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High-Tech Urban Agriculture in Amsterdam: An Actor Network Analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Mohsen H. Farhangi

    (Department of Thematic Studies—Division of Technology and Social Change, Linköping University, SE-581 83 Linköping, Sweden)

  • Margherita E. Turvani

    (Department of Architecture and Arts, University IUAV of Venice, 30135 Venice, Italy)

  • Arnold van der Valk

    (Landscape Architecture and Spatial Planning Group, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands)

  • Gerrit J. Carsjens

    (Landscape Architecture and Spatial Planning Group, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands)

Abstract

The agriculture and horticulture sector in the Netherlands is one of the most productive in the world. Although the sector is one of the most advanced and intense agricultural production systems worldwide, it faces challenges, such as climate change and environmental and social unsustainability of industrial production. To overcome these challenges, alternative food production initiatives have emerged, especially in large cities such as Amsterdam. Some initiatives involve producing food in the urban environment, supported by new technologies and practices, so-called high-tech urban agriculture (HTUA). These initiatives make cultivation of plants inside and on top of buildings possible and increase green spaces in urban areas. The emerging agricultural technologies are creating new business environments that are shape d by technology developers (e.g., suppliers of horticultural light emitting diodes (LED) and control environment systems) and developers of alternative food production practices (e.g., HTUA start-ups). However, research shows that the uptake of these technological innovations in urban planning processes is problematic. Therefore, this research analyzes the barriers that local government planners and HTUA developers are facing in the embedding of HTUA in urban planning processes, using the city of Amsterdam as a case study. This study draws on actor-network theory (ANT) to analyze the interactions between planners, technologies, technology developers and developers of alternative food production practices. Several concepts of ANT are integrated into a multi-level perspective on sustainability transitions (MLP) to create a new theoretical framework that can explain how interactions between technologies and planning actors transform the incumbent social–technical regime. The configuration of interactions between social and material entities in technology development and adoption processes in Amsterdam is analyzed through the lens of this theoretical framework. The data in this study were gathered by tracing actors and their connections by using ethnographic research methods. In the course of the integration of new technologies into urban planning practices, gaps between technologies, technology developers, and planning actors have been identified. The results of this study show a lacking connection between planning actors and technology developers, although planning actors do interact with developers of alternative food production practices. These interactions are influenced by agency of artefacts such as visualizations of the future projects. The paper concludes that for the utilization of emerging technologies for sustainability transition of cities, the existing gap between technology developers and planning actors needs to be bridged through the integration of technology development visions in urban agendas and planning processes.

Suggested Citation

  • Mohsen H. Farhangi & Margherita E. Turvani & Arnold van der Valk & Gerrit J. Carsjens, 2020. "High-Tech Urban Agriculture in Amsterdam: An Actor Network Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-35, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:10:p:3955-:d:356958
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Johan Schot & Laur Kanger & Geert Verbong, 2016. "The roles of users in shaping transitions to new energy systems," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 1(5), pages 1-7, May.
    2. Geels, Frank W., 2002. "Technological transitions as evolutionary reconfiguration processes: a multi-level perspective and a case-study," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 31(8-9), pages 1257-1274, December.
    3. Geels, Frank W. & Schot, Johan, 2007. "Typology of sociotechnical transition pathways," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(3), pages 399-417, April.
    4. Mohsen Hosseinifarhangi & Margherita E. Turvani & Arnold van der Valk & Gerrit J. Carsjens, 2019. "Technology-Driven Transition in Urban Food Production Practices: A Case Study of Shanghai," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(21), pages 1-31, November.
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    Cited by:

    1. Bikram Pratim Bhuyan & Ravi Tomar & Amar Ramdane Cherif, 2022. "A Systematic Review of Knowledge Representation Techniques in Smart Agriculture (Urban)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-36, November.
    2. Mohsen Farhangi & Sara Farhangi & Paulien C. H. van de Vlasakker & Gerrit J. Carsjens, 2021. "The Role of Urban Agriculture Technologies in Transformation toward Participatory Local Urban Planning in Rafsanjan," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-30, August.
    3. Derk Jan Stobbelaar & Wim van der Knaap & Joop Spijker, 2022. "Transformation towards Green Cities: Key Conditions to Accelerate Change," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-16, May.

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