Abstract
Currently, there is concern about the effects of socially and environmentally unsustainable production and all the harmful impacts worldwide. It is why Latin America is strategic in addressing these issues, considering its capacity to generate added value based on biological resources. The first section of this document addresses the characterization of the environment in which agribusinesses are immersed from the VUCA perspective, that is, volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous environments. The second section reviews and groups some definitions of green businesses and proposes how innovation in this subsector can stand out and emerge in these turbulent scenarios through green innovation. The third section highlights some successful Colombian green businesses and then proceeds in the following section to reference some barriers and tools for green innovation found in the literature and how the Colombian government promotes these ventures.
TopAgribusiness Context
In the 1950s, the concept of agribusiness began to take shape; Davis and Goldberg, supported by Leontieff's Input-Output matrix, conceptualized agribusiness as the entirety of operations involved in the manufacturing and distribution of agricultural production (Goldberg & Davis, 1957). Subsequently, Ray Goldberg evolved the concept and proposed that an Agribusiness Commodity System brings together all participants in the production, processing, and marketing of an agricultural-livestock product, identifying actors and factors that influence the coordination of the product from the field to the end consumer (Goldberg, 1968).
Key Terms in this Chapter
Ambiguity: Ambiguity refers to the lack of clarity or the possibility of interpreting something in different ways. There may be multiple meanings or possible solutions in an ambiguous situation.
Complexity: Complexity involves the presence of multiple interconnected elements or factors that hinder the understanding or management of a situation or problem. It may require a more detailed and in-depth approach to address it.
Agribusiness: Agribusiness is an economic activity that encompasses all stages of production, processing, distribution, and commercialization of agricultural and livestock products. It includes agricultural, livestock, and commercial aspects related to agriculture and livestock.
Uncertainty: Uncertainty refers to the lack of certainty or secure information about an event or situation. It is the absence of security about what will happen in the future.
Sustainable: It refers to the ability to maintain or preserve balance and harmony in a system over time, ensuring that the needs of the present generations are met without compromising the ability to meet the needs of future generations.
Volatility: Volatility refers to the tendency of something to change or fluctuate rapidly and unpredictably.
Green Innovation: Green innovation refers to the creation, development, and adoption of technologies, practices, and products that have a positive impact on the environment. It is related to sustainability and the reduction of environmental impact.
Environmental: Environmental relates to the environment, including natural and human factors that affect our surroundings. It can refer to issues related to the conservation, protection, and management of natural resources.