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Tackling Uncertainty through Business Plan Analysis—A Case Study on Citrus Waste Valorisation in the South of Italy

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  • Annalisa Ferrari

    (Department of Law and Economics, Unitelma-Sapienza, University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy)

  • Piergiuseppe Morone

    (Department of Law and Economics, Unitelma-Sapienza, University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy)

  • Valentina E. Tartiu

    (TIK Centre for Technology, Innovation and Culture, University of Oslo, 0851 Oslo, Norway)

Abstract

The paper addresses issues related to the citrus waste valorisation process and its inherent uncertainties from the perspective of a new and innovative firm. Thus, we investigate the relevance/role of a business plan analysis in developing a new business (new biobased value chains) in the case of citrus waste valorisation. We look primarily at the inherent uncertainty associated with the start-up phase of a new business aimed at producing and wholesaling semi-finished products derived from the recovery of citrus waste in southern Italy. In order to do so, we use a qualitative case study approach focusing on a small citrus waste valorisation firm located in Calabria, using Agro Management Development (AMD) as a unit of analysis. The choice of this research setting is not random, given the fact that many companies from the Mediterranean are trying to engage in activities to valorise citrus waste deriving from production value chains. The main findings of our analysis can be summarized as follows: (i) focusing primarily on one area of uncertainty ( i.e. , market uncertainty) might undermine chances of success, as it could indicate an incomplete business strategy to stakeholders, hence hindering their willingness to commit to a new entrepreneurial initiative; (ii) although a business plan could be an effective way to narrow down uncertainty for a new innovative firm, it should be properly customised in order to address all relevant dimensions of uncertainty. Indeed, an insufficiently developed plan might be counterproductive, revealing (for instance, to possible investors) an inadequate strategy for facing and solving emerging problems, therefore putting the whole business project at risk.

Suggested Citation

  • Annalisa Ferrari & Piergiuseppe Morone & Valentina E. Tartiu, 2016. "Tackling Uncertainty through Business Plan Analysis—A Case Study on Citrus Waste Valorisation in the South of Italy," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 6(1), pages 1-12, January.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:6:y:2016:i:1:p:5-:d:62486
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Morone, Piergiuseppe & Caferra, Rocco & D'Adamo, Idiano & Falcone, Pasquale Marcello & Imbert, Enrica & Morone, Andrea, 2021. "Consumer willingness to pay for bio-based products: Do certifications matter?," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 240(C).
    2. Negro, Viviana & Ruggeri, Bernardo & Fino, Debora & Tonini, Davide, 2017. "Life cycle assessment of orange peel waste management," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 148-158.
    3. Pasquale Marcello Falcone & Enrica Imbert, 2019. "Tackling Uncertainty in the Bio-Based Economy," International Journal of Standardization Research (IJSR), IGI Global, vol. 17(1), pages 74-84, January.
    4. Simona Consoli & Cinzia Caggia & Nunziatina Russo & Cinzia Lucia Randazzo & Alberto Continella & Giulia Modica & Santa Olga Cacciola & Luigi Faino & Massimo Reverberi & Andrea Baglieri & Ivana Puglisi, 2023. "Sustainable Use of Citrus Waste as Organic Amendment in Orange Orchards," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-22, January.

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