Harvesting Innovation: Navigating Enablers and Challenges for Chilean Startups on the Path to Sustainable Food Ecosystems

Abstract

The global food and agriculture industry faces multiple challenges in production, demand and regulations. Known as the largest industry worldwide, this industry plays a vital role in Latin America as the breadbasket for its significant contribution to the global production and export of agricultural and fish commodities. This thesis emphasizes the critical need to reevaluate and transform existing systems. It explores the concepts of food sustainability and food ecosystem, examining how a comprehensive transformation in food production and consumption can lead to a broader shift towards sustainability. Addressing the complexities of the food ecosystem involves collaboration across various levels with multiple stakeholders and their dynamics. Therefore, this research explores the role of AgriFoodTech startups and their ecosystem, in Chile specifically, in developing innovations that enable transition pathways towards transformed systems. A mixed-methods approach based on preliminary literature review and the enabler theory focuses on internal and external factors that impact startups, while the MLP framework offers a broader view by analyzing niche-regime interactions across social, technical, economic, political, and organizational aspects. Combining these approaches helps stakeholders better understand the challenges AgriFoodTech startups face and develop effective strategies for advancing a sustainable food ecosystem. Furthermore, perceptions of not only AgriFoodTech startups but also governmental entities, consultants/intermediaries and associations bring an overview of the ecosystem dynamics. The findings reveal that mature AgriFoodTech startups are obtaining the benefits of a growing support system and expanding market opportunities in recent years, despite potential contextual challenges. This supportive environment has enabled them to scale and innovate more effectively. Governmental programs in Chile played a key role in nurturing startups, yet there is still substantial scope for enhancing policies, regulations, and frameworks, to provide better support aiming to create more effective environment within the food ecosystem. Challenges remain, particularly with older generations of farmers who are often hesitant to adopt new technologies introduced by AgriFoodTech startups, necessitating targeted efforts to change traditional attitudes. Entrepreneur-founded associations and consultants/intermediaries have the potential to address specific startups needs, although sustaining transformative efforts remains crucial. Fostering a collective vision among startups regarding their role within the broader ecosystem and incorporating Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into their strategies can effectively align their efforts towards a unified transformation of the food ecosystem.