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Sustainability Management in Agribusiness: Challenges, Concepts, Responsibilities and Performance

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  • Friedrich, Nina
  • Heyder, Matthias
  • Theuvsen, Ludwig

Abstract

The idea of sustainable management has recently gained growing attention in the agribusiness sector. This is mainly due to a widespread discontent with the industrialization of agricultural production and food processing and growing public pressure on agribusiness firms to implement more sustainable management practices. In this paper we present the results of an explorative empirical study of sustainability management in German agribusiness firms. The study shows that agribusiness firms have developed a broad understanding of sustainability management and perceive a multi-facetted spectrum of societal demands they have to meet. The most important arguments for implementing more sustainable management practices are that companies have to make sure that they are trusted by society in the long run and that the perception of a company by external stakeholders has become more and more important. The companies surveyed know quite a number of sustainability programmes and standards, but the number of companies that actually participate in these initiatives is much smaller. Nonetheless, the majority of the respondents feels that their company is more successful with regard to sustainability management than industry average.

Suggested Citation

  • Friedrich, Nina & Heyder, Matthias & Theuvsen, Ludwig, 2012. "Sustainability Management in Agribusiness: Challenges, Concepts, Responsibilities and Performance," International Journal on Food System Dynamics, International Center for Management, Communication, and Research, vol. 3(2), pages 1-13, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:ijofsd:144853
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.144853
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    3. Luhmann, Henrike & Schaper, Christian & Theuvsen, Ludwig, 2016. "Acceptance of a Sustainability Standard: Evidence from an Empirical Study of Future-Oriented Dairy Farmers," 2016 International European Forum (151st EAAE Seminar), February 15-19, 2016, Innsbruck-Igls, Austria 244538, International European Forum on System Dynamics and Innovation in Food Networks.
    4. Nancy Diana Panta, 2020. "Applying Value Chain Analysis through the Lens of Sustainability to Enterprises in the Beekeeping Sector," Book chapters-LUMEN Proceedings, in: Adriana Grigorescu & Valentin Radu (ed.), 1st International Conference Global Ethics - Key of Sustainability (GEKoS), edition 1, volume 11, chapter 12, pages 107-116, Editura Lumen.
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    6. Heinen, Sarah & Hartmann, Monika, 2013. "Corporate Social Responsibility in the German Pork Industry: Relevance and Determinants," 2013 International European Forum, February 18-22, 2013, Innsbruck-Igls, Austria 164733, International European Forum on System Dynamics and Innovation in Food Networks.
    7. Luhmann, Henrike & Schaper, Christian & Theuvsen, Ludwig, 2016. "Future-Oriented Dairy Farmers’ Willingness to Participate in a Sustainability Standard: Evidence from an Empirical Study in Germany," International Journal on Food System Dynamics, International Center for Management, Communication, and Research, vol. 7(3), pages 1-15, July.
    8. Cristina Bianca Pocol & Peter Šedík & Ioan Sebastian Brumă & Antonio Amuza & Aurica Chirsanova, 2021. "Organic Beekeeping Practices in Romania: Status and Perspectives towards a Sustainable Development," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-18, March.
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