Social Capital within Agri-Food Business Support Networks: An Exploratory Perspective

Developing social capital is critical to knowledge management (KM) to assist in network capabilities and the understanding of systematic interactions amongst people, individually and collectively. Social capital places value on social relationships and social structures, permitting access to resources that promote innovation, such as knowledge, funding and moral support. Various types of social capital (bonding, linking and bridging) provide different sorts of exchanges, and tailored and targeted support to those who avail of social capital initiatives and innovative activities. The purpose of this PhD research is to explore the value of social capital for innovation within Agri-Food Business Support Networks. Adopting a qualitative research methodology, an in-depth case study approach of six support network programmes across the Island of Ireland will be utilised to assess interactions and change within producer and collaborative activities. Selected cases will be representative of key areas of the all-island Agriculture Knowledge and Innovation System (AKIS). Core to the AKIS concept is that it functions by complex and systematic interactions of many actors and infrastructures. Social capital will break down these interactions with the aim of educated business support programmes on farmer's needs, innovation capabilities and level of adaptability. Limited research to date has explored how business support programmes can aid the development of social capital and consequently lead to increased innovation capacity. This research will fulfil this existing gap. Practically, this research will support programmes to proactively assess farmer's capacities with the use of social capital. Support programmes will have further knowledge on farmer's attitudes, adaptability and attitudes towards innovative activities. This paper presents a systematic literature review and details plans of the proposed qualitative research study.