Abstract

REYES-GOMEZ, Horacio; MARTINEZ-GONZALEZ, Enrique Genaro; AGUILAR-AVILA, Jorge  and  AGUILAR GALLEGOS, Norman. Governance of the Global Avocado Value Chain in Mexico. Cienc. Tecnol. Agropecuaria [online]. 2023, vol.24, n.2, e3120.  Epub Aug 31, 2023. ISSN 0122-8706.  https://doi.org/10.21930/rcta.vol24_num2_art:3120.

Globalization is linked to the future level of integration of countries in Global Value Chains (GVC). Using the GVC approach, the effect of governance on learning mechanisms on responsible upgrading was analyzed. 17 interviews with key players in the Mexican avocado sector were applied during May-August 2021, to obtain information on the main agreements between buyers, customers, and requirements to participate in global markets. The information collected was supplemented with databases from government agencies. Graphic analysis, word cloud analysis and descriptive statistics were performed. It was found that global governance is modular, but within the chain it was market, modular and hierarchical, based on the characteristics of the transactions. Learning by imitation is present in market and hierarchical governance, but in the first it is low technology and high in the second. It is concluded that participating in GVC knowledge of norms and standards allows increasing sales volume and accumulating capital but does not guarantee learning to achieve productive or functional improvements. Responsibility as a governance practice is variable between links, it depends on individual and collective capacities and wills, the absence of validated instruments to hold companies accountable makes their application difficult, these instruments must solve real problems, not only provide scientific knowledge.

Keywords : Technological change; Agri-food system; Rural development; Upgrading; Agricultural innovation.

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