Ongoing research: public actors and system transformation in food

Linus pays particular attention to exploring how experimental innovations can reshape the established logics of the food system, with the aim of promoting social, economic and environmental sustainability. By analysing the interaction between individual actors and systems perspectives, his research contributes to building knowledge about the dynamics that can accelerate a sustainable transition of the food system. In 2024, Linus is working on a project called URBEX - Urban Experimentation for Food System Transformation, which aims to investigate how public actors engage with food system transformation issues.

Why is it important to study how public actors engage with food system transformation?

Public actors have great potential to shape and accelerate food system transformation, but there is little innovation research on them. Traditionally, public innovation has been met with scepticism; the lack of competition and profit motive is seen as creating an administrative culture that is slow to change. But there are clear examples of how public experimentation can be an important breeding ground for new knowledge and innovation that can challenge the dominant market logic. You could say that they are experimenting with new visions of the future that emphasise a more balanced view of development.
 

The project involves so-called follow-up research, what does that mean in practice?

Follow-up research means that I, as a researcher, actively follow and document processes and developments within the project in real time. This is done through close collaboration with the participating actors, which gives me the opportunity not only to observe, but also to interact and give feedback during the course of the project. By working directly with the actors, we jointly contribute to building new knowledge and understanding, which not only enriches the research, but also strengthens the knowledge building within the projects.

What initiatives do you follow and how do you do it?

I am following three particularly interesting initiatives from a constellation of actors in the city of Gothenburg. The first is a multifunctional greenhouse concept that uses waste heat from a data centre, the second is a digital twin developed for visualisation and decision support in urban cultivation, and the third is a newly established association for small-scale cultivation in Gothenburg. The initiatives are at different stages of development and illustrate a wide range of efforts to visualise and strengthen food production in and around Gothenburg.

What do you hope to achieve with this project?

I hope that the project will generate valuable knowledge that not only highlights the significant and long-term work that public actors are doing to drive systemic change, but also the challenges they face. By examining both successes and obstacles, I hope that the research will provide a deeper insight into how public initiatives can shape and influence the food system of the future in a sustainable way.