Systems approaches to UN Sustainable Development Goals: managing paradox in agri-food through partnerships with sustainable business model organizations

Natalia Lumby, Julie Kellershohn and Lynda McDonald

Chapter 5 in The Elgar Companion to Social Innovation and the Sustainable Development Goals, 2026, pp 97-119 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: The chapter focuses on social innovation in the agri-food sector, exploring its link to the SDGs by analyzing different case studies in sustainable food production through the angle of paradox theory. Social innovations through sustainable business models, which aim to increase circularity and sufficiency in food systems, are examined. Key innovations include social enterprises focused on waste reduction, subscription food boxes, regenerative agriculture, and circular recycling. Cases demonstrate how the paradox perspective to social innovation can help to highlight trade-offs. Specifically, the tensions between SDG 2 (zero hunger) and SDG 12 (sustainable production and consumption) are highlighted. The results demonstrate that, while by their nature, paradoxical tensions cannot be eliminated, partnerships (SDG 17) can play a critical role in their management. Three novel types of sustainability partnerships (circularity, connection, and education) are proposed and discussed.

Keywords: Agri-food Systems; Circular Economy; Paradox Theory; Sustainable Business Models; Social Innovation; Systems Thinking; Partnerships (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035326037
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