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View article: Linking consumers to producers in fair trade supply chains with the use of blockchain technology
Linking consumers to producers in fair trade supply chains with the use of blockchain technology Open
Blockchain technology is increasingly applied in agricultural supply chains but remains underutilized in fair trade contexts. This research explores how blockchain technology can help (re)establish or strengthen the connection between fair…
View article: Have we failed our ancestors? Perspectives on unsuccessful transfer of German family farms
Have we failed our ancestors? Perspectives on unsuccessful transfer of German family farms Open
The article explores how failure of family farm succession is perceived by farm succession consultants in the context of the agricultural sector in Germany. After conducting semi-structured interviews with succession consultants, the trans…
View article: Mission and Vision of Foodsharing Cafés in Germany
Mission and Vision of Foodsharing Cafés in Germany Open
In developed countries, large amounts of edible food are wasted at the household level, with significant negative environmental impacts. Therefore, reducing food waste is included in the UN Sustainable Development Goals. In different count…
View article: Creating spaces for change: Boundary work in emerging agri-food value chains
Creating spaces for change: Boundary work in emerging agri-food value chains Open
The article draws on the notion of boundary work to explore innovation in emerging agri-food value chains. Based on a six-year action research study, we examined boundary work among value chain actors and interventions that enabled the rec…
View article: “Got Milk Alternatives?” Understanding Key Factors Determining U.S. Consumers’ Willingness to Pay for Plant-Based Milk Alternatives
“Got Milk Alternatives?” Understanding Key Factors Determining U.S. Consumers’ Willingness to Pay for Plant-Based Milk Alternatives Open
Milk is an important dairy product in U.S. food retail. Lifestyle changes toward climate-conscious consumption, animal welfare, and food safety concerns have increased the popularity of plant-based milk alternatives. This study is focused …
View article: Everywhere the same? Competitiveness of two regional vegetable production clusters in Southern Germany
Everywhere the same? Competitiveness of two regional vegetable production clusters in Southern Germany Open
German vegetable production is characterized by its pronounced variety of cultivated vegetable crops. There are also large differences among distinct production regions in terms of climate conditions, farm structures and marketing infrastr…
View article: Developing agri-food value chains: learning networks between exploration and exploitation
Developing agri-food value chains: learning networks between exploration and exploitation Open
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 o…
View article: Mindsets in Intra-familial Farm Transfer: Successful Successor and Predecessor Prototypes
Mindsets in Intra-familial Farm Transfer: Successful Successor and Predecessor Prototypes Open
This paper investigates mindsets in the context of family farm succession. Using a grounded theory approach, interviews and group discussions were analyzed. Results based on both data sets present prototypical mindsets of successful predec…
View article: Framework for sustainability assessment of the value chain of flowering potted plants for the German market
Framework for sustainability assessment of the value chain of flowering potted plants for the German market Open
The value chain of flowering potted plants (FPP) is associated with environmental, social and economic sustainability challenges. Indicator-based assessment methods can provide insights into sustainability performance of agricultural value…
View article: The Ethically Conscious Flower Consumer: Understanding Fair Trade Cut Flower Purchase Behavior in Germany
The Ethically Conscious Flower Consumer: Understanding Fair Trade Cut Flower Purchase Behavior in Germany Open
Fair trade flowers are an important niche product relevant to ethically conscious consumers. The study proposes a model that investigates key factors affecting the behavior of these cut flower consumers in Germany. The study serves to comp…
View article: “Oh, You Shouldn’t Have!” Understanding Key Factors Impacting Cut Flowers Gifting Preferences in Germany
“Oh, You Shouldn’t Have!” Understanding Key Factors Impacting Cut Flowers Gifting Preferences in Germany Open
Cut flower gifting preferences are relatively unexplored in Germany. This study proposes a model that investigates the impact of attitudinal, experiential, and socio-demographic factors on the cut flower gifting preferences of German consu…
View article: Behind the scenes of a learning agri-food value chain: lessons from action research
Behind the scenes of a learning agri-food value chain: lessons from action research Open
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…
View article: Got waste: knowledge, behavior and self-assessment on food waste of university students in Germany
Got waste: knowledge, behavior and self-assessment on food waste of university students in Germany Open
The paper analyzes German students’ interest, perceived importance, knowledge, and behavior regarding food waste. This target group was expected to differ from the general population in terms of food consumption (shopping, cooking, and sto…
View article: Driving forces and characteristics of the value chain of flowering potted plants for the German market
Driving forces and characteristics of the value chain of flowering potted plants for the German market Open
The study investigated the value chain of flowering potted plants supplying the German market and the drivers influencing chain actors.The study builds on strategic and horticultural value chain literature.Data was collected by conducting …
View article: Peppers & More1: a teaching case in organizational behavior
Peppers & More1: a teaching case in organizational behavior Open
The teaching case discusses a number of organizational challenges faced by a German vegetable producer. Two business consultants were hired to assist and to explore the situation in the new production facility at Peppers & More. While the …
