Montoya-Zumaeta, Javier G.Javier G.Montoya-ZumaetaOberlack, ChristophChristophOberlack0000-0003-2813-7327Barelli, RonjaRonjaBarelliBruelisauer, SamuelSamuelBruelisauer0000-0002-2196-1922Zavaleta, Diego P.Diego P.Zavaleta2026-01-232026-01-232026-01-23Montoya-Zumaeta, J.G., Oberlack, C., Barelli, R. et al. Comparing corporate sustainability programmes, social entrepreneurship, and cooperatives in shaping farmers’ well-being. Commun. Sustain. 1, 20 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44458-025-00020-8https://boris-portal.unibe.ch/handle/20.500.12422/230283The governance of sustainability in agri-food value chains has evolved beyond conventionalcertification strategies. Corporate sustainability programs, social enterprises, and cooperatives arekey complementary or alternative strategies. However, their relative contributions to farmers’ well-being remain unclear. Therefore, we conducted a household survey of 634 cocoa and coffee farmersdistributed across three production hotspots in the Peruvian Amazon. We use the Personal Well-beingIndex to compare well-being among and between farmers involved in the various strategies. Resultsshow that farmers engaged in any strategy of sustainability governance report higher well-being thanindependent farmers. However, only social enterprise strategies remained a significant contributor tooverall farmers’ well-being after controlling for certification, context, household, and demographicvariables. Our findings challenge traditional productivity centered approaches and emphasize theimportance of incorporating localized, socially tailored strategies to enhance the well-being of farmerswithin agri-food value chains.en300 - Social sciences, sociology & anthropology::360 - Social problems & social services300 - Social sciences, sociology & anthropology::330 - Economicsarticle10.48620/9406810.1038/s44458-025-00020-8