Technical knowledge and production contracts between a company and its suppliers: lessons from a French case-study
Résumé
Changing farming practices to improve crop diversification requires knowledge acquisition and transfer between the actors involved. Drawing on the theory of transaction costs and the knowledge economy, this article analyses the ways in which production contracts between an agri-feed company (the buyer) and storage organisations (suppliers) promote the transfer of technical knowledge needed for growing a minor crop in France. Semi-structured interviews with the company and its suppliers showed that there was a considerable need of technical knowledge for drawing up the contract, and that collectively organising the contract fostered knowledge transfer among actors.