Environmental Entrepreneurship in Organic Agriculture in Järna, Sweden

Abstract

The importance of social capital in sustainable development has recently been emphasized in the literature on regional and local development. Entrepreneurs are, by researchers as well as by politicians and policymakers, seen as central in creating local economic development. Organic agriculture is often expected to deliver several services to society, including environmentally friendly food production, thriving rural areas with small-scale farms, and increased biodiversity. However, the synergy effects of environmental entrepreneurs on local development and social sustainability are not well understood. Using semistructured interviews, this article analyzes entrepreneurs engaged in the production, processing and distribution of organic/biodynamic food in a rural Swedish community influenced by anthroposophy. One aim was to identify elements of what constitutes a sustainable community. A dynamic self-organized network of entrepreneurs characterized by economic stability and social capital was observed. The results indicate that the network of environmental entrepreneurs contributes to development in economical, social, and ecological terms. The key to success appears to be a high level of trust and engagement, common norms, reciprocity between the entrepreneurs, and a stable demand from both households and the municipality.

Keywords:

• anthroposophy
• entrepreneurship
• local development
• organic agriculture
• social capital
• sustainable community

Acknowledgments

The author thanks two anonymous reviewers and Thomas Hahn at Stockholm University for valuable comments and graduate students, Sofia Enberg and Elin Andersson, for data collection.

Notes

1 These services coincide with several of the environmental goals listed by the Swedish parliament and government. The Swedish government has listed goals on, for example, 20% organically grown acreage; ecologically, economically, and socially sustainable food production; and ecologically, economically, and socially sustainable rural development. The Swedish parliament has decided on 16 environmental goals, of which several are related to agriculture and rural development. The goals can be found at www.regeringen.se, Ministry of Environment as well as Ministry of Agriculture.

2 One Swedish Krona (SEK) equals approximately € 0.1.