Drottberger, Annie and Melin, Martin and Lundgren, Lotten
(2021).
Alternative food networks in food system transition—values, motivation, and capacity building among young Swedish market gardeners.
Sustainability. 13
, 4502
[Research article]
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Abstract
This study sheds light on a new generation of Swedish food producers, market gardeners, who are attracting attention in terms of food system sustainability, prompted by increasing consumer awareness about the value of healthy and locally produced food. Market gardening is part of a global agroecological movement opposed to industrialized agriculture and its negative impacts on the environment and rural communities. These food producers challenge the incumbent agri-food regime through the building of alternative food networks. This case-based study involving 14 young vegetable producers showed that young people who engage in market gardening are strongly motivated by dual incentives, namely entrepreneurship and transformation to sustainability. Six main competences were identified as important for market gardeners: practical skills related to growing vegetables, business management, innovation and continuous learning, systems thinking, pioneering, and networking. Individuals develop their skills through continuous experiential learning and gain knowledge through peer-to-peer learning using social media. However, they need to acquire certain skills relating to their daily work in the field and to managing a business. Market gardeners currently face a number of barriers erected by the sociopolitical environment, in particular regarding access to research-based knowledge, extension services, and business support.
Authors/Creators: | Drottberger, Annie and Melin, Martin and Lundgren, Lotten | ||||
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Title: | Alternative food networks in food system transition—values, motivation, and capacity building among young Swedish market gardeners | ||||
Series Name/Journal: | Sustainability | ||||
Year of publishing : | 2021 | ||||
Volume: | 13 | ||||
Article number: | 4502 | ||||
Number of Pages: | 15 | ||||
ISSN: | 2071-1050 | ||||
Language: | English | ||||
Publication Type: | Research article | ||||
Article category: | Scientific peer reviewed | ||||
Version: | Published version | ||||
Copyright: | Creative Commons: Attribution 4.0 | ||||
Full Text Status: | Public | ||||
Subjects: | (A) Swedish standard research categories 2011 > 4 Agricultural Sciences > 401 Agricultural, Forestry and Fisheries > Food Science (A) Swedish standard research categories 2011 > 4 Agricultural Sciences > 401 Agricultural, Forestry and Fisheries > Agricultural Science | ||||
Keywords: | agroecology, competencies, food system, lock-in, market gardening, skills, sustainability, transition, urban farming | ||||
URN:NBN: | urn:nbn:se:slu:epsilon-p-111683 | ||||
Permanent URL: | http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:slu:epsilon-p-111683 | ||||
Additional ID: |
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ID Code: | 23386 | ||||
Faculty: | LTV - Fakulteten för landskapsarkitektur, trädgårds- och växtproduktionsvetenskap | ||||
Department: | (LTJ, LTV) > Department of Biosystems and Technology (from 130101) (LTJ, LTV) > Department of People and Society (from 2021) | ||||
Deposited By: | SLUpub Connector | ||||
Deposited On: | 03 May 2021 13:23 | ||||
Metadata Last Modified: | 03 May 2021 13:31 |
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