Date of Conferral

2018

Degree

Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.)

School

Business Administration

Advisor

William B. Stokes

Abstract

The impact of climate change on agriculture is evident in changing growing seasons, crop yield, crop quality, and even complete crop losses. Changing climate conditions negatively affect the profitability of agricultural organizations. This study was a single descriptive case of one agricultural corporation in the western United States. The purpose was to identify and explore successful climate change-based sustainability strategies. The conceptual framework for this study was legitimacy theory. The data collection methods consisted of a semistructured interview of a corporate exectutive and obtaining corporate documents, including the annual report from the company's website. Data were analyzed using content analysis and principal themes were identified by reexamining and resorting the data into various categories. The findings indicated that the farm's sustainability strategy was based on the the basic qualities of successful sustainability strategies of corporate social responsibility, triple-bottom-line thinking, and systems thinking. Specific themes in terms of climate change-based sustainability strategies were mitigation-oriented strategies, and adaptation-oriented strategies. The distinctive approaches related to climate change mitigation that were identified were reducing carbon emissions, reducing fertilizer/herbicide use, and reducing the use of pesticides. The specific adaptation approaches identified were water conservation, soil enhancements, and diversity in business endeavors. Implications for social change include the advancement of climate change strategies within agricultural organizations to provide for increased food security and decreased danger of starvation and malnutrition of people in underdeveloped areas.

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