Integral management model to strengthen the agro-food industry

This study proposes a management model to strengthen Venezuelan food industries in delivering safe and better quality products to consumers, using competitive and efficient production modes. Factors incorporated in the model were identified, developed and articulated, based on the concept of integral management and behaviour patterns that have led domestic and foreign firms to position themselves in the market (what, with what, how, for what or for whom is it done). Validity of the assumptions was verified by simple correlation analysis between corporate performance indicators and variables that reveal attention to quality, product safety, environment, safety and technological innovation. Results obtained after processing information from a sample of 129 industries indicate that a combination of safe production factors, valuation of knowledge and technological innovation, as well as social responsibility policies and actions for the integral management concept, make it possible to generate a progressively adopted management model that, considering the reality of the sector, can facilitate continuous performance improvement.