Sustainable entrepreneurship

The Dutch so-called ‘topsector’ Agri & Food is internationally leading in the production of high-quality, safe and healthy food. The problem that we are dealing with at present, can be typified as a vitality problem. The capacity and resilience of our planet is at stake. On the one hand, the topsector responds to the growing worldwide demand for healthy and sustainably produced food, and on the other hand, it responds to growing consumer and government criticism of present agri-food production methods.

The Plant research area focuses on reducing the consumption of energy and raw materials, closing life cycles, the introduction of precision agriculture, proper soil and agricultural surface water management, and innovations via data-driven high-tech applications. Entrepreneurship in which the relationship with the environment of businesses and the sector are part of business strategies, is vital.

Regarding efficiency, the animal production sector in the Netherlands has been highly rationalized and is internationally successful. The animal production sector faces three important challenges when it comes to making the transition to integral sustainable production systems with technical, social and societal innovations, not only in the Netherlands, but internationally as well. Making the animal production sector sustainable demands a change in thinking, daring and doing by researchers and teachers, (future) professionals and entrepreneurs. Extra impulses are necessary to accelerate this change.

The animal research area focuses on intensive public-private collaboration in the animal production sector, in combination with a high-quality and practically geared provision of education, with applied research as a method of quality enhancement. This research area focuses on professional skills (entrepreneurship and society), knowledge on animals (animal health, animal welfare, animal management) and the environment (soil, water, air and crops). These fields constitute the fundamental dimensions of sustainable animal husbandry.

The source of inspiration of this research area is: the circular economy, striving to create short and fair chains, reutilization of raw materials, and human and animal health. In order to make a concerted effort in dealing with these issues, industry is looking for smart (digital) methods and technology, and circular business models. In the Bio-based & Circular Economy research area, research is carried out on sustainable entrepreneurship and matching business models. Suitable research questions here are all part of issues concerning People, Planet and Profit.

This research area studies the economic aspects of a circular economy in the agri-food sector. These are studies on the circularity of residual waste, circular adaptivity of construction and renovation of buildings and property, and the development of corresponding business models. The stimulation of innovations to improve techniques that reduce pollution by residual waste are also part of these studies. Other studies in this research area are of a more conceptual nature and look at aspects that apply to different chains, or carry out empirical research on specific aspects in a particular chain or parts of a chain.