Sustainable innovation on the menu: Business models reshaping the food system

This study examines the evolving role of Business Model Innovation (BMI) and Sustainable Business Model Innovation (SBMI) in driving sustainability transitions within the agri-food sector. Through a taxonomy anchored to the presentation of multiple case studies, it highlights how firms leverage technological advancements to address critical environmental and social challenges while enhancing operational efficiency. The case companies span multiple stages of the food value chain, from agricultural production and food processing to distribution, consumption, and waste management, illustrating the diverse ways in which innovation is embedded within sustainability-driven business models (BMs). The findings reveal that technology adoption is not merely an enabler of efficiency but a core mechanism for embedding sustainability into business practices, optimizing resource use, reducing food waste, improving traceability, and promoting healthier and more sustainable consumption patterns. Beyond digital technologies, this study underscores the role of sustainability itself as a driver of innovation, reshaping value creation, delivery, and capture processes to align business strategies with environmental and social objectives. By integrating technological advancements with circular economy principles, regenerative practices, and sustainability-oriented business strategies, the study contributes to the broader discourse on SBMI. It demonstrates that sustainability is not only a market constraint or outcome but an active force shaping business transformation. These insights provide valuable implications for both academia and practice, emphasizing the need for structured taxonomies, cross-sectoral learning, and policy support to facilitate the widespread adoption of sustainability-driven BMI in food systems.