Rodrigo Luiz Morais-da-Silva

My research focuses on the role of alternative proteins, particularly plant-based and cultivated meat, in driving sustainability transitions within food systems. Drawing on socio-technical transitions, innovation studies, and social impact perspectives, I examine how new business models (including traditional rural producers), organizational strategies, and innovation ecosystems contribute to reshaping traditional agri-food regimes. I pay particular attention to just transition dynamics, exploring how these transformations can promote social inclusion, protect livelihoods, and create equitable opportunities for farmers and workers affected by structural change. I am especially interested in actor interactions (startups, universities, established firms, policymakers), and the institutional and organizational conditions that enable the development, diffusion, and legitimation of alternative protein innovations.