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.
Highlights
The dominant regime in horticulture and agriculture is currently driven by global markets pushing for industrialized production systems based on high input of non-renewables, large-scale production, and specialization in crops or livestock
The results from the interviews are presented below according to the thematization made in transcript analysis, in the form of (1) general features of respondents’ production systems, including firm structure and typical characteristics; (2) specific motives of young market gardeners and factors influencing the situation for market gardeners; and (3) barriers and opportunities for new entrants in market gardening
To support policy-making in the area of sustainable food systems, we suggest to contrast market gardeners with other transformational food producers, such as high-tech vertical farmers, in particular when it comes to the sustainability impact and the adoption of knowledge and innovations
Summary
The dominant regime in horticulture and agriculture is currently driven by global markets pushing for industrialized production systems based on high input of non-renewables, large-scale production, and specialization in crops or livestock. This undermines the possibility for alternative, less-intensive production system to compete, creating a productivity paradigm where high-input modern farming practices are key drivers in the destruction of natural ecosystems, loss of biodiversity, and climate change [1]. Competences are linked to a specific context, in this case food systems, and are more complex They often include both knowledge and skills, such as problem solving, critical thinking, business planning, leadership. Are there any skills and competencies that you no longer use as much?
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