Summary
This cross-sectional SWOT analysis examined 39 agri-food sector organisations across Northern Portugal to identify stakeholder needs and strategic development priorities. The study employed structured frameworks (PESTEL and MEETHS) combined with logistic regression and qualitative analysis to reveal substantial heterogeneity in sector challenges: whilst cooperatives and primary producers struggle with technology costs and labour retention, larger integrated corporations demonstrate greater adaptability to market and dietary trends. Key recommendations emphasise investment in innovation, inter-organisational collaboration, and targeted policy support to strengthen sector competitiveness and sustainability.
UK applicability
The findings regarding labour cost competitiveness, technology adoption barriers, and retailer dominance in distribution are broadly relevant to UK food supply chains, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises and cooperatives. However, the Portuguese regulatory and market context may limit direct policy transfer; UK organisations typically operate within different labour market conditions and digital infrastructure maturity.
Key measures
SWOT categories (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) organised using PESTEL (Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Environmental, Legal) and MEETHS (Market, Economic, Environmental, Technological, Human, Strategic) frameworks; logistic regression coefficients for inferential statistics
Outcomes reported
A SWOT analysis of 39 agri-food organisations in Northern Portugal identified sector-specific challenges and opportunities, including technology adoption barriers, labour retention difficulties, and differential market adaptation across organisation types and subsectors.
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