Unseen catalyst: How networking facilitation and brokerage drive agri-food innovation amidst growing innovation support service diversification in the global south

Abstract This paper examines the role of networking service activities in fostering sustainability-oriented innovations in agriculture and in the agri-food sector. It focuses on case studies from Cameroon, Madagascar, and Burkina Faso. While existing current research on networking for innovation has focused on management and business issues, this study introduces and uses the novel concepts of “service situation” and “Innovation Support Services (ISS)” to analyse the role of networking service activities in agri-food innovation processes. The findings reveal that networking activities were not prioritised as key services by service providers instead, the focus was on resource access and capacity-building services. Additionally, institutional support for niche innovations and demand articulation services were observed to be lacking. The study underscores the necessity for a more comprehensive service portfolio that extends beyond technical training, advocating for the deliberate incorporation of networking, institutional support, advisory, consultancy, and backstopping services into innovation processes. The study further proposes a categorisation of networking activities into two distinct types: managed (intentional) and informal (unintentional). This categorisation is intended to facilitate a more precise assessment thereby enhancing their role in promoting innovation. The paper further postulates that networking services, although invisible, are pivotal for the success of innovations by providing adaptable support throughout different phases. By strategically delineating networking approaches for each innovation phase, service providers and beneficiaries can enhance the effectiveness and outcomes of innovation efforts in the agri-food sector.