Accomplishing sustainability in the agribusiness sector is a significant, yet time-sensitive, challenge, especially when balanced with the need to grow sufficient quantity and quality of food to keep the growing global population healthy.
Through both quantitative and qualitative methods, this book explores the extent to which the agribusiness sector is already evolving to become sustainable and the ways in which innovation in the industry can help address sustainable development goals, particularly around zero hunger, gender equality, decent work, responsible consumption and production, and climate action. The contributors to this volume address the following key questions: What are the drivers and barriers for the agribusiness sector to become sustainable? Which business models best facilitate the implementation of sustainable goals? How can we measure the extent to which the agribusiness sector is becoming more sustainable? How can the agribusiness sector leverage recent technological advancements to achieve its sustainability goals? The analysis of the sustainability challenges for the sector ranges across various facets of the industry including employment, pre-production industries, agriculture, food processing, distribution, and trade.
This book will be of significant interest to readers in agribusiness, innovation management, and sustainability.
Author(s): Francesco Appio, Federica Brunetta, Maria Carmela Annosi
Series: Routledge Studies in Agricultural Economics
Publisher: Routledge
Year: 2022
Language: English
Pages: 195
City: London
Cover
Half Title
Series
Title
Copyright
Contents
List of contributors
Introduction
Introduction
Presentation of the chapters
Theories, concepts, and definitions
The role of business models and ecosystems
The role of innovative technologies in sustainability
Conclusion
Part I Theories, concepts, and definitions
1 State-of-the-art and conceptual issues: agribusiness and sustainability
Introduction
Method for literature review
Disciplinary, methodological, and contextual orientation of agribusiness sustainability research
Theoretical underpinnings and major themes
Institutional change and legitimacy
Organizational change
Sustainable value chains
Viability of sustainable enterprise
Contributing to sustainable development
Sustainability and agribusiness: a future research agenda
Conclusion
References
2 The role of agribusiness in achieving sustainable development goals: technologies, strategies, and ecosystems
Introduction: the impact of agribusiness on the sustainable development goals (SDGs)
The importance of agriculture in fighting poverty and improving living conditions: technologies and innovative approaches
The role of agriculture in fighting poverty
The role of technological innovation in agriculture
The impact of agribusiness in fighting poverty: technological revolution, climate-smart agriculture, and genetic enhancement
The role of frugal innovation in democratizing agricultural innovation
The role of agribusiness in empowering women: reducing inequalities and improving work conditions
Natural resource depletion and greenhouse gas emissions pose questions about the sustainability of current food consumption and production models
Agribusiness and the increasing pressure on natural resources
The role of agriculture in GHG emissions
Climate change, ecosystems, and agricultural productivity
Carbon footprint, life cycle assessment techniques, and other tools to measure agribusiness sustainability
How food systems should be reformed to achieve sustainability and become instrumental for climate action
The role of agribusiness in the food system: a holistic versus an atomistic view
Transition to sustainable food systems
Agri-enterprises, circular production, zero waste, and other sustainability paradigms
The agri-food industry toward sustainability: agricultural research, GIS technologies, and renewable energies
Conclusion: future directions for agribusiness in the framework of the SDGs
References
3 The sustainability disclosure on gender equality: insights from Italian agri-food listed companies
Introduction
Gender equality and SDGs in agri-food
Gender equality in sustainability disclosures
A study of listed agri-food companies in Italy
Sample and data source
Research method
Results
Emerging drivers for gender reporting in the Italian agri-food sector
Practical implications
References
Part II The role of business models and ecosystems
4 Inclusive value creation in the coffee industry: a framework of blockchain-enabled dynamic capabilities for sustainable international supply chain transformation
Introduction
Sustainable supply chains
Coffee supply chains
Blockchain technology in agri-food supply chains
Theoretical framework
Sustainable coffee supply chain management practices and inclusive value creation
Blockchain-enabled dynamic capabilities for brand differentiation and long-term competitive advantage
Discussion
References
5 Associativism as a promoter of sustainability in farmers and a driver for creating value for sustainable practices: the case of Socicana
Introduction
The sugar-energy sector as a promoter of sustainability
Socicana
History of Socicana
Members
Sector of activity, representativeness, and geographical scope
Services provided
Governance and organizational structure
Associative fee
Promoting sustainable development
Top Cana Program
Operational aspects
Main results
Bonsucro certification program
Operational aspects of the program
Main results
RSB certification program
Operational aspects of the program
Main results
Creating value through sustainability
Crédito Rural Verde
Operational aspects of the program
Main results
Bonsucro credits
Operational aspects of the program
Main results
Conclusion
Teaching notes
Overview
Statement of relevance
Target market statement
Suggested assignment questions
Annexes
COP 21 and the possible impacts on the Brazilian sugar-energy sector
Socicana services provides
Top Cana general results
General data
6 Social business models in agri-food: an interview with Sara Rajabli, founder of Buta Art & Sweets
Introduction
Background
Interview with Sara
Discussion
Conclusion
References
Part III The role of innovative technologies in sustainability
7 The role of innovative technologies in sustainability
Introduction
Theoretical framework
Methods
Discussion
Description of results
Factors behind innovative technological implementations
Mapping the sector: nodes of the agri-food supply chain
Mapping the sector: the role of actors
Sustainability: toward a comprehensive approach
Conclusion
References
8 Sustainability in agribusiness: what is still in the works
Concluding remarks and what is still in the works
References
Index
