New business opportunities

: mushroom farming : a new business model and economic approach

Abstract

Our current economic model is a disaster for our planet. Linearities and inequalities cannot continue to be the motor of growth (Meadows, 2006). Extracting without regenerating, transforming without fully exploiting and throwing without reusing are dominant practices when looking at a typical product life cycle. Innovation and entrepreneurial spirit is needed to transform problems into opportunities. To do so, a fresh look should be welcomed. This is what this dissertation is about; studying the feasibility of bringing a new way of doing business while solving environmental and social issues to the market. The new way of doing business shift the focus from shareholder value to system value, the problems solved are food waste, climate change, social inclusion, and the market are mushroom consumers.
Several frameworks and initiatives are analysed drawing the boundaries between a systemic business model and a linear business model. Further details about farming mushrooms on coffee ground are then presented, putting theory into practice. Ideas such as using what is locally available, reducing risk through multiple cashflows, generating system value and looking at nature as the master of all, are guiding principles in this thesis.

Date of Award	9 Mar 2018
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Rute Xavier (Supervisor)