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What more to innovate?: A case study of plant-based food start-ups in Sweden for food system transformation

Jeong, Jenna LU (2024) In Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science MESM02 20241
LUCSUS (Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies)
Abstract
Food systems can negatively impact the environment and human health, posing challenges to global sustainability goals. Employing the Three Spheres of Transformation framework, this thesis examines sustainable entrepreneurs' role in transforming food systems to support plant-based food consumption. Focusing on Swedish plant-based alternative food start-ups, I conducted 11 interviews to explore entrepreneurs' roles on creating consumer behavior, addressing institutional challenges, and intervening in mindset shifts. Findings reveal start-ups employ strategies like product innovation, strategic communication, and business expansion to overcome several consumer behavior barriers. Start-ups collaboratively target institutional challenges,... (More)
Food systems can negatively impact the environment and human health, posing challenges to global sustainability goals. Employing the Three Spheres of Transformation framework, this thesis examines sustainable entrepreneurs' role in transforming food systems to support plant-based food consumption. Focusing on Swedish plant-based alternative food start-ups, I conducted 11 interviews to explore entrepreneurs' roles on creating consumer behavior, addressing institutional challenges, and intervening in mindset shifts. Findings reveal start-ups employ strategies like product innovation, strategic communication, and business expansion to overcome several consumer behavior barriers. Start-ups collaboratively target institutional challenges, creating new practices and norms within the dominant animal-based food system. While startups view mindset shifts as significant, they do not perceive themselves as change agents. The study underscores channeling innovation focus from technical to social and enhancing collaborations among different actors. Insights can inform initiatives aimed at facilitating smoother pathways for start-up and governmental efforts to address consumption patterns. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Jeong, Jenna LU
supervisor
organization
course
MESM02 20241
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Sustainability Science, system transformation, dietary shift, plant-based food, sustainable entrepreneurship
publication/series
Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science
report number
2024:008
language
English
id
9153345
date added to LUP
2024-05-28 12:38:20
date last changed
2024-05-28 12:38:20
@misc{9153345,
  abstract     = {{Food systems can negatively impact the environment and human health, posing challenges to global sustainability goals. Employing the Three Spheres of Transformation framework, this thesis examines sustainable entrepreneurs' role in transforming food systems to support plant-based food consumption. Focusing on Swedish plant-based alternative food start-ups, I conducted 11 interviews to explore entrepreneurs' roles on creating consumer behavior, addressing institutional challenges, and intervening in mindset shifts. Findings reveal start-ups employ strategies like product innovation, strategic communication, and business expansion to overcome several consumer behavior barriers. Start-ups collaboratively target institutional challenges, creating new practices and norms within the dominant animal-based food system. While startups view mindset shifts as significant, they do not perceive themselves as change agents. The study underscores channeling innovation focus from technical to social and enhancing collaborations among different actors. Insights can inform initiatives aimed at facilitating smoother pathways for start-up and governmental efforts to address consumption patterns.}},
  author       = {{Jeong, Jenna}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  series       = {{Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science}},
  title        = {{What more to innovate?: A case study of plant-based food start-ups in Sweden for food system transformation}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}