Making Blue Community Gardens accessible through Inclusive Action
Short description
The project focuses on how small-scale ocean farming, such as blue community gardens, can contribute to a more sustainable food supply. The aim is to increase awareness, accessibility and engagement in marine farming along the west coast of Sweden, as well as to strengthen local food systems and marine awareness. The project is based on collaboration between the University of Gothenburg, the City of Gothenburg, Stenungsbaden Yacht Club and Fragile Hope, and focuses on transformative learning as a method for social and ecological change.
Purpose
- To make regenerative marine aquaculture more accessible and inclusive for different social groups along the west coast.
- To develop and test models for how blue community gardens can contribute to sustainable food production, increased marine awareness and local engagement.
- Support a fair transition to sustainable food systems through collaboration between academia, the public sector, industry and civil society.
Goals
The long-term goals are to create a network of small-scale marine aquaculture farms, increase knowledge about the sea and strengthen the local blue economy.
Research questions
- How can small-scale marine aquaculture be organised in an inclusive and socially sustainable way?
- What models for business development, learning and local participation can make marine aquaculture scalable and sustainable in the long term?
- How can increased access to the sea, its resources and knowledge contribute to greater marine awareness and changed consumption patterns?
Three case studies
The project consists of three work packages that combine research, collaboration and learning:
- Styrsö – develop a joint marine aquaculture facility and produce a handbook for new initiatives.
- Stenungsbaden – establish an aquaculture linked to hotel and restaurant operations and develop a business model for it.
- Flytevi – create events linked to the existing marine allotment in Frihamnen, Gothenburg, with a focus on experiential learning through multiple senses.
