Factors influencing environmental sustainability performance: A study applied to coffee crops in Colombia

Abstract

The Environmental Sustainability Performance (ESP) in Agricultural Activity (AA) is a topic of great interest due to its essential role in the future of society. Efficient resource management and capacity building among people engaged in AA are essential for reducing environmental impact and achieving long-term sustainability. In this regard, a model was developed based on AA and its relationship with ESP by reviewing the relevant scientific literature. The model was then empirically validated by surveying coffee crops in the Valle del Cauca region of Colombia. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to analyze the causal relationships between the theoretical constructs, measured using a 28-item survey instrument grouped into five blocks. The survey was administered to 692 administrators, managers, and owners of coffee Agricultural Producing Units (APUs), and the data were validated and analyzed using the partial least squares technique (PLS-SEM) and SmartPLS Version 4.0 software. The results indicate that Business Associativity (BA), Agricultural Management (AM), Citizen Participation (CP), and Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have a direct and positive relationship with ESP. Moreover, this study found that the relationships between AM and BA, ICT and AM, and ICT and CP generate significant indirect effects associated with ESP. Finally, the study discusses the impact of agricultural management on ESP and its effects on other variables.