agri-food sector
8.2. Development potential of agri-food clusters from the regional perspective
Irrespective of the belief in the importance of business clusters for economic development, their real significance for developing the competitiveness of sectors is dependent on their development potential. The evaluation of the development potential of Polish agri-food clusters was based on a commonly used measure of the relative concentration which is the location quotient. The general formula to calculate the quotient is the following:
ܮܳ ൌ ݔ
ݔ ݔ
ݔ where:
xij – value of the analysed variable i in the area j, xj – total value of the analysed variable in the area j,
xin – value of the analysed variable i in the reference area n, xn – total value of the analysed variable in the reference area n.
The employment and the number of subjects registered in the National Official Business Register (REGON) were variables subject to analysis within the conducted studies. Values of the LQ for both variables in individual regions were calculated for three types of agri-food clusters singled out in accordance with the methodology and classification of the European Cluster Observatory (ECO). The three types of clusters include: Crop and animal production, Agricultural production and Food processing.
The threshold value of the LQ equal to 1 is the basis for concluding the occurrence of the relative concentration. In other words, wherever the condition LQ>1 is fulfilled, an over-average degree of concentration of existing subjects analysed may be expected. As the number of employees together with the
5 M.E. Porter, On Competition. Updated and Expanded Edition, op. cit.; M.E. Porter, Strategia konkurencji. Metody analizy sektorów i konkurentów, MT Biznes, Warszawa 2010.
number of branch representatives, classified to different types of clusters, were taken into consideration for the purpose of the evaluation of the development potential of agri-food clusters, the geometric average of location quotients calculated for both variables was assumed as a synthetic measure of the potential. Therefore, the development potential of this type of clusters may be attributed to regions with ඥୟ୲୰୮୭ୢ୫ ͳ. Results of the calculations are included in Tables 8.1-8.3.
The calculated values of location quotients suggest a high regional differentiation of the development potential of agri-food clusters as singled out in accordance with the typology of the ECO. For the cluster “Crop and animal production”, the development potential is the highest for the following regions: Kujawsko-Pomorskie, Lubelskie, Opolskie, WarmiĔsko-Mazurskie, Wielkopolskie and Zachodniopomorskie. The development potential of clusters
“Agricultural production” was observed in the six following regions: Kujawsko- -Pomorskie, Lubelskie, àódzkie, Opolskie, Podlaskie and Wielkopolskie. The cluster “Food processing” is the most frequent one among Polish regions. The group includes the following regions: Kujawsko-Pomorskie, Lubelskie, àódzkie, Maáopolskie, Opolskie, Podkarpackie, Podlaskie, ĝwiĊtokrzyskie, WarmiĔsko- -Mazurskie and Wielkopolskie.
Table 8.1. Values of location quotients (LQ) for the cluster “Crop and animal production” for individual regions
Region LQpodm LQzatr ටܮܳ௭௧ܮܳௗ
DolnoĞląskie 1.24 0.70 0.93
Kujawsko-Pomorskie 2.60 0.97 1.59
Lubelskie 0.75 1.08 0.90
Lubuskie 2.45 1.47 1.90
àódzkie 0.68 1.07 0.85
Maáopolskie 0.53 0.69 0.60
Mazowieckie 0.19 0.65 0.35
Opolskie 2.52 2.55 2.53
Podkarpackie 0.38 0.38 0.38
Podlaskie 0.45 0.76 0.59
Pomorskie 0.83 0.62 0.72
ĝląskie 0.26 0.68 0.42
ĝwiĊtorzyskie 0.34 0.51 0.42
WarmiĔsko-Mazurskie 1.13 1.58 1.33
Wielkopolskie 2.82 2.45 2.63
Zachodniopomorskie 2.52 1.04 1.62
Source: own calculations on the basis of the data of the Central Statistical Office of Poland.
Table 8.2. Values of location quotients (LQ) for the cluster “Agricultural production” for individual regions
Region LQpodm LQzatr ටܮܳ௭௧ܮܳௗ
DolnoĞląskie 0.58 0.77 0.67
Kujawsko-Pomorskie 1.70 1.65 1.68
Lubelskie 1.26 1.60 1.42
Lubuskie 0.55 1.15 0.80
àódzkie 1.12 1.24 1.18
Maáopolskie 0.41 0.77 0.56
Mazowieckie 0.55 0.88 0.69
Opolskie 2.17 1.27 1.66
Podkarpackie 0.88 0.93 0.91
Podlaskie 0.96 1.48 1.19
Pomorskie 0.79 0.76 0.77
ĝląskie 0.79 0.66 0.72
ĝwiĊtorzyskie 1.04 0.96 1.00
WarmiĔsko-Mazurskie 0.71 1.19 0.92
Wielkopolskie 2.49 1.27 1.78
Zachodniopomorskie 1.04 0.93 0.98
Source: own calculations on the basis of the data of the Central Statistical Office of Poland.
