This study sheds light on a new generation of Swedish food producers, market gardeners, who are attracting attention in terms of food system sustainability, prompted by increasing consumer awareness about the value of healthy and locally produced food. Market gardening is part of a global agroecological movement opposed to industrialized agriculture and its negative impacts on the environment and rural communities. These food producers challenge the incumbent agri-food regime through the building of alternative food networks. This case-based study involving 14 young vegetable producers showed that young people who engage in market gardening are strongly motivated by dual incentives, namely entrepreneurship and transformation to sustainability. Six main competences were identified as important for market gardeners: practical skills related to growing vegetables, business management, innovation and continuous learning, systems thinking, pioneering, and networking. Individuals develop their skills through continuous experiential learning and gain knowledge through peer-to-peer learning using social media. However, they need to acquire certain skills relating to their daily work in the field and to managing a business. Market gardeners currently face a number of barriers erected by the sociopolitical environment, in particular regarding access to research-based knowledge, extension services, and business support.

Det finns en stark efterfrågan på vegetabiliska proteinkällor i Sverige. En ökad baljväxtproduktion för humankonsumtion skulle kunna innebära ekonomiska, miljömässiga och hälsomässiga vinster för Sverige. I studien undersöks hur den svenska baljväxtbranschen, representerat av en producentorganisation och ett antal odlingsföretag i sydöstra Sverige, ser på möjligheterna till en ökad produktion. Resultatet ger viktiga insikter för den fortsatta utvecklingen av svenska vegetabiliska proteinkällor.

As urban areas grow and face climate-related challenges, rooftop greenhouses (RTGs) offer a promising approach for Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) to enhance urban food production while providing potential energy-saving benefits. However, the energy performance of RTGs integrated with mid-rise residential buildings, which represent a substantial proportion of the existing urban housing stock in cold climates, remains poorly understood. This study investigated the influence of RTG integration on the energy demand and indoor thermal conditions of a four-story residential building across cold-climate regions. Dynamic simulations using IDA-ICE were performed to analyze the influence of different glazing and shading configurations, comparing rooftop and ground-based greenhouse scenarios and host building performance. RTG integration reduced the host building’s annual heating demand by 6.2–7.6%, with thermal buffering primarily benefiting the top floor, where heating demand decreased by up to 24.2%, while lower floors remained largely unaffected. No summertime overheating risks were observed. Compared to a ground-based greenhouse, the RTG had a lower heating energy use by 2.8–14.6% depending on glazing and shading configuration, by using free heat from the host building. This study highlights the potential of RTG integration as a passive energy-saving measure, while supporting sustainable urban food production, contributing to more sustainable and climate-resilient cities.