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Perspectives on food corporate contributions towards a sustainable food system : a South African case study
Thesis (MPA)--Stellenbosch University, 2022.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | en_ZA |
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2022
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| _version_ | 1867613732339712000 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Hughes, Tarryn |
| author2 | Drimie, Scott |
| author_browse | Drimie, Scott Hughes, Tarryn |
| author_facet | Drimie, Scott Hughes, Tarryn |
| author_sort | Hughes, Tarryn |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Thesis (MPA)--Stellenbosch University, 2022. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/124788 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| language | en_ZA |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:40:49.380Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2022 |
| publishDateRange | 2022 |
| publishDateSort | 2022 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/124788 Perspectives on food corporate contributions towards a sustainable food system : a South African case study Hughes, Tarryn Drimie, Scott Coetzee, Angela Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. School of Public Leadership. Food industry and trade -- South Africa Sustainable agriculture -- South Africa Food security -- South Africa UCTD Thesis (MPA)--Stellenbosch University, 2022. ENGLISH SUMMARY: The current food system has negative consequences for human health and the environment, making it unsustainable. Characterised as a neoliberal corporate food regime, the dominant food system displays a skewed concentration of power. In this system, which is largely driven by corporates, different perspectives exist about the potential role that corporates can play in positively advancing a sustainable food system. This research study explores a leading South African food corporate’s perspective of contributions towards transformative change. The study aims to gain insights into the food corporate’s understanding of the food system and sustainability and of its role, so as to explore the corporate’s view of what is needed to shift towards a more sustainable food system. A qualitative research methodology was applied with a predominantly inductive approach, supported by a social constructivist perspective. A case study design was used. Data collection methods included document analysis and semi-structured interviews with decision makers in the corporate and its affiliated companies. In addition, insights were gathered from external food system experts to deepen understanding of the findings. Using thematic analysis to analyse the data, six themes were identified: 1)vague associations with sustainability, 2) general understanding of the current food system and asustainable food system, 3) new type of leadership and ways of working, 4) financial returns drive all decisions, 5) uncertainty on purpose and 6) how to change is unclear. The findings reveal that this corporate’s perspective is optimistic that corporates can contribute positively towards a sustainable food system. They could do this by prioritising purpose (sustainability impact) over profit and, by being purpose-led, they can drive transformation through catalysing collaboration among food system actors. This means that profit is not sacrificed but rather becomes the outcome of a new orientation. A catalyst for the shift is education of business and consumers that would enable the mindset change that is critical to unlock agency and increase the urgency to act. Despite some gaps in understanding, synthesising the insights from the participants revealed some clear strategic options. These include adopting decisive collaborative leadership that is purpose-led towards building a positively impactful future sustainable food system; embracing a different way of working; and utilising identified enablers. These incorporate education; redefining success by placing the focus on sustainability impact; adopting practical internal actions to promote sustainability; incorporating purpose into business strategy and operational areas; reinforcing new behaviour patterns; undertaking collaborative ways of working; responding to exogenous shocks, such as climate change; and spurring on the necessary sense of urgency to transform the system. This study contributes to the discourse on the systemic change that is needed to address the global sustainability challenges of our time. It is a contribution towards a more inclusive understanding that could enable pragmatic action within and by corporates towards achieving a sustainable food system. Recommendations for future research are offered to continue this journey. