Vertical Farming in the Netherlands
Towards a Circular Food System: A Business Ecosystem Perspective
T.I.M. Koning (TU Delft - Technology, Policy and Management)
Victor E. Scholten – Mentor (TU Delft - Delft Centre for Entrepreneurship)
JN Quist – Graduation committee member (TU Delft - Energy and Industry)
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Abstract
The world’s current food system is unsustainable and considering the increasing human population, there is a demand for innovations in the circular food production. Simultaneously, food security be comes a topic of interest as greenhouse gasses cause more extreme weather conditions. Vertical farming potentially plays a vital role in the food system of the future. With its year-round production, clean facilities and urban farming principles, vertical farms proliferate themselves as circular and sustainable providers of food security.
This study aims to find the enabling and constraining factors that influence commercial success of a Dutch vertical farming startup. It does so in an exploratory setting and from a business ecosystem perspective, which a six dimensional empirical framework (6C Framework) analyses. A thorough actor search, technological analysis and indepth casestudy provide data for the analysis. The casestudy investigates a startup business ecosystem and delivers most in-depth knowledge on a Dutch vertical farming business ecosystem.
A first finding is the overall good relationship and trust in combination with a shared vision towards a global sustainable food system. The second finding is the lack of co-creation due to limited resources and the birth stage of the sector, which hampers a dominant design and optimal efficiency. In addition, there is secrecy among vertical farms about knowledge and design. This hampers the creation of a fore front in vertical farming that could educate society and take a lead in innovation. A last finding focuses on the new value creation from vertical farms around branding that may provide a sustainable business model.