42 Staton Farms in Canada

Team 89 Poster

Team Reflection

Understanding the academia around international business and its direct applications has helped our group analyse businesses like Stanton Farms and how they directly support United Nation Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs) initiatives. Stanton Farms is an inspiring story of a small, family held company that was inspired to make a difference in their community. Accordingly, they accomplished more than that. Stanton Farms has paved the way and begins to inspire the agriculture sector to see the powerful difference companies can hold with regards to our world’s sustainable future.

This study contends that small and medium-sized enterprises, exemplified by Stanton Farms, are capable of driving significant progress towards sustainability by embedding socially responsible practices within their operational frameworks. Such an integration not only highlights the potential for economic viability but also serves to reinforce the notion that environmentally friendly operations and corporate responsibility can coexist effectively in the pursuit of long-term sustainable development.

Group 89 Reflection

Over the past month, our group has explored the role businesses play in supporting Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Stanton Farms provided an insightful case study, offering us a first-hand look at how a company’s commitment to sustainable practices can align with broader societal goals. Through the interview process and supporting materials provided, we learned about Stanton Farms’ focus on environmental sustainability within their community of Ilderton, Ontario, and allowed us to further understand the potential impact businesses can have when they choose to integrate SDG-focused initiatives.

Our research on Stanton Farms sparked curiosity within our group to learn about the potential reasons many businesses do not actively pursue SDGs, despite their clear benefits. One primary reason for this disengagement appears to be short-term profit focus; many companies prioritize immediate shareholder returns, which can conflict with the longer timelines needed for impactful SDG initiatives (Dyllick & Muff, 2016). Additionally, resource constraints can make implementing sustainable practices challenging, especially for smaller businesses with limited financial and technological resources. We also discovered that policy gaps and a lack of regulatory incentives often deter companies from adopting SDGs. In regional areas with limited support for sustainable practices, businesses may lack the motivation to invest in such changes within their business management (Kolk, 2016). Lastly, insufficient awareness or expertise in SDG-focused initiatives is a barrier, as many businesses may be uncertain about the best ways to implement these practices or may not fully understand their associated benefits (Bebbington & Unerman, 2018).

Our experience with Stanton Farms has shown us that businesses willing to engage with SDGs can make a positive impact on both their communities and the environment. We hope that with increased awareness, support, and policy incentives, more businesses will see that integrating SDG goals holds value for all.

AIM2Flourish Reflection

In examining the narrative of Stanton Farms for our AIM2Flourish project, we explored the significant relationships between business operations and social responsibility. The case of Stanton Farms clearly illustrates innovative practices through their implementation of biodigesters, which effectively promotes sustainability goals in agriculture and simultaneously benefits the community of Ilderton and surrounding areas. Founded in 1935, Stanton Farms has established itself as a leader in agricultural innovation through the implementation of their anaerobic digestion systems that convert organic waste into renewable energy. Our team conducted a thorough reflection in our AIM2Flourish story, collectively expressing pride in recognizing Stanton Farms not just as a business, but as an essential contributor to both local economies and environmental well-being. This innovation exemplifies how businesses can serve as drivers of positive change within society.

Our initial summary illuminated the organisation’s commitment to sustainable practices and innovative agricultural techniques, which effectively process manure and organic waste to generate renewable energy. The first biodigester, constructed in 2016, produces 850KW of renewable electricity by utilizing manure from the farm. Whilst the second biodigester, completed in 2020, generates renewable natural gas that is injected into the local pipeline.  The interview with Jim Stanton proved to be particularly illuminating, his expressed commitment to the principles of community engagement resonated deeply with our collective understanding of the responsibilities that businesses bear as stewards of both the environment and society. He highlighted the critical role of socially responsible business practices. Hearing his insights led us to cultivate a greater admiration for how even small agricultural enterprises could wield significant influence in addressing pressing issues such as climate change.

