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Picking the Locks on Pesticide Dependency for Macadamia Nut Production in the Northern Rivers of New South Wales : A case study on the social-ecology of sustainability transitions
Thesis   Open access

Picking the Locks on Pesticide Dependency for Macadamia Nut Production in the Northern Rivers of New South Wales : A case study on the social-ecology of sustainability transitions

Annie O'Shannessy
Southern Cross University
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Southern Cross University
2025
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25918/thesis.579
Appears in  Recent Southern Cross PhD Theses
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OShannessey A PhD 20252.49 MBDownloadView
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Abstract

Sustainability Transitions Pesticide dependency System lock-in Ecological domain Social license Macadamia
Agricultural industries remain trapped in harmful cycles of pesticide dependency despite the existence of low-chemical farming methods. Sustainability Transitions theories propose that societal investment in mutually reinforcing structures, cultures and practices (known as system lock-in) prevents valuable innovations from gaining traction, regardless of the willingness of potential adopters. Sustainability Transitions are defined as long-term, multi-dimensional and fundamental transformations, through which established societal systems shift to more sustainable modes of functioning. Due to the political nature of Sustainability Transitions, the vicissitudes of local community approval for industry operations (known as social license to operate) may be a key transition driver and/or barrier. In this study, concepts from Sustainability Transitions and social license theories are applied to a case study on the sustainability of the macadamia nut production industry in the subtropical Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, Australia. The aim is to shed light on social-ecological dynamics influencing agri-food system transitions and identify opportunities to enable and support transition processes, thus enhancing capacity to steer Sustainability Transitions more effectively. Findings from 19 in-depth interviews with a range of stakeholders are combined with a desktop study to analyse lock-in and transition dynamics affecting efforts to reduce pesticide use, with a focus on the role of social license. Concerns among local community members about the environmental and health impacts of pesticides emerge as the most prominent social license risk, while industry representatives raise concerns about regulatory risks and diminishing economic returns associated with chemical pesticide dependency. However, despite decades of research into integrated pest management (IPM) to overcome chemical pesticide dependency, the use of chemical pesticides on macadamia nut farms in the Northern Rivers region is believed to have increased significantly since 2010, with no sign of this trend abating. The study findings reveal that a complex of interconnected cultural, political, economic and ecological elements is reinforcing a pattern of chemical dependency. While efforts to steer the system towards a low-chemical mode of operation have resulted in important progress, multiple interrelated lock-in factors are preventing the significant structural change required. This research highlights the underexplored roles of both social license dynamics and ecological elements in Sustainability Transition processes. It also points to opportunities for government, industry and civil society actors to ameliorate systemic lock-in effects and thus improve the chances of navigating a successful transition to a more sustainable state of equilibrium.

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