Abstract

NAJUL, MARÍA VIRGINIA; SANCHEZ, REBECA M; FERRARA DE GINER, GRISELDA  and  ORTEGA, ELIZABETH. Enterprise management aspects that condition environmental performance of the venezuelan agrofoodstuffs industry. Rev. Fac. Ing. UCV [online]. 2008, vol.23, n.3, pp.65-73. ISSN 0798-4065.

One of the most important economic sectors in Venezuela is the agro-foodstuffs industry, whose magnitude and environmental impact require special attention. In order to provide basic information to formulate strategies that support the sustainable development of this industry in the country, we analyze the weaknesses and strengths that characterize it, based on its capacity to manage the factors that condition its environmental performance. The analysis was carried out on a sample made up by 129 industries of the different productive branches distributed in the six geographic regions of the country, taking into account activity, size, geographic location, age, financial bases, among others. The considered factors include those of structural character associated with the organizational, economic and technological aspects of the companies, as well as external factors that influence in environmental management. The results show that most of the analyzed industries carry out some kind of management related to environmental aspects, largely through professional staff as well as technical personnel, but the age of the companies and their equipment, as well as the low capacity of investment in the environmental matters tend to undermine any achievements of the proposed objectives. Nevertheless, clear possibilities are seen, associated with preventive strategies that affect as much productivity as environmental performance.

Keywords : Agrofoodstuffs industry; Environmental management; Environmental performance; Integral management; Preventive practices.