Effective management of the agro-industrial sector from the perspective of Research, Development, Innovation, and Innovation Culture (R&D&I&IC)

Abstract

This article highlights the importance of adopting a focus on Research, Development, Innovation, and Innovation Culture [R&D&I&IC] as part of the process of effective management of the agro-industrial sector, emphasizing the main challenges, opportunities for improvement, and strategies adopted in today’s world to promote the agro-industrial sector. The R&D+i+CIn approach integrates research, development, innovation, and innovation culture as fundamental elements for the generation, management, and application of actions in favor of socioeconomic development, optimizing productive activity, competitiveness, and the sustainability of agri-food initiatives. This is in response to the constant demands and changes required by international markets. Using a qualitative-descriptive approach, a documentary review of scientific articles or studies from primary and secondary sources was carried out, focusing on those that highlighted the importance of R&D&I&CIn in the management of agro-industrial sector chains. This documentary review included scientific articles published in the last ten years (2014-2024) with a high impact in indexed journals or academic repositories. The main results show that innovation not only strengthens competitiveness but also promotes strategic collaboration at all levels, generating competitive advantages in the economic, productive, and social sectors. In conclusion, the role played by R&D&I in the agro-industrial sector is crucial for improving production efficiency and generating value-added products created from any of the agro-production chains that make up the agro-industrial sector. Likewise, strengthening a culture of innovation in the agro-industrial sector is fundamental for the adoption, appropriation, and transfer of knowledge, where creativity and innovation are key elements for the development of quality, safety, and competitive products.