Fixing the Food Chain
This month, Innavi is proud to feature HarvestStack in our sustainability spotlight series, celebrating businesses driving innovation and positive change across the hospitality industry. In a food system often burdened by complexity and opacity, HarvestStack is rebuilding the bridge between those who produce our food and those who prepare it. Their direct-trade platform connects chefs, farmers, and fishers in real time, transforming how ingredients move from harvest to plate while promoting fairness, transparency, and regeneration.
“Food connects us all, yet somewhere along the line, we built systems that forgot that. HarvestStack is about bringing that connection back, in a way that’s fair, fast, and sustainable.”, — HarvestStack Founder
No Middlemen. Just Connection.
HarvestStack was founded by a team of professionals from restaurants, conservation, technology, and finance who were united by one shared frustration: the broken food supply chain. Too many intermediaries, too little trust, and too few rewards for the people closest to the source. While many sellers harvest on demand for buyers through the platform, HarvestStack recognises that producers also operate independently, supplying other markets and pursuing their own activities outside the system.
“Without paying lip service, what really matters to HarvestStack is our community of chefs, fishers, and farmers. We’re lean, hands-on, and committed to solving real-world problems on both sides of the table.”
What truly sets HarvestStack apart is its strong community of chefs, fishers, and farmers. The business is lean, hands-on, and works closely with its network to ensure it solves real-world problems on both sides of the table.
Sustainability Baked In
For HarvestStack, sustainability isn’t a buzzword, it’s the backbone of everything they do. Every part of the platform is built to support regeneration, reduce waste, and reward people doing the right thing. By cutting out unnecessary steps in the supply chain, HarvestStack lowers food miles, reduces waste, and ensures producers earn more for their work. Radical transparency lets chefs see exactly who grew or caught their ingredients, how they did it, and what impact it had.
“We’re not perfect, but we believe rewarding continuous improvement is fundamental to good business and our shared future. Sustainability isn’t about doing less harm, it’s about building a system that restores and regenerates.”, — HarvestStack Founder
The result? A smarter, cleaner, and fairer system that values accountability and constant improvement, creating real benefits for producers, chefs, and the planet.
Waste Less. Feed Better.
HarvestStack’s direct-trade model ensures nothing goes to waste. Every order has a destination before it’s packed or shipped, fishers catch only what’s been ordered, and farmers box produce that already has a table waiting for it. With traditional food systems wasting up to 50% of what’s produced, this on-demand model is a game-changer. By matching supply and demand in real time, HarvestStack removes inefficiency and puts value back where it belongs, in every harvest.
Tech That Builds Trust
Behind the simplicity of the platform is serious tech. Built on radical transparency, HarvestStack’s system tracks provenance, validates sustainability claims, and gives chefs access to real-time data that supports smarter sourcing. The team’s background in blockchain laid the foundation for digital traceability, and they’re now exploring how AI can make logistics even cleaner, faster, and more efficient.
“We understand how AI can radically optimise traceability, reduce waste, and make regenerative sourcing scalable. Technology isn’t the goal, it’s the enabler of change.”, HarvestStack Founder
Collaboration Over Competition
Reimagining a deeply rooted food system hasn’t been easy. Early on, some middle players feared disruption. Instead of fighting back, HarvestStack leaned in. They even collaborated with a leading university to understand why resistance was so strong, discovering that while producers and consumers saw the benefits, middle players feared being cut out. By staying transparent, collaborative, and adaptable, Harvest Stack has turned many of those early sceptics into some of their strongest partners today.
That collaborative mindset, listening, adapting, and working honestly defines how HarvestStack continues to grow.
Partners, Not Badges
Still early in their journey, HarvestStack is building a framework for long-term integrity and impact. B Corp certification is in their sights, but the team’s focus is on walking the talk first. They work closely with independent organisations like The GoodFish Project, ensuring sustainability claims are backed by evidence, not industry bias. And they’re testing financial models to directly improve regenerative outcomes and the wellbeing of farmers.
Rooted in Real Food and Family
HarvestStack’s founder brings a lifelong connection to food and the natural world. Raised on a hobby farm in a family of bakers, biologists, and fishers, they learned early how food, health, and the environment are all intertwined. Years as a chef deepened that curiosity, and a sabbatical on a small French farm made it personal, a front-row view of what happens when food systems value care, seasonality, and people.
“I fundamentally disagree that you can’t have great food harvested with care while also achieving efficiency. With today’s tools, we can have both.” — HarvestStack Founder
What’s Next
HarvestStack’s mission is simple: empower producers, inspire chefs, and fix what’s broken in the food chain. Their growing community is reshaping how we value food, one connection, one story, and one delivery at a time.
At Innavi, we share that vision. HarvestStack shows that sustainability isn’t about doing less harm, it’s about building better systems that regenerate what sustains us. By mixing innovation, integrity, and humanity, they’re proving the future of food can be both sustainable and deliciously connected.
