People-Centred Innovation for Sustainable Agroforestry Value Chains in the Amazon

Prado, P; Motta, W; Pereira, D

People-Centred Innovation for Sustainable Agroforestry Value Chains in the Amazon

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Patricia Prado ORCiD

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Abstract

Sustainability‑oriented innovation (SOI) in frontier regions is hindered by weak institutions, fragmented value‑chain infrastructures, and limited technical and financial resources. This paper examines how people‑centred innovation (PCI) contributes to the development of sustainable agroforestry value chains in an Amazonian context where non‑state actors play a central orchestration role. Drawing on an exploratory qualitative case study of an emerging agroforestry coffee initiative, the research analyses how lived experience, iterative adaptation, and knowledge co‑production shape value chain formation under conditions of institutional fragility. Preliminary findings indicate that while the agroforestry model was externally introduced, its viability depends on continuous producer engagement, adaptive design, and substitute coordination mechanisms that stabilise participation. The study highlights how PCI operates as an enabling mechanism for SOI by supporting context‑appropriate solutions, while remaining constrained by land‑tenure insecurity, logistical bottlenecks, and reliance on external orchestration. As a research‑in‑progress contribution, the paper invites feedback on ecosystem governance dynamics.