Developing sustainable solutions for future food production : a case study of the industrial cluster initiative Food Valley of Bjuv

Abstract: Sustainable development, defined as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”, is considered as one of the major challenges of our time. The food industry is one of the domains associated with particularly pressing challenges when it comes to sustainable development. With a growing world population and affluent class, in combination with unsustainable production and consumption patterns, it is clear that the need for new solutions in this industry is imminent. The theoretical point of departure for this study is sustainability transitions, which is a relatively new field of research, where the overarching question is how to go about to achieve sustainability in a wider systems perspective. Research on this area largely draw on models developed to study socio-technological transitions. These models are often comprehensive and abstract, why research within this field has also been criticized for being too abstract. Because of this, there is an increased interest of incorporating geographical concepts such as place, space and geographical proximity into the research to bring it closer to reality. More specifically, there is increasing demand for in-depth studies of local initiatives, such as industrial clusters, with an explicit focus on establishing sustainable production systems. Therefore, the theoretical framework used in this study combines more traditional theory on sustainability transitions with theory on clusters, cluster functions and social capital to allow for more in-depth analysis of a real world case. The aim of this study is to explore Food Valley of Bjuv; a cluster initiative with a dedicated focus of contributing to sustainable development by paving way for innovative sustainable solutions for future food production. The idea is to create a meeting place for innovators and entrepreneurs to come together and develop new solutions, and to establish recycling-based production for food. This initiative has its base in Bjuv, Scania, and is made up of a number of actors with different business orientations. The study is conducted as a single case study and builds on primary data collected through interviews with actors that are, or have been, involved in the development of Food Valley of Bjuv, and secondary data from articles and other documents. The contributions of this study lays in extending and complementing existing literature on sustainability transitions with more in-depth insights into a cluster initiative with a dedicated focus of developing sustainable solutions for future food production. The results of this study provide valuable inputs for practicioners that seek to further develop Food Valley of Bjuv and those that want to establish similar iniatives. Combining practices of industrial symbiosis with open innovation processes shows great potential in creating a protective environment for development of innovative and sustainable solutions for future food production. Also, it is shown that timing, contextual settings and key individuals are important in shaping an initiative like Food Valley of Bjuv. Finally, due to the complexity of establishing and collaborating in a planned cluster initiative, it is important to have an entity in place that focuses on maximizing the ultility of the cluster as a whole.