Innovation in Citrus Value Chain Competitiveness.

• Author: Bonales-Valencia, Joel

INTRODUCTION

Lemons are considered a priority crop within the state. Thus, there is great potential for economic activity. According to the State Information Office for Sustainable Rural Development (OEIDRUS 2013). during 2013 Michoacan's state ranked as the third largest producer of lemons in Mexico, providing 21.08% of the national production. There are thirty one unicipalities that contribute to this production: Aguililla, Apatzingan, Aquila, Ario, Buenavista, Churumuco, Coahuayana, Cojumatlan, Zamora, La Huacana, Huetamo, Jiquilpan, Lazaro Cardenas, Mugica, Nuevo Urecho, Pajacuaran, Paracuaro, Periban, Los Reyes, San Lucas, Tepalcatepec, Tinguindin, Tiquicheo, Tumbiscatio, Turicato, Tuzantla, Tzitzio, Uruapan, Carranza, Villamar, Zamora.

The article was developed with the goal of inferring the variables that drive the increase in export competitiveness of the lemon sector of the state of Michoacan on the basis of innovation networks and actors in order to develop a solution to increase exports competitively in the international market. To achieve the objectives of the paper, the fundamentals of research and theoretical foundations are presented, which range from definitions to theories that will be used for the development of research, both concerning innovation networks and competitiveness.

It can be considered that networks are open structures that are able to expand without limits, thus, integrating new nodes, while they communicate with each other by sharing the same communication codes. Asocial structure that is based on networks, can be considered a very dynamic and open system, which is susceptible to innovation without threatening its balance. The morphology of networks is also a source of reorganization to power relations (Medina, Garcia, & Aguilar, 2006).

Because the networks are developed through exchange of experiences, emphasizing the development of attitudes and behaviors help to create a closeness despite the distance, allowing for easy movement of information flows, raw materials, people and energy. Hence the absence of network information just does not happen (Calame, 1994). The word network comes from the Latin rete, and it is a term used to define a structure which has the general power to have a characteristic pattern.

"A network develops the exchange of experiences, but above all, develops attitudes-behavior comprising, therefore, facilitate positively evaluate the importance of being interconnected, to learn from others, to listen and respect others. The Internet is a tool to expand the innovation, network has processes or mechanisms to create, share, disseminate and use knowledge that allow networked learning" (Aubarell, 2010). According to Schumpeter (2000), an innovative entrepreneur is motivated to take the risk of introducing a new idea in the market, driven by the extraordinary benefits that it expects to receive in the future. This approach is in his Theory of Economic Development, where he states that having innovation is the most important force for economic growth.

Undoubtedly the economic development of an institution, organization or country depends on the ability to invent (create ideas), innovate (apply ideas) and then spread them. These business improvements can even become enhancements or changes that affect an entire society (Lopez Mielgo, Montes Peon, & Vazquez Ordas, 2007).

This section will show some proposed concepts to define innovation. Sanchez (2007) mentions that among the many existing definitions of innovation, two stand out, because they allow a better idea about the concept:

"Innovation is seen as synonymous with production, assimilation and successfully exploit a novelty in the economic and social spheres, so as to provide new solutions to problems and thus allow meeting the needs of people and the society. Therefore, innovation aims to benefit society."

An innovation is the implementation of new ideas, concepts, products, services and practices intended to be useful for increasing productivity. An essential element of innovation is its successful application commercially (Munoz et al., 2007).

Sahin et al. (2007) try to find out whether there is a linear relationship among these series we have checked each series whether they are integrated at the same order or not.

The networks are composed of different groups, ranging from business and academia, to producing a good or service that are related by certain factors, economic sectors or activities.

Innovation networks are by nature an evolutionary character and occur as they are developed, is why the integration of an innovation network develops capacity to accelerate learning new behaviors also provides its members surplus value derived from the organizational dynamics of the network (del Valle, Luis, & Santos, 2002).

Based on the theoretical foundations described above, it is concluded that the dependent variable for this research is the competitiveness of exports. And those variables that generate any changes or modifications on another variable which are related in some way, are: Innovation Network and Actors (Human Resources).

The hypothesis of this research:

[H.sub.1]: There is a positive relationship between the innovation network and the actors that comprise it, which is reflected in the behavior of the export competitiveness of the lemon sector of the state of Michoacan.

[H.sub.2]: The proper use of the connections between actors and the dimensions of the structure that forms the lemon sector of the state of Michoacan leads to a positive impact manifested by a higher level of competitiveness in exports in this sector.

THEORICAL FRAMEWORK

Currently, trade develops in a highly dynamic world, which is characterized by intense competition between companies to position themselves in the international market. It is precisely for this reason that companies constantly generated and incorporates innovations or, as del Valle et al. (2002) state, new answers to help us to have a greater ability to...