137
5.5.8 The Farmers (Lantmännen)
The Farmers in Sweden started to organize in the end of the nineteenth century, and
they founded the national association in 1905. Today, it is an economic cooperative,
owned by 27,000 Swedish farmers, and has grown to one of the largest actors in
agriculture, food and energy in Northern Europe.
The Farmers’ focus is to provide the members with seed, fertilizer, plant protection products and feed as well as to receive, store, refine and sell what farmers grow.
Other important elements of the business are sales of forest, construction and agricultural machinery. The Farmers is the largest purchaser of grain in Sweden. They
claim that they protect the earth’s resources in a responsible manner and are included
in the entire value chain from farm to table. Their business model strives to deliver
sustainable products and new innovative solutions to customers while at the same
time creating value for our owners and contributing to a viable agriculture.
The visions and goals of The Farmers are closely connected to innovation and
sustainability.
In 2018, The Farmers (Lantmännen in Swedish) was named one of Sweden’s
most sustainable brands (Sustainable Brand Index 2018). The Farmers strive after
viable agriculture, greener energy and a sustainable food chain. The Farmers
state that,
Together we take responsibility from land to table…. we lead the processing of arable land
resources in an innovative and responsible manner for tomorrow's agriculture… we create
a viable agriculture.
The Farmers shares several aspects with Södra. Many of the small farm owners have
also sustainability priorities and have stewardship perspectives. The Farmers has
also developed applying several sustainable business model archetypes besides
stewardship, maximize, create value from waste and develop scale-up solutions.
From a sustainability-oriented perspective, The Farmers are also involved in system
building.
5.6 Analysis
The eight companies and cooperatives will be positioned in the combined framework of sustainability-oriented innovations (SOI) and different sustainable business
model archetypes. See Table 5.7.
All of the companies analysed share a stewardship perspective on the business.
All of them are also regarding themselves as entrepreneurs and business leaders, not
only producers. Further, all of companies have over time developed and moved
closer to customers in the agri-value chain. Another relevant aspect of their sustainable business models is that they have diversified their business models. Since these
companies are depending on natural resources and often connected to one place, it
is hard for them to develop scale-up solutions. However, one way to develop
5 Development of Sustainable Business Models for Innovation in the Swedish…
5.5.8 The Farmers (Lantmännen)
The Farmers in Sweden started to organize in the end of the nineteenth century, and
they founded the national association in 1905. Today, it is an economic cooperative,
owned by 27,000 Swedish farmers, and has grown to one of the largest actors in
agriculture, food and energy in Northern Europe.
The Farmers’ focus is to provide the members with seed, fertilizer, plant protection products and feed as well as to receive, store, refine and sell what farmers grow.
Other important elements of the business are sales of forest, construction and agricultural machinery. The Farmers is the largest purchaser of grain in Sweden. They
claim that they protect the earth’s resources in a responsible manner and are included
in the entire value chain from farm to table. Their business model strives to deliver
sustainable products and new innovative solutions to customers while at the same
time creating value for our owners and contributing to a viable agriculture.
The visions and goals of The Farmers are closely connected to innovation and
sustainability.
In 2018, The Farmers (Lantmännen in Swedish) was named one of Sweden’s
most sustainable brands (Sustainable Brand Index 2018). The Farmers strive after
viable agriculture, greener energy and a sustainable food chain. The Farmers
state that,
Together we take responsibility from land to table…. we lead the processing of arable land
resources in an innovative and responsible manner for tomorrow's agriculture… we create
a viable agriculture.
The Farmers shares several aspects with Södra. Many of the small farm owners have
also sustainability priorities and have stewardship perspectives. The Farmers has
also developed applying several sustainable business model archetypes besides
stewardship, maximize, create value from waste and develop scale-up solutions.
From a sustainability-oriented perspective, The Farmers are also involved in system
building.
5.6 Analysis
The eight companies and cooperatives will be positioned in the combined framework of sustainability-oriented innovations (SOI) and different sustainable business
model archetypes. See Table 5.7.
All of the companies analysed share a stewardship perspective on the business.
All of them are also regarding themselves as entrepreneurs and business leaders, not
only producers. Further, all of companies have over time developed and moved
closer to customers in the agri-value chain. Another relevant aspect of their sustainable business models is that they have diversified their business models. Since these
companies are depending on natural resources and often connected to one place, it
is hard for them to develop scale-up solutions. However, one way to develop
5 Development of Sustainable Business Models for Innovation in the Swedish…