At Breakfast Seminar #60 on June 15, 2011, Mike Field of ACDI/VOCA presented on his experience with achieving sustainability in development projects by using the systems approach. After reviewing his own definition of sustainability—which involves ongoing efficiency improvements as well as expanding both the depth and breadth of benefits—Field talked about systemic forces which can either help or hinder sustainability. These include competition (usually between producers and buyers in agricultural value chains), cooperative linkages, and benefits. Of the latter, he made a point to talk about the importance of aligning social and economic benefits to be "mutually reinforcing."

Field concluded his presentation on sustainability with a review of the Zambian cotton industry. He chose this case study to illustrate his points because of the rapid but eventually unsustainable growth of the industry from 2000-2006. According to the project findings, a few key factors led to the unsustainability. First, growth was driven by increases in smallholder numbers rather than efficiency increases. Second, the relationships between producers and buyers tended not to be very healthy; there was no loyalty or sense of win-win cooperation.

The industry in Zambia did not recognize the sustainability issue until production dropped precipitously, but when they did, the cotton firms sought help. In response, the ACDI/VOCA project undertook activities to upgrade the firms, to improve business relationships through preferred supplier management, and to integrate supporting service providers.