Measuring innovation capacity in the agrifood sector: from single companies to value chains

Abstract This paper proposes an approach for measuring innovation in the agrifood sector. First we develop a concept of innovation taking into account its multiform, complex and embedded character. We then we evaluate the validity of the concept by applying it to single firms and value chains in the agrifood sector. This reveals that the concept works well both at firm and value chain levels. This paper provides the basis for future research in the field of innovation measurement at firm and value chain levels, providing also important implications for the further development of the proposed approach. We encourage other scholars to test the applicability of our approach to other sectors.