Sustainable development: a competitive approach to poultry farms in Tungurahua

Abstract

This study analyzes the relationship between competitiveness and sustainable development in the poultry farms of Tungurahua in Ecuador, using a quantitative approach, with a non-experimental design, cross-sectional and correlational scope, the hypothesis is that greater competitiveness promotes sustainable development. The methodology included statistical analysis of both secondary sources with documentary research and primary sources through the application of questionnaires to 70 poultry farmers, data that were analyzed using tools such as SPSS and Excel. The results show that 49% of the farms surveyed reach a high level of sustainable development, and within this group, 46% present high competitiveness, confirming a significant positive correlation between both variables (rho = 0.679, p < 0.05). However, challenges remain, such as the low adoption of renewable energy (84.3%) and dependence on public energy, with limited investment in sustainable technologies. The concentration of farms in Pelileo and Ambato could also restrict diversification of the sector. Smuggling from Colombia has decreased due to the change in currency from Colombian pesos to U.S. dollars, since the price per bucket of eggs in Ecuador is now lower than in Colombia, which reduces illegal trade. In conclusion, the study demonstrates that strengthening competitiveness drives the sustainable development of the poultry sector, while highlighting the urgent need to adopt clean and sustainable technologies to ensure its long-term business sustainability.