Paris, 29 September 2008


EFITA newsletter / 379 / European Federation for Information Technology in Agriculture, Food and the Environment


EuroBiO 2008: a Golden Opportunity for all stakeholders!
7 – 9 October – PARIS
- Conferences, partnering, career fair and exhibition
- The 2008 EuroBIO program is built around 4 main pillars, 4 good reasons for you to go !
See: http://www.eurobio.com


Inderscience publishers (SPECIAL ISSUE)

1. Title
Special Issue on: “[Innovation in the food chain: Strategies, tactics and practices]”


2. Description
Innovation has become a central topic in the business agenda of companies, and in many cases it has been recognized as the cornerstone for organizational survival and growth. The competitiveness of a firm is often linked to its ability to innovate. However, as modern competition does not take place between individual companies but between entire supply chains, the emerging challenges have to be faced at the supply chain level. Nowadays, there is a need to construct innovative supply chains, as opposed to single innovative companies. Creating and managing innovations in supply chains will become one of the main differentiating aspects in a world of global competition.

In the food industry in particular, market forces and to a great extent the globalization process, have been driving the industry towards more innovations in order to address market needs and face increased competition. At the same time, however, the level of research and development expenditures (which are relevant to innovation) in the food industry is rather low compared to total manufacturing. In addition, within the food chain, power imbalances seem also to affect innovation activity. For example, it has been found that retail power decreases innovation by manufacturers.
Moreover, the food industry presents some distinct characteristics:
- It has links with various food and non-food sectors where different levels of innovations are achieved (e.g. chemicals, food technology, packaging, machinery, agriculture, and food retailing).
- It is comprised of various subsectors (e.g. fruits and vegetables, dairy products, beverages, snack foods, flour and bakery products, confectioneries, meat and poultry products, fish and marine products and fats and oils) where significant differences exist in terms of innovative performance.

Some of the key questions are: What types of innovations take place in the food chain? Which are the sources and the stimulus of innovation? How should benefits of supply chain innovations be shared between supply chain partners? Which are the specific characteristics of the sector that affect innovation? Does innovation in the food industry have the same character as in other industries? What are the possible impacts of innovations upstream or downstream in the food supply chain? Are there positive spin-off effects in different stages of the supply chain?

In this special issue it is envisaged to expand the traditional view on innovation, often expressed in terms of product and process innovation. The aim is to link innovation in the food chain to new value that is brought in firms, instead of new things. Within this framework of developments, this special issue will offer an opportunity for international researchers to present their work.

The special issue editors welcome conceptual / theoretical and empirical research papers which will be original and will shed further light on this relatively unexplored topic.

3. Subject coverage
Relevant papers should be related to the food chain and some indicative topics are outlined below:
- Innovation strategy comparison (e.g. between countries, food subsectors, food chain levels, food chain partners, competitors)
- Diffusion of innovation
- Adoption of innovation
- Barriers and enablers of innovation
- Success and failure factors of innovation
- New product development
- Innovation in food retailing
- Innovation in food marketing, food branding
- Innovation in primary food production
- Consumer’s response to innovation
- Innovation in logistics services
- Innovation in quality control and traceability systems (GlobalGap, BRC, HACCP),
- Assessment and impact of innovation
- Profit and risk sharing of innovations
- Innovation and culture in cross-country food chains
- Innovation in the use of production technology (e.g. equipment, packaging, input materials)
- Innovation in the use of information and communications technologies
- Web-based innovation in product design (e.g. collaboration platforms)
- Role of collaboration in innovation
- Organizational innovation in food firms (e.g. SME’s vs. multinationals)

Prospective authors are encouraged to discuss their topic with the special issue editors.

4. Deadlines for submission

- Manuscript due: 01 February 2009
- Notification of acceptance: 30 April 2009
- Submission of revised manuscript: 30 July 2009
- Notification of final acceptance: 30 September 2009
- Planned publication date: 1st quarter of 2010

5. Any specific instructions for submissions
Papers should be submitted electronically to the Guest Editors.

6. Editor(s) contact details, including email(s)

Dr Michael Bourlakis
Senior Lecturer
Brunel University
Business School
Elliott Jaques Building
Uxbridge, Middlesex, UB8 3PH
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0) 1895265427
Email: Michael.Bourlakis(a)brunel.ac.uk

Dr Aristides Matopoulos
Lecturer
City College
Business Administration and Economics Department
International Faculty of the University of Sheffield
2 Kalapothaki Street, 54624
Thessaloniki
Greece
Tel: (+30) 2310 224026
e-mail: amatopoulos(a)city.academic.gr


9th GLOBALGAP Conference "Summit2008"
15 - 17 Oct. 2008, COLOGNE, Germany

GLOBALGAP (formerly known as EUREPGAP) has established itself as a key reference for Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) in the global market-place, by translating consumer requirements into agricultural production in a rapidly growing list of countries.

