultural systems in developing countries. Key elements of the process and outcome dimensions of social innovation were identified and used to generate factors, subfactors, indicators, and subindicators. The literature review showed that more research is needed on the outcomes of social innovation. Future studies should investigate the social transformations promoted by rural tourism and biodiversity valorization.

Keywords:

• Social innovation
• metrics
• process
• outcomes
• agriculture

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the São Paulo State Research Foundation (FAPESP, grant number 2018/18294-4) and the Sao Paulo State University (UNESP) for the financial support.

Notes

1 Social innovation indicators were also identified through literature reviews and a five-step evaluation process (preparation, confrontation, construction, measurement, and validation of results), as shown in Temple et al. (2018).

2 Studies were conducted in 2014/2015 as part of the RETHINK project: Rethinking the links between agricultural modernization, rural development, and resilience in a world of growing demands and finite resources.

3 Rover, Gennaro, and Roselli (2017) argued that there are still few empirical data on social innovation initiatives in rural areas. They emphasized that social innovations are crucial for promoting rural development because of the great socioeconomic vulnerability of rural populations.

4 It is worth mentioning that GIs are not always linked with community development, as shown by Neilson, Wright, and Aklimawati (2018) in a study on Indonesian coffee producers. There was little evidence and limited likelihood of tangible economic benefits for farmers, attributed to the inability of local institutions that support GIs to strategically relate to the practices of leading actors of the coffee production chain. However, according to the authors, GIs seem to foster a sense of regional pride and cultural identity.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by São Paulo State Research Foundation (FAPESP, grant number 2018/18294-4) and the São Paulo State University (UNESP).

Notes on contributors

Giuliana Aparecida Santini Pigatto

Giuliana Aparecida Santini Pigatto, Professor at the São Paulo State University, UNESP.

Gianluca Brunori

Gianluca Brunori, Professor at the Pisa University, UNIPI.