Climate change and export performance of agri-food products. Challenges and opportunities for La Araucanía Region

This research proposal is presented in the thematic area of sustainability and climate crisis. The proposal seeks the
creation of a new line of research: “International Business and Sustainability”. This line of research promotes current
growing interest in this area by academics in the field of accounting, auditing, business, marketing, and statistics that
within the context of sustainability and climate crisis. The proposal seeks to strengthen the link with the La Araucanía
agri-food export companies, their entrepreneurial ecosystems and environment. The proposal is aimed at developing
scientific research embracing the Climate Change Sustainable Development Goal in the context of agri-food export
activities. The study focusses on three key agri-food export products relevant to La Araucanía region, namely blueberries,
meat and wine.
In this proposal, participating researchers from the following national and international universities will be involved:
Universidad de Santiago de Chile – Chile, University of Malta – Malta, and Aalborg University – Denmark. Furthermore,
this proposal is an extension of previous work related to this field of international business and sustainability developed
by the national and international researchers participating in this research project. The proposal promotes inter- and
transdisciplinary work, and international collaboration between business, management, marketing, accounting, auditing,
and statistics domains converging onto sustainability and climate change.
The objective of this research proposal is to analyse the relation between sustainability (the Climate Change
Sustainable Development Goal) and agri-food export performance of selected agri-food products. The specific objectives
are: (1) At macro level to analyse the relation between the level of sustainability of the home country and home country
export performance in the agri-food sector; (2) At macro level to compare the relation between the level of sustainability
of the home country and home country export performance in the agri-food sector between Chile and Denmark; and (3)
At micro level to analyse the relation between the export firm’s level of sustainability and firm’s export performance in
the agri-food sector.
The methodology proposed considers quantitative and qualitative methods to provide more holistic understanding of the
subject. Addressing research gaps identified in the literature, a longitudinal approach is adopted. The research includes
both macro- and micro-level analyses. Heteroskedasticity models will be developed at macro-level, corresponding to a
generalisation of linear models and allowing for more flexibility in modelling and characterization of international trade
phenomena. At micro-level the framework of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Sustainability Reporting Standards is
utilised. Data will be collected from the sustainability reports of the companies under study, and will be analysed using
content analysis, and in-depth interviews. Informed consent will be attained for the in-depth interviews.
Results emanating from this this proposal will culminate in the publication of generated knowledge and further
dissemination of study findings in Scopus and/or Web of Science (WoS) journals. The expected scientific impact of this
research will allow for a deeper understanding of the mechanisms and dynamics that underlie agribusiness export activity
for key agri-food products. The analysis of factors that affect the export performance, related to climate change, as well
as the new regulations aimed at protecting the environment, will shed light on generating new trade policies, and/or
support existing ones aimed at protecting the environment. In addition, it is expected that the results of the research
will promote compliance with environmental regulations in the agribusiness export sector, as well as adherence to
different voluntary sustainability standards specific to the food export sector – specifically those products included in the
study. It is furthermore expected that the results of the project will be extrapolated to other agri-food products at
regional, national and international levels.