Human-animal mutualism in regenerative entrepreneurship

Muñoz, Pablo; Hernández, Mauricio

Abstract

In this paper, we explore the micro-interactions through which a regenerative enterprise engages with proximate natural ecosystems in its attempt to repair and protect them. Through an ethnographic study of a regenerative farming enterprise in rural Southern Patagonia - Fundo Panguilemu - we discover a reciprocal relationship between the enterprise and animals, central to their regenerative efforts. This relationship is formed and actively maintained by the founders through three practices – joint rewilding, ambivalent relationality, and task interdependence. We leverage nature relatedness to conceptualize the relationship between these practices as human-animal mutualism in regenerative work. We advance regenerative entrepreneurship research by revealing novel human-nature interactions formed and fostered by a rural enterprise in the pursuit of local regeneration and expand our understanding of micro-level phenomena in rural entrepreneurship.

Citation

Muñoz, P., & Hernández, M. (2024). Human-animal mutualism in regenerative entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship and Regional Development, 36(5-6), 577-606. https://doi.org/10.1080/08985626.2024.2305648

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 9, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Feb 5, 2024
• Publication Date: Feb 5, 2024
• Deposit Date: Jan 9, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 7, 2024
• Journal: Entrepreneurship and Regional Development
• Print ISSN: 0898-5626
• Electronic ISSN: 1464-5114
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis Group
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 36
• Issue: 5-6
• Pages: 577-606
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/08985626.2024.2305648
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/2116867