Sustainability in Agribusiness: The Impact of Societal Challenges, Technological Advancements, and Development Goals

Description

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. 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