As the industrialized agro-food supply systems have been commonly criticized for their adverse environmental and social impact, Short food supply chains have emerged as a promising sustainable alternative. Given that the history of SFSCs is relatively short, the majority of empirical evidences is from developed countries, and existing studies on SFSCs in developing country context are rather limited. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the farmers’ attitudes towards participating in SFSCs by conducting a field research in China. Semi-structured interviews were implemented with eight participants selected from a local farmer market as a pilot study. The social and economic reasons are found to be the main motivations of Chinese farmers participating in SFSCs. However, none of these interviewed participants are aware of the environmental effects of SFSCs. Moreover, the findings were cross-compared with existing studies conducted in developed countries. It was found that Chinese farmers participating in SFSCs are mainly passive choice, as they lack of relevant knowledge and governmental support.

Fair trade has expanded worldwide as a formal certification, while in developing countries like Brazil, there is still a lack of information about this concept in a context of the growth of social businesses. To answer the research question “How is fair trade currently organized in Brazil and what are the constrains and opportunities involved?”, we analyzed a database of 277 Brazilian organizations linked to fair trade, followed by in-depth interviews with Brazilian experts. Results show that fair trade has grown between 2005 and 2012 due to the support of institutions and public agencies, even if organizations still face financial difficulties. As it has grown as a public policy, its development has strengthened the concept and the groups involved, providing a good perspective for the internal market. Fair trade has a social role and a political nature, what might attract the attention of policy makers regarding social programs and the support of fair trade organizations.

Objective: This article is intended to demonstrate how the use of Blockchain by a Social Fintech can be viewed under the lens of the Social Innovation construct and its elements (dimensions). Theoretical Framework: The configuration of the elements (dimensions) was based on studies by Tardif and Harrisson (2005), Cloutier (2003) and André and Abreu (2005), according to the model of Souza, Lessa and Lazaro (2019). Method: The study was descriptive and exploratory. The case study method was applied with content analysis. The initial inductive analyzes made three dimensions for social innovation emerge more clearly: the Character component, Social Innovativeness and Transformation. Results and Discussion: We came to the conclusion that access to credit using Blockchain technology to fulfill a social demand values territorial specificities through the organization and mobilization of excluded groups and territories, and helps in altering behavior, attitudes or perceptions. Research Implications: The role of this research for the area of study shows the dimensions of social innovation as a tool for analyzing a social enterprise. Further investigation with more depth in other settings and evaluating the results is essential for this field. New Social Fintechs are continually emerging. Within this environment, economic models are being transformed as they seek a way to break down barriers in the most adversarial models of society by using blockchain technology. Originality/Value: The relevance of this research is related to the role of improving the concept and practices of social innovation and the development of initiatives geared towards social economic inclusion.

Industrial Ecology (IE) is pointed as an alternative to the sustainable development because it accosts the permeability between human activities and biosphere. However, it presents poor emerging perspectives of insights to the social sciences. In turn, the New Institutionalism considers the influence of the social and cultural factors in the functioning of the organizations. It proposes that the environment exerts influences in relation to the organization and the human being is semi conscious before the institutional forces according as their decisions are conditioned by the socio and environmental structures. Thus, there is an institution when an organization is legitimized by the society in accordance to their cultural rules. This theoretical essay aims to analyze the aspects found in the institutionalization of the organizations that can facilitate or hinder the operational process of the IE. As elements presented in the institutionalization of the organization that can facilitate process of IE included: cultural norms socially accepted and parameters for how to act; an institution seen as an effective and necessary and institutions stabilize expectations. Among the factors of the difficulties are: action by habit, distance from the essence of the cause of change; difficulty in adopting innovations and attitude of self-defense.