“Ambidexterity”: trump card for farm's innovativeness and competitiveness

Purpose The paper aims to analyze the relevance of networking and social capital in promoting adoption sustainable innovation, then reinforcing trajectories multifunctional agriculture. It puts forwards a systemic perspective by focusing on agricultural knowledge innovation systems. More precisely, we share idea “micro systems”, addressing ambidexterity as engine for boosting innovation. Design/methodology/approach Empirical analysis is focused adopted young farmers Italy mediation effect ambidextrous relations performing adoption. Ambidextrous are analyzed within at micro-AKIS level, through lens capital. Relationships between statistically measured. Findings shows how develops effect, with strong impact farm's innovative capacity. Actually, our results confirm that reveal good performance stimulate and, consequently, farms' competitiveness, alongside path As consequence, activity may address possible policy action aim strengthen innovativeness. Originality/value tries fill gap literature, which explored