COLLECTIVE ENTREPRENEURSHIP RESEARCH AND EDUCATION FOR SOCIALLY-DISADVANTAGED SMALL- AND MEDIUM-FOOD SYSTEM ENTERPRISES

The long-term goal is to increasing access of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) owned and/or operated by minority, marginalized, or otherwise socially disadvantaged (MMSD) persons to local and regional food systems. The project focuses on the "the scaling-up challenge" in food systems: (1) how to get more nodes in the entrepreneur's network; (2) how to allow the nodes to grow, so as to increase throughput; and (3) how to encourage collective action in pursuit of revenues and profits.The significant feature of this proposed project is to empower MMSD populations to formstrategic collectiveswhich support the founding of new ventures, improve market access and establish resilient marketing channels to add value, stimulate innovation, and increase the size and scope of enterprises.The project addresses two knowledge gaps: (1) identify best practices for MMSD populations to form entrepreneurial networksand use collective strategies within these networks to overcome social disadvantage to found new enterprises and increase the scale, profitability, and sustainability of their ventures; and(2) how to develop education programs by Extensionand other agriculture educators to facilitate collective entrepreneurial action by MMSD populations.Four specific objectives of the project:1.[Research] Identify curricular needs of MMSD-owned/operated SMEs in the food system regarding collective entrepreneurial strategies.2.[Extension] Develop a training program on entrepreneurship and collective strategies that meets the needs of MMSD-owners/operators of food system SMEs.3.[Extension] Evaluate the effectiveness of this training program for pilot training cohorts of Missouri-based small ruralbusinesses, including farms, owned and operated by MMSD persons, particularly women and racial/ethnic minorities.4.[Research + Extension] Compile and share project outputs and impacts regarding collective entreprenurial strategies on MMSD venture performance, scaling, and success