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Sustainable Agricultural Entrepreneurship in Aruba
Leon, Illay
Leon, Illay
Promotor / Advisor
Keyword
Sustainable agriculture entrepreneurship
knowledge economy
sustainable agriculture
legal framework
finance possibilities
small island developing states
food security
knowledge economy
sustainable agriculture
legal framework
finance possibilities
small island developing states
food security
Location research
Date
2025-04
License
Attribution 4.0 International
Publisher
University of Aruba
Language
en
ISSN
ISBN
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Abstract
Based on the Doughnut Economy approach (Raworth, 2017) and the Feenstra and Alofs’ (2020) framework for sustainable waste management in small island economies, this research highlights the connection of the four dimensions and emphasize the need for collaboration between government, entrepreneurs, and community in order to develop a sustainable agricultural system. Policy adaptation, tailored financial mechanisms, and an adapted education strategy are essential to transforming Aruba’s agriculture into a sustainable industry. This paper aimed to identify the challenges and opportunities for sustainable agricultural entrepreneurs in Aruba. This is done by focusing on four key dimensions: knowledge economy, sustainable agriculture business models, finance possibilities, and legal frameworks. Aruba’s reliance on food imports, currently over 99%, has highlighted the importance of developing local agriculture. The COVID-19 pandemic put more stress on the market but also created new opportunities because of the local mentality shift. This paper utilized a qualitative research approach to gather perspectives from agricultural entrepreneurs, policy makers, and industry experts to identify the barriers and enablers of sustainability in agriculture.
The findings reveal gaps in financial support, land access, and an outdated legal framework which hinders the growth of modern agricultural practices. Hydroponics, fungiculture, micro-greens, and syntropic agroforestry are all innovative models which seem promising, but face challenges such as high-operating costs, limited infrastructure, and inadequate policy support. Community involvement, knowledge-sharing, and education have been identified as key factors for growing the industry.
Citation
Leon, I. (2025, April). Sustainable Agricultural Entrepreneurship in Aruba. [Bachelor thesis, University of Aruba].