Sanele Kunene -Hollard Insure and Farmingportal.co.za and Agri News Net - Young Agri Writers awards
Selected Aspects of Environmental, Social, and Economic Sustainability Factors in the South African Orange Industry: An ARDL Approach
Sanele Kunene
Abstract
Can the South African orange industry thrive economically while preserving its environmental and social foundations? This study investigates the sustainability dynamics of the sector from 2000 to 2020, aiming to uncover the relationship between economic, social, and environmental sustainability. Employing the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model, the research analyses short- and long-run relationships among exports (economic sustainability), employment (social sustainability), land use (environmental sustainability), and CO₂ emissions (environmental sustainability), with stationarity confirmed via the Augmented Dickey-Fuller (ADF) test (all variables I(1)). Results reveal significant dynamic relationships among sustainability indicators, with export value, employment, and land use exhibiting delayed effects on CO₂ emissions. Export growth increases environmental pressure in the short run but contributes to structural improvements in the long run, while employment and land use demonstrate varying sustainability effects across periods. The study concludes that sustainable production technologies, efficient resource management, climate-smart agricultural practices, and improved export systems are essential for balancing economic growth, environmental protection, and social development in the South African orange industry.
Keywords: South African orange industry; sustainability; ARDL model; agricultural economics; exports; employment; land use; CO₂ emissions.
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Sanele Kunene
My name is Sanele Kunene, a 23-year-old Master of Science in Agriculture (Agricultural Economics) graduate from the University of Limpopo. I also hold a BSc in Agriculture, specialising in Agricultural Economics. I am passionate about agriculture, research, rural development and contributing to sustainable solutions within the agricultural sector. My research interests include climate variability, food security, agricultural participation, rural livelihoods, environmental sustainability and agricultural markets. I have experience in quantitative research, data analysis, academic support, agricultural fieldwork and community engagement. I am a hardworking, adaptable and motivated young professional who is eager to apply my knowledge, gain practical experience and contribute meaningfully to the agricultural sector.
