Between Local and Global: A Geographical Analysis of Italian Agro-Food System of Innovation

GRAZIELLA FERRARA
Universitа degli Studi Suor Orsola Benincasa, Napoli, Italy

Abstract

Ferrara, G., 2017. Between local and global: A geographical analysis of Italian agro-food system of innovation. Bulg. J. Agric. Sci., 23 (1): 31–33

The agro-food is one of the main manufacturing industries in Italy. It accounts for more than 2 million fi rms, making up 9% of the Gross Domestic Products (GDP). However, Italian agro-food industry has several weak points such as small dimension of fi rms, county’s dependence on agricultural products realized abroad and weak innovative activities. Based on these assumptions, this paper offers a geographical analysis of Italian agro-food system of innovation aimed to evidence actions that fi rms and policy-makers have to realize. Specifi cally the paper evidences that fi rms have to invest in internationalization and innovation and policy-makers have to support them in several ways.

Key words: economic geography; agro-food; innovation; Italy; world; made in Italy

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