Proposition of a Framework for interpretation of complex problems and initiatives with focus on sustainability: application to the challenge of producing food and biofuels

Abstract

The world faces a double challenge: to produce food and energy. The agribusiness is at the center of this societal dilemma, involving aspects from the volumes of production and productivity up to the way to produce them. Furthermore, there is a discussion about the need for establishing a trade-off between production of food and energy. A central aspect regarding the way of production is on how existing resources to be used and, especially, when its degradation occurs. These discussions indicate the need to interpret and propose solutions to this dual challenge in a complex perspective. Accordingly, this paper proposes a framework for the interpretation of complex problems and initiatives focused on sustainability that was applied to the challenge context of producing food, energy and biofuels. The theoretical background comprises two approaches. The first approach was the “Principles of Complexity”, which enabled support a systematic approach to understanding the reality, distinguishing and combining the several existing realities without losing the global notion. The second approach was the Strategic Management of Sustainability, which enabled systematic steps for action planning more sustainable to operate in this context. Finally, it was possible to infer desirable characteristics that other approaches could include, in order to indicate the most appropriate solutions in this context.