Master’s Thesis - master Innovation Science Aquaponics Development in the Netherlands The Role of the Emerging Aquaponics Technology and the Transition towards Sustainable Agriculture Mascha Wiegand 6307345 Tulpenweg 17 63579 Freigericht Germany [email protected] +49 1607561911 Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Ellen H.M. Moors Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development [email protected] +31 30 253 7812 Second Reader: Dr. Koen Beumer Summary A sustainability transition in the agri-food regime is urgently required to interrupt the strong reciprocal effect between current food production standards and climate change (Willett et al., 2019). One sustainable innovation in the agri-food sector is aquaponics. Aquaponics is the combination of hydroponics and recirculating aquaculture in one controlled environment (Somerville, Cohen, Pantanella, Stankus & Lovatelli, 2014). At first sight, the water and nutrient-saving character of aquaponics, amongst other features (Somerville et al., 2014), sound promising for a transition towards sustainable agriculture. Therefore, the following research question emerged: How can the emerging aquaponics technology contribute to the sustainability transition in the Dutch agri- food sector based on Dutch aquaponics developments in the period 2008-2018? To answer this overarching research question, three sub-questions were developed. An integrated framework combining the multilevel perspective (MLP) and the technological innovation system (TIS) was used to understand the dynamics between overall structural trends, the current Dutch agri-food sector and the emerging aquaponics innovation. The innovation was also set into a broader European context. The research was of exploratory nature and used a qualitative content analysis to process 23 interviews, scientific articles, practitioner websites, publication, patent and Google Trend statistics, etc. By utilizing the integrated framework, an in-depth understanding of the emerging aquaponics innovation system and a context-view of the unique Dutch agri-food environment and the broader European perspective it aims to operate in, have been gained. This research showed that the aquaponics innovation system currently lacks the ability to contribute to the sustainability transitions in the Dutch agri-food sector. The main barriers identified in this research can be attributed to shortcomings of the aquaponics innovation system itself. Multiple drawbacks in all aspects of the emerging innovation system lead to the fact that aquaponics is currently not economically viable. As a result, the technology cannot compete with conventional agri-food practices which is amplified in the Dutch context of high efficiency and low food prices. While the research provides theoretical contribution to the field of agri-food sustainability transitions, aquaponics in particular, and the application of the integrated MPL-TIS framework, practical recommendations are also made to foster the development of aquaponics in the Netherlands and Europe. Entrepreneurial activities, knowledge development and knowledge diffusion through networks were identified as critical functions to the development of the technology. They will need to be fostered on a European and national level for aquaponics to gain market access and momentum. 2 Table of Contents Summary ....................................................................................................................................................... 2 Table of Abbreviations .................................................................................................................................. 6 List of Figures ................................................................................................................................................ 7 List of Tables ................................................................................................................................................. 8 1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................... 9 2 Theory ...................................................................................................................................................... 13 2.1 Multilevel Perspective....................................................................................................................... 13 2.2 Technological Innovation System ..................................................................................................... 14 2.3 The Integrated Framework ............................................................................................................... 16 3 Methodology ............................................................................................................................................ 19 3.1 Research Design ................................................................................................................................ 19 3.2 Sampling Strategy ............................................................................................................................. 20 3.3 Data Collection .................................................................................................................................. 20 3.4 Operationalization ............................................................................................................................ 23 3.5 Data Analysis ..................................................................................................................................... 23 4 Results ...................................................................................................................................................... 25 4.1 Landscape Level ................................................................................................................................ 25 4.1.1 Environmental Pressures ........................................................................................................... 25 4.1.2 Socio-Political Pressures ............................................................................................................ 26 4.2 Regime Level ..................................................................................................................................... 27 4.2.1 General Agri-Food Regime Characteristics in the Netherlands ................................................. 27 4.2.1.1 The Agri-Food Regime from a Consumer Perspective ........................................................ 27 4.2.1.2 The Agri-Food Regime from a Supplier Perspective ........................................................... 28 4.2.2 Conventional Plant-Based Farming Regime ............................................................................... 31 4.2.2.1 Markets/User Preferences and Consumer Culture ............................................................. 31 4.2.2.2 Industry and Industry Culture ............................................................................................. 32 4.2.2.3 Science & Technology ......................................................................................................... 35 4.2.2.4 Policy ................................................................................................................................... 38 4.2.3 Conventional Fish Production Regime ....................................................................................... 38 4.2.3.1 Markets/User Preferences and Consumer Culture ............................................................. 38 4.2.3.2 Industry and Industry Culture ............................................................................................. 39 4.2.3.3 Science & Technology ......................................................................................................... 42 3 4.2.3.4 Policy ................................................................................................................................... 42 4.3 Niche Level ........................................................................................................................................ 44 4.3.1 Technological Innovation System .............................................................................................. 44 4.3.1.1 Entrepreneurial Activities ................................................................................................... 44 4.3.1.2 Knowledge Development .................................................................................................... 46 4.3.1.3 Knowledge Diffusion through Networks ............................................................................. 50 4.3.1.4 Guidance of Search ............................................................................................................. 53 4.3.1.5 Market Formation ............................................................................................................... 56 4.3.1.6 Resource Mobilization ........................................................................................................ 58 4.3.1.7 Creation of Legitimacy/Counteract Resistance to Change ................................................. 61 5 Analysis .................................................................................................................................................... 64 5.1 The Emerging Aquaponics Innovation in the Netherlands ..............................................................