IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bla/bstrat/v35y2026i3p3247-3264.html

Eco‐Innovation: Drivers and Obstacles for Agriculture Firms in a Developing Country

Author

Listed:
  • Nelyda Campos‐Requena
  • Diego Rivera
  • Francisco J. Fernández
  • Felipe Vásquez‐Lavin
  • Roberto D. Ponce Oliva

Abstract

Sustainable agriculture is becoming increasingly vital for food security and economic growth, particularly as the agricultural sector grapples with challenges posed by climate change. This study, grounded in the environmental innovation theory, resource‐based view, and dynamic capabilities approach, uses logistic and multinomial logistic regression models to evaluate the eco‐innovation behavior of agricultural firms in Chile. We focus on the impact of technology push, market pull, regulatory push or pull, and firm‐specific factors on eco‐innovations. Our key findings reveal that cost savings, market factors, non‐R&D through external knowledge acquisition, cooperation with other agricultural firms, and firm size are the most significant drivers of eco‐innovation in this context. Our results diverge from typical findings in the literature regarding the influence of regulatory push/pull factors, as we observed no significant effects of these variables. This study contributes to the understanding of eco‐innovation drivers in agriculture, an understudied sector in developing countries. This study provides crucial insights for policymakers and industry stakeholders who aim to enhance sustainability practices in response to global environmental challenges.