View article: Food-Scanners as a Radical Innovation in German Fresh Produce Supply Chains
Food-Scanners as a Radical Innovation in German Fresh Produce Supply Chains Open
Originally advertised as tools for end-consumers, portable food-scanners have recently reached a high level of awareness and show potential as instruments for quality assessment along fruit and vegetable supply chains. The current study ex…
View article: Sustainability Challenges and Innovations in the Value Chain of Flowering Potted Plants for the German Market
Sustainability Challenges and Innovations in the Value Chain of Flowering Potted Plants for the German Market Open
This study investigated the sustainability challenges and the adoption of sustainability innovations along the value chain of flowering potted plants supplying the German market. Data was collected through eighteen in-depths interviews wit…
View article: Making Food Rescue Your Business: Case Studies in Germany
Making Food Rescue Your Business: Case Studies in Germany Open
Initiatives of the European Union in the context of food waste running governmental and nonprofit campaigns strive to reach waste reduction goals. The study investigated entrepreneurial business models in the arena of food waste in Germany…
View article: Potential Applications of Food-Scanners in Fruit and Vegetable Supply Chains and Possible Consequences for the German Market
Potential Applications of Food-Scanners in Fruit and Vegetable Supply Chains and Possible Consequences for the German Market Open
Originally advertised as tools for end-consumers, food-scanners have recently gained publicity and show potential as instruments for quality assessment along the fruit and vegetable supply chain. The current study explores preferences and …
View article: Multi-layer agency problems in a non-profit and for-profit collaboration: a case study of a delicatessen product in support of a minority
Multi-layer agency problems in a non-profit and for-profit collaboration: a case study of a delicatessen product in support of a minority Open
The study investigated the collaboration between a non-profit and a for-profit organization and evaluated the benefits and drawbacks of the collaboration for the non-profit partner. The non-profit partner is a charitable organization that …
View article: Examining German Media Coverage of the Re-Evaluation of Glyphosate
Examining German Media Coverage of the Re-Evaluation of Glyphosate Open
This study investigates media coverage of the re-evaluation process of glyphosate from 1 January 2015 to 31 March 2018. In a comparative, qualitative print media analysis, the promotion of claims and the use of narratives of Die Zeit, a we…
View article: Applicability of Transaction Cost Economics to Understanding Organizational Structures in Solidarity-Based Food Systems in Germany
Applicability of Transaction Cost Economics to Understanding Organizational Structures in Solidarity-Based Food Systems in Germany Open
In response to consumer concerns about sustainability of food production and distribution systems, and the difficulties many agricultural producers face to self-sustain while providing the quality of products consumers desire, alternatives…
View article: A Local Gap in Sustainable Food Procurement: Organic Vegetables in Berlin’s School Meals
A Local Gap in Sustainable Food Procurement: Organic Vegetables in Berlin’s School Meals Open
Organic and local food plays an important role in the discussion of sustainable public procurement for school catering services. The present study investigates the value chain supplying school catering with organic produce, using the organ…
View article: Impacts of succession in family business
Impacts of succession in family business Open
Purpose While many studies in family business research focus on mono-causal impacts of succession, the purpose of this paper is to employ a systemic approach to analyze dynamic effects of intra-family succession on multiple business areas …
View article: Comparing German and Italian food banks
Comparing German and Italian food banks Open
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate food bank actors’ knowledge of food insecurity in Germany and in Italy, as well as interactions between food bank actors and food bank users. The study builds on a knowledge framework fro…
View article: Structures and Actors of the Organic Vegetable Value Chain for School Catering: a Case Study of the Berlin-Brandenburg Metropolitan Region
Structures and Actors of the Organic Vegetable Value Chain for School Catering: a Case Study of the Berlin-Brandenburg Metropolitan Region Open
With the European Union’s move towards “green public procurement”, there is an opportunity to bring more local organic produce into school catering. The present study investigates the value chain supplying school catering with organic prod…
View article: Solidarity: a Key Element in Alternative Food Networks
Solidarity: a Key Element in Alternative Food Networks Open
Alternative food networks (AFN) are self-organized groups of individuals and businesses that form new economic relationships intended to mitigate perceived problems in conventional food systems. These relationships are based on a set of pr…
View article: Understanding preferences of German flower consumers: the desire for sustained beauty
Understanding preferences of German flower consumers: the desire for sustained beauty Open
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide insights for flower retailers, horticultural practitioners and marketing managers into the prioritisation of cut flower attributes by German residents. Design/methodology/approach Applying a …
View article: RISK MANAGEMENT OF GERMAN FRUIT PRODUCERS
RISK MANAGEMENT OF GERMAN FRUIT PRODUCERS Open
Horticultural farms in Germany face substantial business risks. However, fruit farms often struggle to implement appropriate risk management processes, and the risk management literature widely has ignored this farm type. The aim of the st…
View article: Succession in Horticultural Family Businesses
Succession in Horticultural Family Businesses Open
Succession is a persistent topic in recent family business research and garners attention from a wide range of research areas. Strategic and principal-agent approaches discuss the subject from an organizational point of view; gender resear…