Maria Bustamante

Maria J. Bustamante is a researcher at SEED. Her research focuses on sustainable food systems transformation with a concentration on how actors in the agri-food system evaluate and value nascent, technology-based innovations through different frames, business models and collaborations.

Maria is co-lead of the Innovation Management work package of the Formas Food Research Center PLENTY, focused on symbiotic and circular food provisioning.

Research interests:

• Agrifood tech
• Digitalization
• Market innovation
• Innovation processes
• Sustainable food systems
• Sustainability transitions
• Vertical farming

Maria holds a PhD in Business Administration from the Stockholm School of Economics. Her dissertation, titled, "Agricultural Intelligence: Valuing Digital Technology in the Agri-Food Sector Transition to Sustainability," examined how actors in the agri-food system value emerging digital technologies and how these valuation processes influence the pathways toward sustainability. In addition to research, she has taught on subjects including environmental management, supply chain management, and the economics of food transformation. Through research and private sector experience, she has worked with multiple stakeholder groups, including governments, NGOs, corporates, investors and start-ups.