Suggested Citation

  • Nelyda Campos‐Requena & Diego Rivera & Francisco J. Fernández & Felipe Vásquez‐Lavin & Roberto D. Ponce Oliva, 2026. "Eco‐Innovation: Drivers and Obstacles for Agriculture Firms in a Developing Country," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 35(3), pages 3247-3264, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:bstrat:v:35:y:2026:i:3:p:3247-3264
    DOI: 10.1002/bse.70344
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.70344
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1002/bse.70344?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Nawab Khan & Ram L. Ray & Ghulam Raza Sargani & Muhammad Ihtisham & Muhammad Khayyam & Sohaib Ismail, 2021. "Current Progress and Future Prospects of Agriculture Technology: Gateway to Sustainable Agriculture," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-31, April.
    2. Centobelli, Piera & Cerchione, Roberto & Maglietta, Amedeo & Oropallo, Eugenio, 2023. "Sailing through a digital and resilient shipbuilding supply chain: An empirical investigation," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    3. Amandine Pinget & Rachel Bocquet & Caroline Mothe, 2015. "Barriers to Environmental Innovation in SMEs: Empirical Evidence from French Firms," Post-Print hal-01300837, HAL.
    4. Losilla Solano, Luis Vinicio & Brümmer, Bernhard & Engler, Alejandra & Otter, Verena, 2019. "Effects of intra- and inter-regional geographic diversification and product diversification on export performance: Evidence from the Chilean fresh fruit export sector," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 1-1.
    5. Martina Ayoub & Stephane Lhuillery, 2024. "Mix and match: what is the best R&D recipe for eco-innovation?," Industry and Innovation, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 31(7), pages 896-921, August.
    6. Train,Kenneth E., 2009. "Discrete Choice Methods with Simulation," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521766555, Enero-Abr.
    7. Fleming, David A. & Abler, David G., 2013. "Does agricultural trade affect productivity? Evidence from Chilean farms," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 11-17.
    8. Cai Li & Sadaf Akhtar & Jan Muhammad Sohu & Sonia Najam Shaikh & Ikramuddin Junejo & Muhammad Iatzaz-Ul-Hassan, 2025. "Navigating the SMEs Green Path: Exploring the Role of Green Absorptive Capacity, Green Innovation, and Environmental Regulation in Enhancing Environmental Performance," SAGE Open, , vol. 15(2), pages 21582440251, June.
    9. Michael Blakeney, 2022. "Agricultural Innovation and Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-6, February.
    10. Jeffrey M Wooldridge, 2010. "Econometric Analysis of Cross Section and Panel Data," MIT Press Books, The MIT Press, edition 2, volume 1, number 0262232588, December.
    11. Ren, Qiuzhen & Albrecht, Johan, 2023. "Toward circular economy: The impact of policy instruments on circular economy innovation for European small medium enterprises," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 207(C).
    12. Usama Awan & Petter Braathen & Lea Hannola, 2023. "When and how the implementation of green human resource management and data‐driven culture to improve the firm sustainable environmental development?," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 31(4), pages 2726-2740, August.
    13. Zhongju Liao & Yan Liu, 2021. "What drives environmental innovation? A meta‐analysis," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(4), pages 1852-1864, May.
    14. Gabriele Pellegrino, 2018. "Barriers to innovation in young and mature firms," Journal of Evolutionary Economics, Springer, vol. 28(1), pages 181-206, January.
    15. Läpple, Doris & Renwick, Alan & Thorne, Fiona, 2015. "Measuring and understanding the drivers of agricultural innovation: Evidence from Ireland," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 1-8.
    16. Jens Horbach & Vanessa Oltra & Jean Belin, 2013. "Determinants and Specificities of Eco-Innovations Compared to Other Innovations--An Econometric Analysis for the French and German Industry Based on the Community Innovation Survey-super-1," Industry and Innovation, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 20(6), pages 523-543, August.
    17. Peñasco, Cristina & del Río, Pablo & Romero-Jordán, Desiderio, 2017. "Analysing the Role of International Drivers for Eco-innovators," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 23(1), pages 56-71.
    18. Céline Merlin-Brogniart & Simon Nadel, 2021. "Specificities of environmental innovation dynamics in service firms: the French case," Journal of Evolutionary Economics, Springer, vol. 31(2), pages 451-473, April.
    19. De Marchi, Valentina, 2012. "Environmental innovation and R&D cooperation: Empirical evidence from Spanish manufacturing firms," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 41(3), pages 614-623.
    20. Rehfeld, Katharina-Maria & Rennings, Klaus & Ziegler, Andreas, 2007. "Integrated product policy and environmental product innovations: An empirical analysis," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 61(1), pages 91-100, February.
    21. Antonella Biscione & Raul Caruso & Annunziata de Felice, 2021. "Environmental innovation in European transition countries," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 53(5), pages 521-535, January.
    22. Eugenio Figueroa, B. & Enrique Calfucura, T., 2003. "Growth and green income: evidence from mining in Chile," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 29(3-4), pages 165-173.
    23. Horbach, Jens, 2008. "Determinants of environmental innovation--New evidence from German panel data sources," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(1), pages 163-173, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Eva Coll-Martínez & Malia Kedjar & Patricia Renou-Maissant, 2022. "(Green) Knowledge spillovers and regional environmental support: do they matter for the entry of new green tech-based firms?," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 69(1), pages 119-161, August.
    2. Giovanni Ferri & Marco Pini, 2019. "Environmental vs. Social Responsibility in the Firm. Evidence from Italy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(16), pages 1-20, August.
    3. Pinget, Amandine, 2016. "Spécificités des déterminants des innovations environnementales : une approche appliquée aux PME [Specificities of determinants for environmental innovation : an approach applied to SMEs]," MPRA Paper 80108, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    4. Ines Diez‐Martinez & Angel Peiro‐Signes & Marival Segarra‐Oña, 2023. "The links between active cooperation and eco‐innovation orientation of firms: A multi‐analysis study," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(1), pages 430-443, January.
    5. Rodrigo Santos & Gonçalo Rodrigues Brás & Miguel Torres Preto, 2025. "Exploring Internal, Market and Institutional Dynamics That Drive Eco‐Innovation: Evidence From Portuguese Companies," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 34(8), pages 10925-10941, December.
    6. Pereira, Vijay & Nair, Asha KS. & Bhattacharyya, Som Sekhar, 2025. "Exploring and investigating the complementarity and multidimensionality of innovation for sustainability research: Past present and future," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 139(C).
    7. Amandine Pinget & Rachel Bocquet, 2017. "Spécificités des sources de connaissances pour l'innovation environnementale des PME," Post-Print hal-01699651, HAL.
    8. Elisenda Jové‐Llopis & Agustí Segarra‐Blasco, 2018. "Eco‐innovation strategies: A panel data analysis of Spanish manufacturing firms," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(8), pages 1209-1220, December.
    9. Isabel‐María García‐Sánchez & Isabel Gallego‐Álvarez & José‐Luis Zafra‐Gómez, 2021. "Do independent, female and specialist directors promote eco‐innovation and eco‐design in agri‐food firms?," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(2), pages 1136-1152, February.
    10. Peiró-Signes, Ángel & Segarra-Oña, Marival & Trull-Domínguez, Óscar & Sánchez-Planelles, Joaquín, 2022. "Exposing the ideal combination of endogenous–exogenous drivers for companies’ ecoinnovative orientation: Results from machine-learning methods," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    11. Borghesi, Simone & Cainelli, Giulio & Mazzanti, Massimiliano, 2015. "Linking emission trading to environmental innovation: Evidence from the Italian manufacturing industry," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 44(3), pages 669-683.
    12. Ghisetti, Claudia & Marzucchi, Alberto & Montresor, Sandro, 2015. "The open eco-innovation mode. An empirical investigation of eleven European countries," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 44(5), pages 1080-1093.
    13. Gutsche, Gunnar & Ziegler, Andreas, 2019. "Determinants of environmental product and process innovations: New evidence on the basis of European panel data," VfS Annual Conference 2019 (Leipzig): 30 Years after the Fall of the Berlin Wall - Democracy and Market Economy 203617, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.
    14. Janik, Agnieszka & Ryszko, Adam, 2025. "Open innovation and environmental sustainability–A systematic literature review from the firm-level perspective," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 218(C).
    15. Ghisetti, Claudia & Pontoni, Federico, 2015. "Investigating policy and R&D effects on environmental innovation: A meta-analysis," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 118(C), pages 57-66.
    16. Fabrizi, Andrea & Guarini, Giulio & Meliciani, Valentina, 2018. "Green patents, regulatory policies and research network policies," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 47(6), pages 1018-1031.
    17. Jason Li-Ying & Caroline Mothe & Uyen Nguyen-Thi, 2018. "Linking forms of inbound open innovation to a driver-based typology of environmental innovation: Evidence from French manufacturing firms," Post-Print hal-01695525, HAL.
    18. Marzucchi, Alberto & Montresor, Sandro, 2017. "Forms of knowledge and eco-innovation modes: Evidence from Spanish manufacturing firms," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 208-221.
    19. Sanni, Maruf, 2018. "Drivers of eco-innovation in the manufacturing sector of Nigeria," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 303-314.
    20. Caroline Mothe & Uyen T. Nguyen-Thi & Ángela Triguero, 2018. "Innovative products and services with environmental benefits: design of search strategies for external knowledge and absorptive capacity," Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 61(11), pages 1934-1954, September.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:bla:bstrat:v:35:y:2026:i:3:p:3247-3264. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)1099-0836 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.