Mapping agricultural business models to foster socioeconomic opportunities: Insights from Europe
Dimitre Nikolov
, Ivan Boevsky
, Krasimir Kostenarov
, Ekatherina Tzvetanova, Martin Banov
, Laura Zavattaro
, Josef Krasa
, Tomas Dostal
, Gunther Carl Liebhard
, Peter Strauss
, Zsofia Bakacsi
, Csilla Hudek
, Jose A. Gómez
, Maria Gema Guzman Diaz
Abstract: Enhancing social capital, improving market connections for healthy goods and services, and increasing business and technical management capacities can help farmers adopt more sustainable and profitable business models. The aim of the study was to map the business models used by farmers in three agricultural systems (tree crops, cereal-based rotations, and pastures) across European countries. The study used a simplified Business Model Canvas to define the elements of the business model. Then, a two-step cluster analysis was applied to identify the characteristics that define each business model. As a result, four business models were described. A comparative analysis was then made between them. Based on these analyses, conclusions were drawn about the socioeconomic opportunities for their further development.
Keywords: business models in agriculture; farm types; mapping
Citation: Nikolov, D., Boevsky, I., Kostenarov, K., Tzvetanova, E., Banov, M., Zavattaro, L., Krasa, J., Dostal, T., Liebhard, G. C., Strauss, P., Bakacsi, Z., Hudek, C., Gómez, J. A. & Diaz, G. G. (2026). Mapping agricultural business models to foster socioeconomic opportunities: Insights from Europe. Bulg. J. Agric. Sci., 32(3), 573–587
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| Date published: 2026-06-25
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