Understanding actor innovation behavior: The application of network governance theory in agricultural innovation platforms

Innovation platforms are increasingly being used as a means of operationalizing innovation systems thinking. Agricultural innovation platforms are intended to bring together a number of stakeholders to promote an identified agricultural innovation. This is done through exchange of knowledge and other valuable resources to solve common problems. However, given the relatively new nature of innovation platforms, there is still limited conceptual knowledge on the mechanism within the platforms that leads to the implementation of innovations by different stakeholders who often have conflicting interests. This conceptual paper intended to review and unearth the intermediate processes that influence the actor innovation behavior by using the network governance theory. The review shows that the generation and implementation of ideas in an innovation platform is a process that involves structural, relational and social mechanisms. This review provides a foundation for future empirical studies in innovation platforms and particularly how they influence actor innovation behavior. Key words: Innovation platform, innovation behavior, network governance, agricultural innovation platforms.