Solidary Family Business, Intellectual Property and Sustainability in Rural Producers in Mexico: A Hybrid SEM-PLS and Fuzzy Approach

Studies show that the actions of economies with a collaborative approach contribute to agricultural production enterprises adhering to the call for sustainable development with a triple bottom line. The sustainable call implies caring for the environment and the community but also developing the resources and capabilities that allow them a sustainable competitive advantage in the market. The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has considered that a more effective system of protection of intangibles will encourage investment in intellectual property development as a critical driver of economic well-being. This research aims to analyze the predictive capacity of the features of the solidarity economy and the culture of intellectual property on sustainability in rural family businesses in the agricultural sector in Mexico. The methodology was empirical-mathematical, based on a hybrid approach of structural equations and fuzzy evolutionary logic based on a survey of 88 rural family businesses. The results show that rural family businesses with solidarity economy traits tend to achieve sustainable development in their practices. Theoretical and managerial implications are presented.