Table 8.3. Values of location quotients (LQ) for the cluster “Food processing”
for individual regions
Region LQpodm LQzatr ටܮܳ௭௧ܮܳௗ
DolnoĞląskie 0.50 0.72 0.60
Kujawsko-Pomorskie 1.34 1.19 1.27
Lubelskie 1.30 1.28 1.29
Lubuskie 0.99 0.91 0.95
àódzkie 1.16 1.39 1.27
Maáopolskie 1.00 1.03 1.01
Mazowieckie 0.89 0.84 0.87
Opolskie 0.92 1.17 1.04
Podkarpackie 0.97 1.12 1.04
Podlaskie 1.61 1.13 1.35
Pomorskie 0.72 0.76 0.74
ĝląskie 0.71 0.92 0.81
ĝwiĊtorzyskie 0.96 1.24 1.09
WarmiĔsko-Mazurskie 1.82 0.93 1.30
Wielkopolskie 1.30 1.30 1.30
Zachodniopomorskie 0.83 0.74 0.79
Source: own calculations on the basis of the data of the Central Statistical Office of Poland.
The evaluation of the development potential of clusters in terms of the concentration of the number of subjects and the related employment may be enriched with the analysis of the occurrence of cluster initiatives as well as the evaluation of the character of their branch orientation6. The objective is to consider the matter of development possibilities of strong agri-food clusters not only from the perspective of natural and economic conditions, but also from the perspective of institutional promotion7. The cluster initiative means an organised activity focused on developing and strengthening the cluster’s competitiveness, not only by its enterprises, but also by subjects representing authorities and research entities8. The promotion of cluster initiatives has become one of the leading elements of current economic policies in many developed countries.
However, it must be borne in mind that cluster initiatives may be created in practice independently of the economic activity concentration degree, as well as processes of competitiveness and cooperation in currently existing clusters. In this respect, three alternative scenarios of relationships between the objective occurrence of naturally formed clusters and the creation of cluster initiatives may be singled out. The first scenario assumes a situation when a particular type of economic activity intensifies in the particular area, together with the processes of competition and cooperation, although no organisation has come into existence which could support the cluster. The second scenario, diametrically different from the above one, assumes that the cluster initiative is created when the processes of concentration and spatial specialisation do not exist or exist at preliminary stages. This scenario is usually carried out together with authorities at different levels and by means of public resources in hope that it will contribute to the creation of concentrations of enterprises with a homogeneous profile of operations, and consequently to the creation of a cluster. The third scenario assumes the creation of cluster initiatives to support existing cluster structures. From the point of view of the economic policy focused on promoting clusters, this scenario may be considered as the most desirable option, as it assumes the conformity of time and space in the cluster’s functioning and its supporting cluster initiative.
6 S. Figiel, D. Kuberska, J. Kufel, Klastry i inicjatywy klastrowe w polskim sektorze rolno- -ĪywnoĞciowym, Multi-Annual Programme 2011-2014, no. 48, IAFE-NRI, Warszawa 2012, pp. 19-20.
7 S. Figiel, D. Kuberska, J. Kufel, Analiza uwarunkowaĔ i stanu rozwoju klastrów rolno- -ĪywnoĞciowych w Polsce, Multi-Annual Programme 2011-2014, no. 15, IAFE-NRI, Warszawa 2011, pp. 99-100.
8 Ö. Sölvell, Clusters – Balancing Evolutionary and Constructive Forces, Ivory Tower, Stockholm 2009.
As part of the studies, 132 cluster initiatives were identified on the basis of the Internet research, which function in different areas of the agri-food sector or are connected with the sector or rural areas in terms of resources. The identified initiatives were analysed in terms of the type of their subjects and the character of their conducted activities. Each initiative was awarded from 0 to 3 pluses depending on the number of subjects operating in economic activity areas related to the three identified types of agri-food clusters9.
The conformity analysis of the occurrence of cluster initiatives with the economic cluster potential was conducted by means of the index of intensity and branch orientation of initiatives (INOB) which was specifically elaborated for that purpose, with the following formula:
ܫܱܰܤ ൌ ඨܰሺܫሻ ߤሺܫሻܰሺሻ
ߤሺሻ where:
ܰሺܫሻ – number of initiatives of the particular category in the region, ߤሺܫሻ – average number of initiatives of the particular category per region,
ܰሺሻ – number of pluses awarded in the particular category of initiatives in the region,
ߤሺሻ – average number of pluses awarded in the particular category of initiatives per one region.
