Alternative Food Networks in Food System Transition—Values, Motivation, and Capacity Building among Young Swedish Market Gardeners

This study sheds light on a new generation of Swedish food producers, market gardeners, who are attracting attention in terms system sustainability, prompted by increasing consumer awareness about the value healthy and locally produced food. Market gardening is part global agroecological movement opposed to industrialized agriculture its negative impacts environment rural communities. These producers challenge incumbent agri-food regime through building alternative networks. case-based involving 14 young vegetable showed that people engage strongly motivated dual incentives, namely entrepreneurship transformation sustainability. Six main competences were identified as important for gardeners: practical skills related growing vegetables, business management, innovation continuous learning, systems thinking, pioneering, networking. Individuals develop their experiential learning gain knowledge peer-to-peer using social media. However, they need acquire certain relating daily work field managing business. gardeners currently face number barriers erected sociopolitical environment, particular regarding access research-based knowledge, extension services, support.