Harvesting Innovation: The Interplay of Complexity in Horticultural Food Systems : Understanding the Coexistence of Traditional and Controlled Farming Methods

Sammanfattning

This thesis is the result of the final research project of the master's degree program in Industrial Management at KTH Royal Institute of Technology, corresponding to 30 ECTS credits, and is conducted in partnership with VAXA. It investigates the transitions within agriculture, specifically in horticulture, by exploring the factors preventing Vertical Farms, or Controlled Environment Facilities (CEFs), from achieving dominance among the two main farming methods – open field farming and greenhouses – despite the advantages attributed to CEFs in existing literature. This qualitative research provides one of the first integrative comparisons of different hydroponic farming setups within the context of Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) and draws on literature that examines crop yield productivity and operational efficiency in various horticultural settings. Key findings indicate that while CEFs offer numerous advantages, including resource efficiency and year-round crop production, challenges such as high funding disparities, operational costs, regulatory barriers, and market acceptance hinder their widespread adoption. By synthesizing findings from contemporary transitions and potential system changes within agri-food production, this thesis extends the literature on CEA practices and contributes to the broader debate on mitigating climate change through the adoption of more resilient and agile food production methods, including final reflections on industry, academic and politic implications.