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Partnerships for Sustainable Change in Cotton: An Institutional Analysis of African Cases

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Abstract

This article examines intersectoral partnerships formed to promote sustainable cotton production and the extent to which such partnerships are facilitated or constrained by their institutional environment. Based on an analysis of five partnerships in sub-Saharan Africa, this article shows that institutional factors create both opportunities and obstacles for partnership implementation which are inextricably linked to their adoption of particular farming strategies and sustainability standards. In general, these institutional factors tend to facilitate the implementation of partnerships using contract farming and mainstream sustainability standards, and hinder those adopting cooperative farming methods and organic standards.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Innovation and Environmental Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Verena Bitzer & Pieter Glasbergen

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  1. Verena Bitzer
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  2. Pieter Glasbergen
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Correspondence to Verena Bitzer.

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Bitzer, V., Glasbergen, P. Partnerships for Sustainable Change in Cotton: An Institutional Analysis of African Cases. J Bus Ethics 93 (Suppl 2), 223–240 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-010-0562-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-010-0562-6

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