As we delved deeper into the implications of Stanton Farm’s innovations, we sought to connect their narrative to relevant academic concepts and sources in sustainability and business practices. An example of this, directly corresponding to Stanton Farms, is that the adoption of anaerobic digestion technology aligns seamlessly with the principles of the triple bottom line, which advocates for the equitable pursuit of profit alongside social and environmental gains (Porter & Kramer, 2011). This relates closely to the topic of ‘shared value’ coined by Porter and Kramer (2011) which highlights the relation between a business creating a profit whilst also benefiting society. This finding reinforced our understanding of agriculture, and it can equally embody models of responsible consumption and production (SDG 12). Moreover, we identified several gaps in our prior knowledge: notably, the capacity for community-generated organic waste to be effectively diverted from landfills through agricultural innovation. The realization that Stanton Farms manages to process 60,000 Tonnes of organic waste annually was an eye-opening development that instilled a sense of optimism regarding the potential for transformative practices within rural settings. We were thrilled to discover how entities in the agricultural sector can actively contribute to addressing multiple SDGs. Stanton Farms has a particular focus on Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. Initially, we held a somewhat constricted view of the agricultural sector as primarily a contributor to environmental challenges. However, Stanton Farms’ proactive efforts fundamentally challenged this perception, demonstrating that agriculture can serve as a catalyst for societal progress when harmonized with innovative, sustainable practices.

Looking Forward

Reflecting the insights gained from this project, we acknowledge that our understanding of sustainability will influence our future perspectives and actions as both individuals and as aspiring business leaders. We envision ourselves implementing similar innovations in our professional endeavors, advocating sustainability and social responsibility. The inspiring story of Stanton Farms has reinforced our belief that all businesses, regardless of the size or industry, have the capability to drive positive change. As we prepare to enter the workforce, we are committed to prioritizing roles in organizations that value sustainability practices and incorporate social responsibility into their core missions. Additionally, this collaboration experience has increased our awareness of the complexities involved in cross-cultural communication and teamwork. Reflecting on how we allocated tasks and engaged in dialogue helped us appreciate the importance of diverse perspectives, a critical asset in today’s globalized business environment.

Individual Reflections

Ashlynne C Brown’s Reflection 

One of the biggest challenges in virtual volunteer experiences is finding companies interested enough to spend the time to educate younger generations. For that, I extend my gratitude to companies like Stanton Farms that are so passionate about their initiatives that they are willing to engage and educate students, such as us, on their innovations and goals to allow for us to have more experiential learning opportunities.

My virtual cross-cultural experience in the COIL project, provided me with the opportunity to participate in probably the most unique experiment of my undergraduate studies. A large portion of the content taught in my MGMT2260: International Business class focuses on how international businesses need to be educated on cultural differences in order to encounter success in their future endeavours, and how a lack therefore can present a business with immense risk. On a lower scale but comparative scale, this experience provided me with the opportunity to understand and learn about different academic cultural norms and dynamics to produce a successful business report on Stanton Farms.

I was fortunate to take the lead on this project, alongside Rafaela. Since she has previous experience engaging in COIL projects, and Stanton Farms was the company I found and interviewed, we were able to combine our skill sets to create a strong foundation for this project. I found our groups’ biggest challenges were obstacles like dealing with different time-zones and determining our most effective means of virtual communication. Over the course of this project, I implemented certain tactics to mitigate these risks. For example, I had suggested our team to use the platform WhatsApp that allows for international communication; I scheduled weekly meetings through Zoom so we could all engage verbally about our progress and took meeting minutes; and made a shared Google Drive to allow for everyone to access all our information including these meetings minutes, interview notes and deliverables, at times available to them.

My suggestion, if warranted, for future COIL projects would be to have the deliverables be worth the same weight and have the same due dates throughout the universities engaging in the project. Our group all had different individual due dates for our deliverables, and that was an extra challenge for us to manage as they approached. We had to make sure all the work was completed on time, across three different schools and three different time-zones, this did present a slight challenge to us. Similarly, when the deliverables are not worth the same percentage towards final marks across school boards, effort levels may vary. I found that those who were registered in the project, but the weight of the assignment was worth less of their final grade compared to others, didn’t exhaust the same effort levels. I found this to be the biggest and hardest challenge to regulate. For perspective, the Guelph team completed the vast majority of every deliverable in this group and completed two of the deliverables on their own.

