GOFOOD – GOFOOD pakke B

This project addresses the question of how competitiveness and innovativeness of food producers are affected by processes of governance and industry interaction in a globalising environment. In response to major challenges for global food supplies, Norwegian food industry and regulatory authorities need to understand the challenges and opportunities arising from new technologies, shifting multilateral regimes and, in consequence, shifting patterns of value chain interaction. Such understanding will improve the capacity of Norwegian food industries to formulate adequate strategies for knowledge-based-competitiveness. The Norwegian system of food governance has developed from a corporative, nation state based system in the 1970s and 1980s into a more market driven, network based public private partnership system from the 1990s onwards. This governance system recently has taken heavy inputs from multi-level governance structures evolving globally (WTO, EU, UN). The project analyses and evaluates changing systems of governance, including private-public partnerships, and changing relationships along the food supply chain. By studying the structures and strategies of major players in selected supply chains, the project will increase knowledge on how new governance forms affect innovation and competitiveness in Norwegian food industries. Key research questions are: 1. What ‘critical supply chain assets’ can be identified, and how do these impact on power, cooperation and other relationships along the supply chain? 2. How are processing companies improving their market position at home and abroad?. 3. How are new modes of governance influencing relations within Norwegian food systems? 4. How is financialisation taking place in the food chains of Australia and Norway?