Organizational innovation in the context of family farms: lean diagnosis

• Main Authors: Ana Aguiar, Luisa Silva, Cristina Parente, Cristina Costa
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universidade do Porto, Faculdade de Engenharia (FEUP) 2020-08-01
• Series: Journal of Innovation Management
• Subjects: lean production; family farming; portugal; integrated production; agriculture
• Online Access: https://journalsojs3.fe.up.pt/index.php/jim/article/view/508

Family farming has been on the agenda worldwide. Portugal is no exception. Act No. 64/2018, published in 2018, establishes the Family Farming Statute. Its preponderance in food and in the sustainability of families and territories has been reinforced by the sustainable development paradigm. However, competitiveness constraints assigned to the production system is often seen as an obstacle. Combining the theoretical frameworks of integrated agriculture and work organizations, we offer a lean sociological perspective on family farms producing lettuce. We concluded that their production system is characterized by a set of innovative practices very close to a lean approach. However, there is room for improvements in a production system that seems to maintain a family-based workforce and traditional know-how.