Exploring the producers' perspective on local industry development : a case study of the conditions for blackcurrants, strawberries and arctic raspberries in northern Sweden

Abstract: Sweden is working on a national food strategy to increase the competitiveness of Swedish agriculture by increasing the competitiveness of the food value chains and increasing the total food production, in relation to consumer demand. As berries are a horticultural product of high consumer demand, and berries are the main horticultural crop in northern Sweden this case study focuses on berry producers in northern Sweden. The study is based on interviews with blackcurrant, strawberry and arctic berry farmers in Norrbotten and Västerbotten, the two northernmost counties in Sweden. It aims to explore the position (opinions and industry position) of the producers in regards to the berry value chains and the knowledge and innovation systems they are a part of, as a strategic area pinpointed in the national food strategy is knowledge and innovation. In order to achieve this the interviews focused on mapping the value chains, exploring the barriers producers experienced in regards to improving their position and the potential the producers saw in regards to changes in the value chain, support system for producers and product based on their berries. The main findings of this case study are that there is a need for common platforms that bring together different actors in the value chain, and encourages networking and knowledge sharing between them, as well as a stronger support network to capture and help create new knowledge, which is the basis for innovation. There is also a potential for more rural networks, to find new business opportunities for creating added value to consumers by supporting collaborations between for example producers and processors, or producers and tourism agents. The study has also found that there are differences between producers in regards to how they view themselves as producers and in what drives them to produce berries, which influences how likely a producer is to be innovative and open to new ventures that can help to develop the local industry. In addition to the findings about producers and their roles in value chains, the study has also served as an example of how policies and political decisions can affect value chains and the attitudes of its actors for a long time, as in the case of blackcurrants where the production was promoted by local authorities to later become a part of the deregulation of markets.