'Strategic sustainable development: The role of intermediaries in managing the sustainability compliance of a multi-tier crop agri-food supply chain. A developing economy perspective'

This qualitative case study investigation highlights deeply entrenched sustainability challenges within a multi-tier supply chain of a developing country's crop agri-food sector. Focusing on the rice supply chain, the study reveals how Agri Processing Company Limited (APCL), operating as a first-tier intermediary, effectively launched and managed different levels of intermediaries through 'multi-actor' and 'multi-level' management approaches to extend sustainability upstream in the rice supply chain, especially in the lower-tiers previously considered 'commodities with no value'. Social networking and progressive farmers played the inclusive roles of change agents in bringing all the stakeholders of a traditional and fragmented supply chain into a coordinated platform. The bottom-up strategic management approach of APCL gained the trust of local stakeholders and buying firms, resulting in a sustainable business strategy. Increased collaboration at different levels of farming communities led to a transformed methodology for sustainable development through intermediaries. The transformed business structure and mediated governance of 'multi actors' supply chains revamped socio-ecological outcomes for the lower-tiers and improved local living conditions through economic fairness and equal opportunities. This transformation contributed to significant advances in Pakistan's rice industry towards sustainable development.