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More collaboration ensures the best possible food
A single actor cannot manage the transition on their own. In order for consumers to be able to eat food that is good, healthy and sustainable, collaboration is required throughout the food chain.
"Everyone we talk to sees the benefits. But it is not obvious for an entrepreneur to talk innovation with their supplier or customer,” says Charlotte Eklund-Jonsson at RISE.
With a turnover of SEK 200 billion and 55,000 people employed, the food industry is the country's third largest industry. There are around 4600 processing enterprises in the sector and only 650 of them employ more than ten people. It is thus an important sector where any change can have an impact on society at large.
As a research and business developer at RISE, Charlotte Eklund-Jonsson works to build networks and systems that facilitate innovations and sustainable development. One of the goals is to achieve collaboration throughout the value chain from farm to fork – from primary production, through processing of the products and on to sales in trade or in restaurants.
"Everyone we talk to sees the benefits of collaboration and innovation, but there are of course obstacles along the way. But it is not obvious for an entrepreneur to talk innovation with their supplier or customer. They are used to being each other's counterparts and now they are suddenly going to cooperate," says Charlotte Eklund-Jonsson.
"If you are going to develop completely new business and cooperation models, it is advantageous to have an independent party involved. Here at RISE we can help with both facilitation or coordination and our expertise.
Increased knowledge about innovation
Within the centre initiative FINEST, Chalmers, Uppsala University and RISE develop knowledge about innovation in the food sector together with a number of companies in the food chain. The project started in 2020 and runs over four years. Something that the project wants to address is that risks and opportunities look different for different actors. Charlotte Eklund-Jonsson gives an example:
“If an entrepreneur wants to start bean cultivation or develop a new product based on beans, the entire risk often lies with the individual company because the trade can say "sorry it didn't sell, come back when you have a new product". Here, the value chain can help each other.
There is an impatience in the industry that we need to respond to
Investments must be anchored
The purchase of tools is another example. A farmer who is thinking of investing in a new combine harvester to grow completely new crops needs to ensure that other actors are willing to refine and resell the product.
The success that FINEST wants to contribute to is measured in financial terms, but also in terms of sustainability.
"It's not just climate, just health, just biodiversity. All at the same time. And that is why we need to include many different actors who can contribute with their skills. Both to future-proof their specific businesses, but also to be involved and take responsibility for a more sustainable world.”
Charlotte Eklund-Jonsson emphasizes that the knowledge that the actors in the value chain contribute complements the expertise that RISE and its partners stand for. “To know how it works practically on a farm, in a factory or in a shop is necessary to take into account when new models for collaboration are to take shape. Everyone is needed.”
Daring to test more at an early stage is an important experience that Charlotte Eklund-Jonsson and her colleagues at RISE have drawn so far in the FINEST project.
"We need to move faster. There is an impatience in the industry that we need to respond to. Impatience is a symptom that they want to be involved and make a difference. They want to develop good and sustainable products that all consumers can and want to eat. I get a warm, cosy feeling from that ambition.”
CHECKLIST FOR SUCCESSFUL COLLABORATION
Charlotte Eklund-Jonsson has a checklist for what is important to think about before, during and after a collaborative project.
- Before: Ensure that the right parties are involved in the work. Take stock, do not forget about any part.
- During: To increase security and trust between the parties, it can be good to have an independent actor, such as RISE, who handles facilitation and can contribute with interdisciplinary expertise.
- After: Don't let go, be sure to do follow-ups. The process must be iterated.