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die huidige voedselsisteem hou negatiewe gevolge vir menslike gesondheid en die omgewing in, en is onvolhoubaar. Die dominante voedselsisteem, getipeer as ’n neoliberale korporatiewe voedselregime, vertoon ’n skewe magskonsentrasie. In hierdie sisteem, wat grootliks deur korporasies gedryf word, bestaan daar verskillende perspektiewe oor die potensiële rol wat korporasies kan speel om ’n volhoubare voedselsisteem te bevorder. Hierdie navorsingstudie ondersoek ’n toonaangewende Suid-Afrikaanse voedselkorporasie se perspektief op bydraes tot transformatiewe verandering. Die studie-oogmerk is om insig te verkry in die voedselkorporasie se perspektief op die voedselsisteem en die volhoubaarheid en die rol daarvan, asook om die korporasie se uitgangspunt te ondersoek oor wat nodig is om na ’n volhoubaarder voedselsisteem te beweeg. ’n Kwalitatiewe navorsingsmetodologie is toegepas met ’n oorwegend induktiewe benadering, ondersteun deur ’n sosiaal-konstruktivistiese perspektief. ’n Gevallestudie-ontwerp is gebruik. Data-insamelingsmetodes sluit dokumentontleding en semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude met besluitnemers in die korporasie en dié se geaffilieerde maatskappye in. Verder is insigte van eksterne kundiges in voedselsisteme ingewin om insig in die bevindings te versterk. Die data is ontleed aan die hand van ’n tematiese ontleding en ses temas is geïdentifiseer: 1) vae assosiasies met volhoubaarheid; 2) algemene insig in die huidige voedselsisteem en ’n volhoubare voedselsisteem; 3) nuwe soorte leierskap en werkswyses; 4) finansiële opbrengste wat alle besluite dryf; 5) onsekerheid oor die doel; en 6) onduidelike veranderingswyse. Die bevindings toon dat hierdie korporasie se siening optimisties is dat korporasies positief tot ’n volhoubare voedselsisteem kan bydra. Hulle kan dit doen deur die doel (volhoubaarheidsimpak) eerder as die wins as prioriteit te stel en, deur doelgedrewe te wees, kan hulle transformasie dryf en as katalisators die samewerking tussen voedselrolspelers beïnvloed. Wins hoef dus nie opgeoffer te word nie, maar eerder die uitkoms van ’n nuwe oriëntasie te wees. ’n Katalisator vir die verskuiwing is die opvoeding van besighede en verbruikers sodat ’n kopskuif gemaak kan word om die nodige tussenkomste te verseker en groter dringendheid aan optrede te verleen. Behalwe ’n paar leemtes wat insig betref, het die sintetisering van deelnemers se insig tot ’n aantal duidelike strategiese opsies gelei. Dit behels die aanvaarding van beslissende samewerkende leierskap wat doelgedrewe op die bou van ’n positiewe en impakvolle volhoubare voedselsisteem vir die toekoms fokus; die omhelsing van ’n ander werkswyse; en die gebruik van die geïdentifiseerde instaatstellers. Dit sluit in opvoeding; die herdefiniëring van sukses deur die fokus op volhoubaarheidsimpak te plaas; die aanvaarding van praktiese interne aksies wat volhoubaarheid bevorder; die opname van die doel in die besigheidstrategie en operasionele areas; die versterking van nuwe gedragspatrone; die instelling van samewerkende werkswyses; die nodige reaksie op eksogene rampe soos klimaatsverandering; en die aanmoediging van dringende optrede om die sisteem te transformeer. Hierdie studie ondersteun die diskoers oor die nodige sistemiese verandering om die globale volhoubaarheidsuitdagings van ons tyd die hoof te bied. Dit lewer ’n bydrae tot ’n meer inklusiewe begrip wat pragmatiese optrede binne en deur korporasies vergemaklik, om ’n volhoubare voedselsisteem te vestig. Aanbevelings vir toekomstige navorsing word aangebied om hierdie reis mee voort te sit. Masters 2022-02-23T08:38:48Z 2022-04-29T09:33:12Z 2022-02-23T08:38:48Z 2022-04-29T09:33:12Z 2022-04 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/124788 en_ZA Stellenbosch University viii, 121 pages : illustrations, includes annexures application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Food industry and trade -- South Africa Sustainable agriculture -- South Africa Food security -- South Africa UCTD Hughes, Tarryn Perspectives on food corporate contributions towards a sustainable food system : a South African case study |
| title | Perspectives on food corporate contributions towards a sustainable food system : a South African case study |
| title_full | Perspectives on food corporate contributions towards a sustainable food system : a South African case study |
| title_fullStr | Perspectives on food corporate contributions towards a sustainable food system : a South African case study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Perspectives on food corporate contributions towards a sustainable food system : a South African case study |
| title_short | Perspectives on food corporate contributions towards a sustainable food system : a South African case study |
| title_sort | perspectives on food corporate contributions towards a sustainable food system a south african case study |
| topic | Food industry and trade -- South Africa Sustainable agriculture -- South Africa Food security -- South Africa UCTD |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/124788 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT hughestarryn perspectivesonfoodcorporatecontributionstowardsasustainablefoodsystemasouthafricancasestudy |