This research explores how emerging technologies can support
Toronto’s Quick Service Food Establishment (QSFE) SME (Small
and Medium Enterprises) in adopting circular economy practices to tackle key sustainability challenges such as excessive food waste, slow digital adoption, and shifting regulatory landscapes.

Focusing on the intersection of technology, business resilience and urban food systems development, the study explores how digital tools can help small food businesses transition toward more regenerative models while remaining economically viable. A mixedmethods approach combining design thinking and strategic foresight grounded in Dator’s Four Futures framework was used to conduct user research, stakeholder analysis, and systems mapping to identify root causes and future opportunities.
The research proposes a Food-as-a-Service (FaaS) model that
leverages shared infrastructure, AI-enabled local production, and blockchain-driven transparency to reduce waste, engage consumers, and lower operational costs. A backcasting framework charts a realistic pathway toward 2035, aligning technological shifts with policy evolution and behavioural change.

By connecting speculative futures to grounded design
interventions, this research demonstrates how foresight-driven strategies can inform actionable, scalable solutions for circular food systems, starting in Toronto and extending to other urban environments navigating similar transitions.

Keywords: Circular Economy, Smart Food System, Strategic
Foresight, Innovation Business Model, Digital Transformation