SHIFT: Environmental assessment and business models for sustainable food systems

A solution to create more sustainable food systems lies in the increased use and understanding of climate/environmental assessment linked to business models. This project will investigate the factors that influence what makes a food system sustainable and how to get there in a Swedish context..

The global food system is a major contributor to environmental degradation, including greenhouse gas emissions, resource depletion, and ecosystem impacts. In response, local food systems are increasingly promoted as a pathway toward more sustainable and resilient food chains. These systems are often associated with shorter supply chains, closer producer–consumer connections, and reduced transport. However, the actual environmental benefits of local food remain debated, as shorter chains do not always guarantee lower emissions or improved efficiency. This highlights the need for further research to evaluate when and how local food systems truly offer more sustainable solutions.

Purpose and research questions

The purpose of this project is to explore new perspectives on sustainable food systems combining a life cycle assessment (LCA) perspective with a business model (BM) approach. Focusing on the Swedish context, the project aims to identify when local food systems offer the most environmentally sustainable solutions, and when conventional or hybrid models may be more appropriate. Additionally, it seeks to examine how BMs can be adapted to support these sustainability insights. The research addresses the following questions:

• What key factors influence if local, conventional, or hybrid food systems are the most environmentally sustainable option from a LCA perspective, and how can these be integrated with a BM approach?
• What are the drivers, barriers and opportunities of an integrated BM-LCA framework to successfully support food producers in choosing the most environmentally sustainable option?
• How can sustainable food BMs be designed, based on a BM-LCA analysis, and what strategies are applied to implement it?

Procedure

The project is based on a collaborative research process where researchers and practitioners work closely together to answer the research questions. The project includes three researchers representing two different research environments at Gävle University (industrial management and sustainability science). The project furthermore includes various practitioners (e.g., farmers, processors, distributors) who work with different food products, as well as six representatives from Region Gävleborg, the Swedish Farmers' Association, the Gävleborg County Administrative Board, Matvärden and Lantmännen and three researchers from KTH, SLU and IVL who are included in the project's reference group.

Expected contribution

The expected result of this project is a practical framework that supports food producers in understanding and reducing the environmental impact of their BMs, while also developing their operations through strategies that combine sustainability and competitiveness. By integrating environmental assessment and BM innovation, the project can generate new knowledge on how sustainable food systems can be designed to ensure food security without increasing greenhouse gas emissions or causing other environmental impacts.

At the societal level, the project is expected to contribute to reduced climate impact, more efficient resource use, and strengthened food supply – important steps toward achieving both national and global climate goals. Indirectly, it may also promote greater trust and collaboration between producers and other actors in the food supply chain through a shared understanding of sustainability challenges and solutions.

Project staff members