Center for Sustainable Agriculture (CSA): Expanding a Business Model

The Center for Sustainable Agriculture was founded in 2004 as a solution to various problems in India’s agricultural industry. The founder developed a sustainable agriculture model to help farmers lower crop failure risk and reduce production costs, to which pesticide and fertilizer use contributed over 30 per cent. The Center for Sustainable Agriculture built a sustainable agriculture model by collaborating with farmers, producer associations, governments, and markets. The introduction of organic products allowed the company to integrate sustainability into its core business plan. In 2021, after achieving success in Telangana, India, the founder was planning to expand his organic farming model across the country, but he wondered what challenges he would face in other states and how he could overcome these.

This case study is suitable for business and management programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels. It is ideally suited to the topic of innovation and sustainable business models in strategy, entrepreneurship, and innovation courses. The case is also suitable for courses on rural marketing and distribution management. This case study aims to provide students with a basic understanding of the traditional industry of agriculture and of an innovative and sustainable business model. It emphasizes the difficulties in obtaining essential buy-in from farmers and customers, who are skeptical of ecological sustainability as a feasible economic strategy driver. Students pursuing strategy, entrepreneurship, and innovation courses will benefit from the case’s analysis and development. After working through the case and assignment questions, students will be able to<ul><li>gain a basic understanding of the traditional and dynamic industry of agriculture;</li><li>analyze a new innovative and sustainable agricultural business model;</li><li>identify the pros and cons of extending a sustainable agriculture model into other markets and geographical areas; and</li><li>analyze how value is created within a sustainable agricultural model.</li></ul>

• sustainability
• business model
• sustainable agriculture
• sustainable development