The innovative process of Brazilian and US orange juice processors: a comparison using patent analysis

• Main Authors: Fabiana Ribeiro Rossi, Ana Lúcia Vitale Torkomian
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universidade Estadual Paulista 2015-09-01
• Series: GEPROS: Gestão da Produção, Operações e Sistemas
• Subjects: Technological innovation; Patents; Orange juice processor
• Online Access: http://www.gepros.feb.unesp.br/index.php/gepros/article/view/1280/665

Since the 1980s, Brazil is the world´s leading producer of orange juice, and since that time has been followed by the United States (US). Over 90% of all orange juice produced in Brazil is exported, while US production is basically dedicated to internal consumption. The objective of this study was to compare the patenting dynamics of the orange juice processing industries in both Brazil and the US between 1978 and 2012. This was done by conducting a search in the Derwent Innovations Index (DII) and analyzing the patent applications exclusively related to orange juice processing. For this period, a total of 45 patent applications were found, 43 filed by US processors and two by Brazilian processors. It was seen that brand ownership on the part of US processors may have led to a greater need for more innovation in their end products, compared to Brazilian processors that mainly produce and export commodities while acquiring foreign technology in the form of machinery and inputs.