The Role of Stakeholders on the Intention to Implement Sustainable Practices: An Exploratory Research in the Agri-Business Spanish Sector

The agri-business sector in Spain is facing increasing pressure to adopt sustainable practices due to growing concerns about environmental degradation, social inequality, and food safety. In this chapter, we explore the role of stakeholders on the intention to implement sustainable practices within the agricultural companies in Spain and to investigate the multifaceted dynamics that influence their roles in either advancing or impeding sustainable practices. Drawing on the case study approach, (qualitative interviews with managers of Spanish agricultural companies) we analyze the role of eleven stakeholders including top leadership and management, other staff, suppliers, intermediaries, marketplace, wholesalers, customers, end users, governments, laws, and activist groups on their intentions to apply sustainability practices on their businesses. Our findings allow detecting which of them exert more or less influence on such intentions. For example, our findings suggest that top leadership and management, wholesalers, governments, and laws and regulations are the stakeholders that exert more influence. Our findings contribute to the growing literature on stakeholder engagement for sustainability in the agri-business sector, and provide practical insights for agri-businesses, policymakers, and researches seeking to promote sustainable practices in Spain and beyond.