Background: Agriculture is one of the main economic activities in Latin American countries. In Ecuador, agriculture contributes to the country’s wealth and employment opportunities, being one of the largest banana exporters worldwide. Even though agriculture plays a significant role in these regions, there are challenges concerning supply chain management and a lack of research that contributes to the whole supply chain body of knowledge.  The development of resilience capabilities in agri-food supply chains (AFSCs) within developing countries, specifically in the Latin American context, is essential for ensuring global food security.

Purpose: This study investigates the resilience capabilities of agri-food supply chains (AFSCs) in developing countries, with a focus on the banana industry in Ecuador. 

Method:  This study works with a relativist ontology and social constructivism epistemology. A single study case approach was employed with qualitative semi-structured interviews, eight interviews were conducted with various participants from the company Ecuadorian Fruit and its suppliers, and the data was transcribed and analyzed with thematic analysis.

Conclusion: The research identifies that through a parallel process of developing capabilities, the company developed what we identify as Contextual Resilience Capabilities. Specifically, the study finds that contextual resilience capabilities such as Preparing and Forecasting Fruit, Maintaining Strong Relationships, Managing Economic Resources, Adjusting to the Legal Framework, Implementing Enhanced Security Measures, Providing Training for Producers, Managing Financial Interdependencies and Fostering a Sense of Belonging are directly linked to the context of developing countries, particularly Ecuador. Finally, this research contributes to the broader understanding of resilience capabilities in AFSCs and provides insights to leverage Contextual Resilience Capabilities to enhanced supply chain resilience.