The basis of the evaluation of the conformity of the occurrence of cluster initiatives in individual regions with their economic cluster potential was the comparison of the values of the index of intensity and branch orientation of initiatives (INOB) with the values of the location quotient (LQ), both for the employment and the number of subjects. In evaluating the conformity of the occurrence of analysed cluster initiatives with the cluster potential, it was assumed that the most desirable situation from the point of view of the effectiveness of the promotion of the development of clusters in the agri-food sector under public intervention is the situation when cluster initiatives fulfil two conditions. Firstly, their subjective and objective profile is characterised by the tightest possible relation with the objective scope of activity, as classified to the three considered types of agri-food clusters. Secondly, they function in the locations (regions) where there are quite strong clusters mapped on the basis of the employment and the number of subjects. In other words, the objective is that the occurrence and the branch orientation of cluster initiatives, evaluated by
9 S. Figiel, D. Kuberska, J. Kufel, Klastry i inicjatywy klastrowe w polskim sektorze rolno- -ĪywnoĞciowym, op. cit.
means of the INOB index, are as consistent as possible with the type, in particular with the development potential of clusters in the particular region, evaluated by means of the location quotient (LQzatr or LQpodm).
With regard to the adopted criteria of evaluation of the clusters’ strength, it was assumed that a high degree of conformity of the occurrence of cluster initiatives with the cluster potential existing in the particular region is when the values of the INOB index higher than one occur together with the values of the geometric average of the location quotients LQzatr and LQpodm (LQ) higher than one, reflecting the development potential of clusters. An overview of the results of the analysis is included in Table 8.4.
Table 8.4. Values of the INOB index in comparison with values of the location quotient (LQ) for three types of agri-food clusters in individual regions
Region Type UiCHZ Type PR Type Pĩ LQ INOB LQ INOB LQ INOB
DolnoĞląskie 0.93 1.08 0.67 1.61 0.60 0.83
Kujawsko-Pomorskie 1.59 0.62 1.68 0.66 1.27 0.39
Lubelskie 0.90 0.88 1.42 0.93 1.29 1.34
Lubuskie 1.90 0.51 0.80 1.14 0.95 0.63
àódzkie 0.85 1.53 1.18 1.97 1.27 1.22
Maáopolskie 0.60 0.36 0.56 0.66 1.01 0.39
Mazowieckie 0.35 1.97 0.69 1.31 0.87 1.38
Opolskie 2.53 0.00 1.66 0.00 1.04 0.16
Podkarpackie 0.38 1.53 0.91 1.31 1.04 1.11
Podlaskie 0.59 1.61 1.19 0.66 1.35 1.89
Pomorskie 0.72 0.62 0.77 1.31 0.74 1.11
ĝląskie 0.42 0.00 0.72 0.00 0.81 0.22
ĝwiĊtorzyskie 0.42 1.90 1.00 1.31 1.09 0.86 WarmiĔsko-Mazurskie 1.33 2.49 0.92 0.66 1.30 1.99 Wielkopolskie 2.63 0.36 1.78 0.66 1.30 1.45 Zachodniopomorskie 1.62 0.36 0.98 0.66 0.79 0.95 Types of clusters: UiCHZ – Crop and animal production, PR – Agricultural production, Pĩ – Food processing.
Source: own calculations on the basis of the data of the Central Statistical Office of Poland and the results of conducted studies.
Apart from the values of the geometric average of the location quotients LQzatr and LQpodm (LQ), the values of the INOB index were provided for each type of clusters in individual regions. The values LQ and INOB for individual regions are higher than one only in 9 out of 48 analysed cases. With regard to the type “Crop and animal production”, the above characteristic was observed only in the region WarmiĔsko-Mazurskie, while with regard to the type
“Agricultural production” in the regions àódzkie and ĝwiĊtokrzyskie. The
highest number of conformity cases for 6 regions refers to the type “Food processing”. While evaluating the conformity of the occurrence of cluster initiatives and their branch orientation profiles with the development potential of agri-food clusters in individual regions through the adopted measures and assumptions, it may be concluded that the most desirable scenario from the point of view of the rationality of the promotion policy is used less frequently than it could be expected. The above statement is of high importance for the correct targeting of potential public intervention aimed at promoting business clusters related to the agri-food sector.
8.3. Selection of key exporting clusters in the Polish agri-food sectors in