New Business Models for a Co-evolution of Digital, Agroecological and Circular Trajectories

I am a PhD student at Inrae Montpellier and CIHEAM-IAMM, within the UMR MoISA. I study how agri-food companies are using digital technologies to develop new business models to implement sustainable, agro-ecological and circular practices.
My background is interdisciplinary, having obtained my BSc in Plant Sciences at Wageningen University in the Netherlands. My Master's degree is in rural development and innovation. I'm doing a thesis because I want to contribute to improving and developing the agri-food system through a sustainable system and society.
The main objective is to analyse how the use of digital technologies transforms existing business models and contributes to the construction of new agro-ecological and circular business models along the agri-food value chain. Digital technologies could be major instruments for supporting the sustainable development of the agri-food system. However, some research is calling for a better understanding of the consequences of digitisation. The co-evolution of digital and agro-ecological trajectories has great potential to change practices and relationships between the various players in the agri-food chain. Circular bioeconomy and agroecology business models can be seen as innovative management responses to environmental challenges. The main results expected from the thesis are an understanding of digital trajectories and their consequences on the new configurations of the agri-food value chain for developing agroecological and circular practices.
My prospects are to explore the sustainable possibilities of digital technologies in the agri-food chain. I would also like to develop my skills in research, technology and innovation. I would like to understand the interactions between stakeholders, their practices and their opinions on current issues.

• Starting date: 1st December 2023
• Research unit: MoISA, Inrae
• University: Institut Agro Montpellier
• PhD school: EDEG
• Scientific field: Management sciences
• Thesis management : Mechthild Donner, MoISA, Inrae
• Thesis supervisors  Fatima El Hadad-Gauthier, MoISA, Inrae - Pierre Labarthe, Agir, Inrae
• Financement : PEPR Projet CoEditAg and Projet FEDER TENABIC Occitanie
• Funding: Axe 1 : Impact des technologies de l'information et de la communication sur le monde rural, Axe 2: Innovations en agriculture numérique, Challenge 7 : Intégration de l’agriculture dans les chaînes de valeur, Challenge 1 : Le challenge agroécologique

Keywords: business models, digitalisation, agroecology, circular bioeconomy

Abstract: Digital technologies are expected to be major instruments to support sustainable agricultural development (Lajoie-O’Malley et al. 2020). The co-evolution of digital and agroecological trajectories could present great potential in changing practices and relationships between the actors in the agri-food value chain (Klerkx et al. 2019). However, some authors call for a better understanding of the consequences of digitalization (Bronson & Knezevic 2016; Carolan 2017). The main objective is to analyse how the use of digital technologies transforms existing business models and contributes to the construction of new agroecological and circular business models throughout the agri-food value chain. More specifically, the project will identify different business models types, their internal and external drivers and barriers towards more sustainability and circularity, and the emergence of new business models by the use of digital technologies. Business models related to the circular bioeconomy and agroecology can be considered as innovative management responses to environmental challenges by providing conservation, recycling and reuse of resources (Donner et al., 2020). The envisaged methodology includes: 1) a literature review in order to develop the conceptual framework, 2) an empirical analysis (quantitative and empirical) with actors in the agri-food value chains to better understand the current technology-use and practices, and 3) more in-depth qualitative case studies of agro and food businesses and value chains. Occitanie is a pioneer in the implementation of regional policies to support the agroecological transition and the circular economy. Thus, the Occitanie region will serve as a main case study to understand the challenges of a co-evolution of digital, agroecological and circular trajectories. However, a comparison with other regions is envisioned. The main expected results of the study include providing an understanding of digital trajectories and their effect on new configurations of the agri-food value chain in order to develop agroecological and circular practices.

Contact: laura.slot [AT] inrae.fr - 07.45.57.59.37

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