SOCIAL INNOVATION AND HIGH-QUALITY COCOA PRODUCTION: A CASE STUDY OF THE ‘CACAU SUL BAHIA’ NETWORK

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze whether the formation of the ‘Cacau Sul Bahia’ Network promoted social innovation in southern Bahia, Brazil. Data were collected through participant observations, documental analysis and bibliographic based in the history of the region, and semi-structured interviews with 8 institutions and 10 cocoa producers who are members of the Cacau Sul Bahia Association (CSBA). Social network data were analyzed using UCINET. The approaches of social innovation, territorial development and social networks were the basis for the analyzes. The results showed that ‘Cacau Sul Bahia’ Network promotes some aspects of social innovation, such as cooperation, social governance, collective efforts and trust building. Although the main goal of Network is to improve the quality of cocoa beans and add value to local chocolate, its effects reach much farther. The ‘Cacau Sul Bahia’ Network formation, with the creation of the Cacau Sul Bahia Association leveraged the cultural value and historical importance of cocoa in the region, which has recently been granted geographical indication protection. Actors participating in the ‘Cacau Sul Bahia’ Network contribute to territorial development in southern Bahia. Personal and professional ties between actors are strong and play an essential role in the success of the association. However, strengthening the social capital is needed to reinforce the process of social innovation more broadly. This empirical research provides scientific and technical contributions about social innovation, high-quality production systems and geographical indication protection in a developing country, showing that social dialogue, community governance, and collective efforts can stimulate sustainable development and quality improvement in disadvantaged rural areas.