Releasing supply chain regeneration through indigenous polyrhythmic governance

This research investigates how indigenous knowledge, and practices offer crucial insights into reshaping supply chains and advancing toward a sustainable, post-growth era. In framing the existing literature on supply chains and indigenous knowledge around the Brazil nut production system, we aim to explore the following questions: How can supply chains be reimagined to support sustainable practices and equitable governance in a post-growth era? How do indigenous knowledge systems shape regenerative supply chain models for a post-growth future? By adopting an ethnographic approach methodology, the study draws on immersive fieldwork in the Amazon rainforest, including interviews, participatory workshops, and documentary analysis, to examine three layers of "encapsulation": the forest relationship, cooperative structure, and market contracts. These layers reveal the interplay between governance systems, indigenous ways of organising, and external market dynamics applied to the Brazil nut supply chain. The Paiter Suruí cooperative exemplifies a governance model that balances ecological preservation with market participation. The study contributes to supply chain literature by introducing the concept of "polyrhythmic governance," emphasising the integration of diverse knowledge systems. It underscores the need for equitable frameworks that respect indigenous agency, offering pathways for sustainable and inclusive economic practices in a post-growth era.