Eco-innovation and agricultural sustainability: empirical evidence from South Africa’s agricultural sector

ABSTRACT

This study explores the role of eco-innovation in promoting environmental sustainability in the agricultural sector in South Africa. The study applies a mixed-methods approach using both qualitative and quantitative data on eco-innovations. The study is guided by the Resource-Based View (RBV) as a theoretical lens and applies a logistic regression model to explore the relationship between various resources and capabilities and four types of environmental sustainability outcomes. The results suggest that agricultural businesses that invest in developing process innovations, acquire knowledge from external sources, leverage different types of technologies such as precision agriculture and sensor technologies are more likely to achieve improved environmental sustainability outcomes. The study suggests a few policy recommendations that emphasize the importance of creating incentives for agricultural businesses to invest in innovative and sustainable agricultural practices, collaborate with higher education and government research institutions and facilitate adoption of advanced ICTs to promote eco-innovation.

KEYWORDS:

• Eco-innovation
• Resource-based view
• Agricultural sustainability
• South Africa
• Environmental impact

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Department of Science and Innovation, South Africa.