Navigating structural divides: spatial embeddedness and agroentrepreneurial opportunity in Sarawak, Malaysia

Purpose This study investigates the ways in which agroentrepreneurs in a structurally divided business environment develop entrepreneurial opportunities against the backdrop of Sarawak, Malaysia. Spatial embeddedness is marked by infrastructural, income and structural disparities, which are features common to many emerging markets. Design/methodology/approach This study employs an abductive qualitative research design using a case study approach to explore how agroentrepreneurs respond to, and operate within, divided spatial contexts. Findings The data reveals four distinct strategies in navigating structurally divided environments. These strategies illustrate the way infrastructural imbalance of a distinct spatial context shapes opportunity recognition and exploitation in emerging market settings. Research limitations/implications While focused on a specific regional context, the study contributes to the embeddedness discourse by refining our understanding of how spatial divides affect entrepreneurial action in emerging markets. Originality/value This study contributes to the literature on agroentrepreneurship in emerging markets by emphasizing the concept of spatial embeddedness as a lens to understand opportunity development in structurally divided contexts.ded contexts.