Business Model Development for Circular Food Systems

The aim of the PhD is to explore and co-create robust business models for innovations aiming at converting organic residues from the fruit and vegetable sector into novel bio-based fertilizer products of high quality, based on five conversion processes (carboxylic acid platform, microbial biomass production, electrodialysis, insect breeding and biochar production) and to identify the factors influencing the successful uptake of these business models. A business model addresses not only the creation and distribution of value added but also how risks are distributed and how decisions are made (governance), which relates to the various property rights involved. A key success factor is the ability to capture a fair share of the added-value generated by these technologies. Market and regulatory factors will thus be important elements enabling such business models. Business models will be tested with stakeholders and their robustness and replicability will be tested using foresight methods.