Food Systems Sustainability Transition: A Multi-Level Analysis Of Conventional, Vertical And Organic Vegetable Production In The Yangtze River Delta Golden Triangle (China)

Summary

The dominant global corporate food regime disrupts ecological and social spheres. Attempts towards transition toward more sustainable food regimes exist but the pathways are manifold. The aim of this study is to disentangle potential pathways for sustainability transition of the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) food system in China. Thus, we measure and contextualize the level of sustainability of alternative and dominant vegetable production regimes. Three farms were selected as case studies: conventional (representing the dominant corporate regime), vertical (representing a corporate-environmental niche) and organic (representing an ecological niche). Results illuminate the motivation of potential pathways of sustainability transitions in the YRD. The dominant corporate regime is currently influenced in terms of sustainability by a) technological innovation coming from the corporate-environmental niche, and b) ecological and social innovations coming from the ecological niche.