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Wapnö Farm used to be an ordinary, although large, farm producing milk. The
owners and management regarded the farm as a producer at the onset of the agrifood value. The milk was delivered to a large organization, which now has become
an actor on the international market. Over 20 years ago, the owner and the management decided to start developing a diversified sustainable business model. They
choose to advance in the agri-food value chain and get closer to the end consumer.
Wapnö focused on sustainable environment and the preferences of the end customers, e.g. taste and flavour experiences. Today, the management of Wapnö talks about
“sustainability into the future”. Wapnö has been working actively towards a sustainable environment for many years. The manager states that:
the present generation should take care in using natural resources reasonably and being
environmentally responsible so that we leave the environment as untouched as possible for
future generations.
Wapnö is developing a circular economy with a diversified sustainable business
model. Wapnö call themselves an open farm, which means that consumers can come
to the farm to get a closer look at the animals, the barns and the dairy. Wapnö also
has a restaurant, which uses ingredients from the farm.
The company has established a farm brewery, and the beer is brewed from the
farm’s water and grain. The cattle are moving freely and never given antibiotics.
The cattle are not given soy products, but rather pressed canola. Wapnö is also producing biofuel from canola oil. The milk flows directly in a tube from the barn to the
dairy 30 meters away. Wapnö also has a large greenhouse, where they grew vegetables for sale in the farm shop and for the farm restaurant. The greenhouse is heated
with renewable energy generated on the farm.
Wapnö farm biogas, produced from cattle manure, contributes to renewable
energy in the form of electricity, heat and cooling, which is needed year-round in the
food premises. Wapnö only uses manure from animals on the farm for biogas production and has cut the energy consumption with more than 90%. The biogas plant
also provides fertilization, which improves the fertility and value of the farmland.
Through the development of a sustainable diversified business model, Wapnö has
climbed the value chain, got closer to the end consumer and developed a very strong
brand. Therefore, it is able to sell its products at a higher price, which reflects the
value end customers put on the products.
As many other farms, Wapnö used to be a traditional, although large, farm business in the start of the agri-value chain. Over the last 20 years, Wapnö has developed
a diversified sustainable business model, and the development is still ongoing.
Today, the company matches several business model archetypes. Wapnö maximizes
its resources, creates value from waste and substitutes with renewables and natural
processes. Further, the company has repurposed the business for society/environment since the sustainability and circular economy are in focus. Finally, and not
least, the stewardship role is very clear and articulated.
From a sustainability-oriented innovation perspective, Wapnö is a good example
of a company which has developed sustainability as a process. The company has
developed from operational optimization to organizational transformation: doing
P.-O. Ulvenblad
Wapnö Farm used to be an ordinary, although large, farm producing milk. The
owners and management regarded the farm as a producer at the onset of the agrifood value. The milk was delivered to a large organization, which now has become
an actor on the international market. Over 20 years ago, the owner and the management decided to start developing a diversified sustainable business model. They
choose to advance in the agri-food value chain and get closer to the end consumer.
Wapnö focused on sustainable environment and the preferences of the end customers, e.g. taste and flavour experiences. Today, the management of Wapnö talks about
“sustainability into the future”. Wapnö has been working actively towards a sustainable environment for many years. The manager states that:
the present generation should take care in using natural resources reasonably and being
environmentally responsible so that we leave the environment as untouched as possible for
future generations.
Wapnö is developing a circular economy with a diversified sustainable business
model. Wapnö call themselves an open farm, which means that consumers can come
to the farm to get a closer look at the animals, the barns and the dairy. Wapnö also
has a restaurant, which uses ingredients from the farm.
The company has established a farm brewery, and the beer is brewed from the
farm’s water and grain. The cattle are moving freely and never given antibiotics.
The cattle are not given soy products, but rather pressed canola. Wapnö is also producing biofuel from canola oil. The milk flows directly in a tube from the barn to the
dairy 30 meters away. Wapnö also has a large greenhouse, where they grew vegetables for sale in the farm shop and for the farm restaurant. The greenhouse is heated
with renewable energy generated on the farm.
Wapnö farm biogas, produced from cattle manure, contributes to renewable
energy in the form of electricity, heat and cooling, which is needed year-round in the
food premises. Wapnö only uses manure from animals on the farm for biogas production and has cut the energy consumption with more than 90%. The biogas plant
also provides fertilization, which improves the fertility and value of the farmland.
Through the development of a sustainable diversified business model, Wapnö has
climbed the value chain, got closer to the end consumer and developed a very strong
brand. Therefore, it is able to sell its products at a higher price, which reflects the
value end customers put on the products.
As many other farms, Wapnö used to be a traditional, although large, farm business in the start of the agri-value chain. Over the last 20 years, Wapnö has developed
a diversified sustainable business model, and the development is still ongoing.
Today, the company matches several business model archetypes. Wapnö maximizes
its resources, creates value from waste and substitutes with renewables and natural
processes. Further, the company has repurposed the business for society/environment since the sustainability and circular economy are in focus. Finally, and not
least, the stewardship role is very clear and articulated.
From a sustainability-oriented innovation perspective, Wapnö is a good example
of a company which has developed sustainability as a process. The company has
developed from operational optimization to organizational transformation: doing
P.-O. Ulvenblad