Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

We do it our way – small scale farms in business model transformation for sustainability

Sadovska, Vera LU ; Fernqvist, Fredrik and Barth, Henrik (2023) In Journal of Rural Studies 102.
Abstract
Value creation is at the core of business model (BM) research, but the link between BM and value creation remains unclear. In this work, empirical data on BM transformation towards sustainable value creation in the agri-food sector, were obtained through case studies. Factors in BM transformation were identified, transformations in different BM segments were analysed and sustainable value created through these transformations was assessed. Factors such as owner-manager mind-set, experiences of sustainability and market pressures were found to drive transformation. All cases performed generic and case-specific transformation activities, with an animal welfare ethos and sustainable solutions for distribution and transport being central for... (More)
Value creation is at the core of business model (BM) research, but the link between BM and value creation remains unclear. In this work, empirical data on BM transformation towards sustainable value creation in the agri-food sector, were obtained through case studies. Factors in BM transformation were identified, transformations in different BM segments were analysed and sustainable value created through these transformations was assessed. Factors such as owner-manager mind-set, experiences of sustainability and market pressures were found to drive transformation. All cases performed generic and case-specific transformation activities, with an animal welfare ethos and sustainable solutions for distribution and transport being central for all firms. Differences in strategies and cooperation derived mainly from the geographical and micro-context. While exhibiting innovativeness, the sustainable value created was predominantly within the current time horizon. Holistic integration of sustainability into core business was challenging for the farms, due to lack of knowledge and systemic approach to sustainability. All farms expressed a desire for learning and exchange of knowledge, a gap not met by other institutions in the sector. Six directions for future research on sustainable value creation through BM transformation are suggested. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; and
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
in
Journal of Rural Studies
volume
102
article number
103090
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • scopus:85169819676
ISSN
1873-1392
DOI
10.1016/j.jrurstud.2023.103090
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
7a2ae920-e23a-4058-be11-e8af383160c7
date added to LUP
2023-11-09 12:32:03
date last changed
2023-11-10 10:41:18
@article{7a2ae920-e23a-4058-be11-e8af383160c7,
  abstract     = {{Value creation is at the core of business model (BM) research, but the link between BM and value creation remains unclear. In this work, empirical data on BM transformation towards sustainable value creation in the agri-food sector, were obtained through case studies. Factors in BM transformation were identified, transformations in different BM segments were analysed and sustainable value created through these transformations was assessed. Factors such as owner-manager mind-set, experiences of sustainability and market pressures were found to drive transformation. All cases performed generic and case-specific transformation activities, with an animal welfare ethos and sustainable solutions for distribution and transport being central for all firms. Differences in strategies and cooperation derived mainly from the geographical and micro-context. While exhibiting innovativeness, the sustainable value created was predominantly within the current time horizon. Holistic integration of sustainability into core business was challenging for the farms, due to lack of knowledge and systemic approach to sustainability. All farms expressed a desire for learning and exchange of knowledge, a gap not met by other institutions in the sector. Six directions for future research on sustainable value creation through BM transformation are suggested.}},
  author       = {{Sadovska, Vera and Fernqvist, Fredrik and Barth, Henrik}},
  issn         = {{1873-1392}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Journal of Rural Studies}},
  title        = {{We do it our way – small scale farms in business model transformation for sustainability}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2023.103090}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.jrurstud.2023.103090}},
  volume       = {{102}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}