How can environmental sustainability improve through digital transformation? An explorative analysis in the agri-food system.

Purpose of the paper: The research aims to analyse the enabler role of digital technologies for enhancing the stakeholder engagement to achieve corporate environmental sustainability in the agri-food system. Particularly, digital stakeholder engagement coupled whit sustainability objectives retaled to EU taxonomy are investigated. Methodology: A multiple case study and a cross case analysis were adopted to analyse which digital technologies have been implemented into cases companies for the purpose of environmental sustainability and for investigating mechanisms activated by digital transformation. Main Findings: The paper demonstrates how digitalization enhance stakeholder engagement. Moreover, they reveal to support the pursuing different sustainability objectives related to UE sustainability taxonomy. Practical implications: The study points out the need for agri-food firms to incorporate environmental sustainability into the digital transformation strategy and to proactively involve stakeholders. Originality/value: Despite the literature has already pointed out the positive relationship between stakeholder engagement and sustainability objectives, the paper contributes to investigate the role of digital technologies in enhancing stakeholder engagement for sustainability.