Socio-ecological resilience and environmental sustainability: case of avocado from Mexico
Nadeem Khan, Nada Kakabadse, Antonis Skouloudis
Abstract
Natural science impact assessments of sustainability evidence more closely than social and business studies frameworks that the interdependent planetary boundary (PB) limits are being breached. This brings to attention environmental ecological assessments are better placed as the starting point to inform how human action or inaction as socio-economic behaviours can influence environmental management resilience, rather than the other way around. This study identifies food security as a grand challenge. A socio-ecological cosmopolitan resilience framework is conceptualised and applied to the commodity case of the avocado from Michoacán, Mexico. Social, economic and policy issues are identified and captured as multi-level influences. These impact environmental management as biodiversity, land usage and freshwater sustainability at individual, firm and governmental levels. A variety of recommended simultaneous changes that may advance system-wide sustainability are considered as cultural, moral and governance dimensions for socio-ecological resilience. Our framework is important as natural science and social norms must inform business practice at all levels for environmental sustainability.