Innovation for Sustainability: Overcoming the Productivity of the Sugar-and-Ethanol Industry’s Conventional System

Authors

  • Andre Pereira de Carvalho Department of Production and Industrial Operations Administration, São Paulo Business Administration School of Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV-EAESP)
  • José Carlos Barbieri Department of Production and Industrial Operations Administration, São Paulo Business Administration School of Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV-EAESP)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4067/S0718-27242010000400007

Keywords:

innovation, sustainability, sustainable agriculture, organic products.

Abstract

The article’s objective is to analyze a process of technological innovation incorporation in the realm of organic agriculture which, as per legal and conceptual definition, should take into consideration the economic, social and environmental aspects according to the proposals of sustainable development. This article presents the results of a case study carried out at Native Alimentos Orgânicos Ltd. , a Brazilian company producing organic sugar and ethanol with an exporter profile and responsible for the world’s largest organic agriculture project. The organic production system developed by the company demanded important innovation in the agricultural and industrial areas. The study shows that the choice for innovations that respond simultaneously to economic, environmental and social issues, besides being viable, is essential for the Brazilian sugar to access markets of developed countries. Thus the case shows that it is possible to innovate with profit and social and environmental concern simultaneously.

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Author Biographies

Andre Pereira de Carvalho, Department of Production and Industrial Operations Administration, São Paulo Business Administration School of Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV-EAESP)

André Pereira de Carvalho  is currently pursuing a Ph.D in Business Administration (area of Socio-Environmental Management). He holds a Master degree in Business Administration from FGV-EAESP also focused on Social and Environmental Management. Since 2004, he is researcher of the Center for Sustainability Studies (GVces) of FGV-EAESP. His research interests include innovation for sustainable development, sustainable supply chain management, international trade, economics and environment.

José Carlos Barbieri, Department of Production and Industrial Operations Administration, São Paulo Business Administration School of Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV-EAESP)

Earned his Ph.D and his M.Sc .in Business Administration (area of Industrial Innovation) from FGV-EAESP. He works as Professor at the Department of Production and Industrial Operations Administration - FGV-EAESP. His research interests include innovation for sustainable development, international trade and environment, sustainable supply chain management and corporate social responsibility.

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Accepted November 23, 2010

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Published

2010-12-02

How to Cite

Carvalho, A. P. de, & Barbieri, J. C. (2010). Innovation for Sustainability: Overcoming the Productivity of the Sugar-and-Ethanol Industry’s Conventional System. Journal of Technology Management & Innovation, 5(4), 83–94. https://doi.org/10.4067/S0718-27242010000400007

Issue

Vol. 5 No. 4 (2010)

Section

Research Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2010 Journal of Technology Management & Innovation

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

 

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