Food Cultural Heritage Organizations: a Multi-Capital Business Model Framework for Sustainable Heritage Preservation

Abstract

Food Cultural Heritage (FCH) organizations represent a distinctive category of enterprises that fundamentally challenge conventional management theory through collective ownership structures, participatory governance models and stakeholder networks. Operating as custodians of cultural traditions while pursuing economic sustainability, these entities create value through "economies of scope and meaning" that transcend traditional business paradigms. This theoretical study addresses critical gaps in an innovative and rapidly expanding field that demonstrates significant potential for multi-dimensional value creation yet exhibits systematic deficiencies in accounting and accountability frameworks. Through combined deductive analysis of existing literature and inductive observation of organizational practices across Italian bio-districts, ecomuseums and Slow Food organizations, we develop an innovative multi-capital business model framework that formally recognizes Cultural Capital as a seventh operational dimension alongside the traditional six capitals of the Integrated Reporting Framework. The research proposes specialized valuation and reporting frameworks based on Italy's usability value methodology and develops a Food Cultural Heritage Business Model Canvas that accommodates their unique value creation patterns and stakeholder complexity, providing both theoretical advancement and practical tools for a growing sector requiring enhanced accountability mechanisms.