Path dependency, institutionalization and co-evolution: The missing diffusion of the blue revolution in Norwegian aquaculture

Abstract

Scholars taking the evolutionary perspective argue that technologies, competence and institutions of successful paths may spill over to related industry initiatives and subsequent industry paths. The notion of co-evolution has been introduced as an analytical category for such interconnectivity. In this article, we investigate the development of salmon farming in Norway as a successful industry path and its linkages with cod farming, a subsequent emerging industry path. In the public debate, there has been an expectation that knowledge and solutions from salmon farming will diffuse to aquaculture for other species. However, this diffusion appears to be missing. Cod farming is an area that should capitalize on the success of salmon aquaculture, and we investigate why cod farmers appear to be unable to utilize the experience and knowledge of salmon farmers and copy their solutions. We found that the development of a specialized institutional arrangement for salmon farming makes these models incompatible with the needs of farming of other species, resulting in limited co-evolution between subsequent aquaculture industry paths. Thus, a situation characterized by strong co-evolution within an industry path, facilitating the development of an institutional arrangement tailor-made for the firms of the industry, reduce the possibilities for co-evolution between related industry paths.