Rafaela Novais’ Reflection

This COIL project provided a unique opportunity to gain practical insights through Stanton Farms, whose owners went above and beyond to support our learning. One of the most valuable aspects of our experience was receiving a media interview release from the company, which highlighted essential points about their innovations. This release was instrumental in helping us understand the motivations and strategies behind their sustainable initiatives, making our research more comprehensive and grounded in real-world practices. Reflecting on our experience in the COIL project, I want to extend my sincere gratitude for Ashlynne’s efforts and leadership. Her contributions were fundamental to our group’s success, and I feel incredibly fortunate to have worked alongside her. From the start, Ashlynne took initiative in dividing the work, keeping our group organized, and helping us overcome challenges that can be particularly difficult in virtual volunteer settings, especially around engagement and communication with our partner company.

We were able to establish our lines of communication, and we ended up using WhatsApp for efficient, cross-border communication. We were able to organize Zoom meetings, which allowed us to discuss our progress together, voice concerns, and maintain a sense of unity. Ashlynne even went as far as to create a shared Google Drive for storing all our materials, which made our collaborative efforts much smoother and more accessible.

Moreover, the dedication shown by Stanton Farms in educating younger generations is inspiring, and I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity they gave us to work with them. They made this project even more valuable by sharing insights into their innovations, something that truly enriched our learning experience.

While we encountered challenges, such as different due dates and the varying weight of assignments in our schools, Ashlynne’s leadership kept us focused and motivated. I would highly suggest for future projects like that a better management of time from some of our group members and also a bigger input of effort.

Briana Popa’s Reflection

This project was a valuable experience that broadened my understanding of interacting with students internationally. As a member of a COIL team with partners from Canada and Wales, I found the experience rewarding and challenging. The project provided valuable insights into working with diverse cultural perspectives and taught me how to navigate differences in communication styles and expectations effectively. Managing the cross-cultural dynamics required a thoughtful approach to communication that ensured everyone’s perspectives were valued and respected.

One of the main challenges we faced was coordinating across multiple time zones, which initially led to some scheduling conflicts. We resolved this by addressing the issue in our group chat, where we discussed possible times that could work for everyone. This collaborative solution helped foster a sense of accountability within the team.

I think that overall, this experience was enriching, as it allowed me to practice and improve my communication and organizational skills in a global context. It also strengthened my appreciation for teamwork and adaptability, skills that will be invaluable in future collaborative settings.

Conclusion 

In conclusion, this virtual experiential learning opportunity allowed for our group to conduct a thorough analysis on Stanton Farms and delve deeper into the understanding of how businesses alter their management operations to align and promote sustainable development goals. Not only was this assignment valuable in teaching us the qualities necessary for cross-cultural communication, but it provided us with a contextualized opportunity to develop an understanding of how international business relations function. It is companies with integrity such as Stanton Farms, that promote the future of sustainable practices, and we believe initiatives such as theres should be replicated universally.

References 

Bebbington, J., & Unerman, J. (2018). Achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: An enabling role for accounting research. Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, 31(1), 2-24. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1108/AAAJ-05-2017-2929

Dyllick, T., & Muff, K. (2016). Clarifying the meaning of sustainable business: Introducing a typology from business-as-usual to true business sustainability. Organization & Environment, 29(2),  page 174.

Kolk, A. (2016). The social responsibility of international business: From ethics and the environment to CSR and sustainable development. Journal of World Business, 51(1),  page 24. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jwb.2015.08.010

Loorbach, D., & Wijsman, K. (2013). Business transition management: Exploring a new role for business in sustainability transitions. Journal of Cleaner Production, 45, page 28.

Porter, M.E, Kramer, M.R. (2011). Creating Shared Value: Restoring the Legitimacy of Business and Advancing Competitiveness, Emerald Publishing Limited, 2019. Retrieved from: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/usw/detail.action?docID=5734576.