Reacting to law based technological change: opportunities derived from organizational learning in the Italian poultry sector

A ban on using Antimicrobic Growth Promoters (AGPs) in the poultry sector has recently come into force in accordance with European Union norms. This innovation of the institutional environment greatly influences the technology in use. This study conceptualizes the poultry industry in terms of technological paradigm and technological trajectory and suggests that the expected changes are costly to achieve due to the scarcity of technological opportunities. The idea proposed is that the interactions among agents along the supply chain may contribute to the solution of the emerging issues. The empirical outcomes map the skill creation in the existing networks of technicians and growers supporting the exchange of information and knowledge. These also suggest that some opportunities exist to enhance technological knowledge and contribute to the solution of emerging issues depending on the interaction among growers and processor technicians.