GLOBALGAP sets voluntary standards for the certification of agricultural products around the globe. The aim is to establish ONE standard for GAP with different product applications capable of fitting to the whole of global agricultureDelegates will be able to participate in a variety of panel discussions, plenary sessions and interact in networking breaks:
- Discuss latest developments with retailers and major suppliers operating in the region
- Benefit from hearing firsthand about the latest version of what's new in GLOBALGAP
- Hear from experts about the key topics of food safety and sustainability
- Learn how multi-stakeholder groups across the region are developing National GAP codes to include small scale farmers
- Get the latest information on inspection and auditing
- Become acquainted with the PROGIS – pioneering AGROffice software technology which is compatible with GLOBALGAP

What is the PROGIS AGROffice software technology?
It is a planning-, calculation-, documentation- evaluation and advisory tool for farmers and farm advisors and users profit from it, by
+ a better management,
+ optimising the whole work and production process
+ having ongoing direct access to the latest expert know-how
+ achieving a higher valuation of produced products
+ a reduced bureaucratic work
+ environmental care-taking
+ automatically reporting
+ complying easily with EU- and national legislations
+ high value advise
+ significant costs reductions especially in the field of logistics
+ intercompany comparisons etc.
+ having in hands a base technology for precision farming applications

Have a look at our booth in the 1st floor of the Congress-Center and get detailed information on this advanced, WinGIS (Geographic Information Systems) based software technology developed to enhance agricultural management.
Take part in this event and please register on www.summit2008.org! Here you will find any information you require. By attending this event you kill two birds with one stone – you will hear the latest news of GLOBALGAP and learn the unique agri-software technology of PROGIS. For single meetings please click at this link http://www.progis.com/events/summit2008/index.html and choose the timeframe you prefer for a presentation.


PROGIS International Conference 2009
11 - 12 March 2009 – VILLACH - Austria

The topic of this conference is the request for concerted activities to ensure that agriculture will be able to feed worldwide the ongoing growing population.

Climate change, the reduction of natural resources, a stronger demand for bioenergy, urbanization and environmental protection, are additional mega-trends that have to be considered. Hence, globally there is a strong demand for technologies and practical instruments for improving the planning, development and management of agriculture.
The conference deals with visions and their practical implementations in a flourishing agriculture.
There will be shown how the single members of the food processing chain will move together to achieve through networks of work processes significant improvements.

- ICT in agriculture – the groundwork for food chain management and its direct benefit for farmers
- Logistic - a platform for adding value
- Precision Farming – already available today for the benefit of farmers and environment
- Ecological farm management, risk management and resource management are not in conflict with economy
- Public-private business models
See: http://www.progis.com/events/progis09/
Contact: Walter H. MAYER
E-mail: office(a)progis.com


A directory of links to websites…
…that I personally consider useful for anyone that would like to start-up into Research and Development with focus on ICT, SMEs, e-business in Cyprus, or find partners in Cyprus, or simply to browse into useful stuff about Cyprus… I am planning to enrich it furthermore in the future.
See: http://www.amalgamacy.info/?Directory
Contact: Orestis TRINGIDES
E-mail: orestis(a)amalgamacy.info


Support the political process - vote early and often...!! This is a MUST...!
See: http://www.peteyandpetunia.com/VoteHere/VoteHere.htm
Contact: Mick HARKIN
E-mail: harkin(a)iol.ie


Woww, wooowww ...!!! Either name scan be switched from one line to the other, as you prefer...!!!

There are less than six weeks until the US Election, an election that will decide the next President of the United States.

The person elected will be the President of 'all' Americans, not just the Democrats or the Republicans. It's time that we all came together - Democrats and Republicans alike - in a bi-partisan effort for America!


* If you support Barack Obama, please drive with your headlights ON during the day.

* If you support the policies and character of John McCain, please drive with your headlights OFF at night.

* Together, we can make it happen!!!


Four Great Religious Truths: during these serious times, people of all faiths should remember these four great religious truths

1. Muslims do not recognize Jews as God's chosen people.

2. Jews do not recognize Jesus as the Messiah.

3. Protestants do not recognize the Pope as the leader of the Christian world.

4. Baptists do not recognize each other at liquor stores or hooters.


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