Swedish bilberries in global food transitions: A multi-scalar analysis of the innovation system for bilberry bio-extraction

Sweden has an abundance of wild bilberries which are collected and distributed by domestic firms. A large part of the collected berries are exported to other countries where compounds such as anthocyanins are extracted and supplied to producers of dietary supplements and cosmetics, rather than refined domestically. This paper aims to identify historical dynamics explaining the lack of a bio-extraction industry in Sweden and discuss potential future pathways using a multi-scalar technological innovation systems framework. Drawing on 21 expert interviews and desktop research, the analysis shows that dynamics at the global level propelled a cycle of innovation that in the 1980s and 1990s established an international bilberry bio-extraction industry. When this industry entered a period of rapid growth in the early 2000s, the increased demand for bilberries was met by the Swedish bilberry industry, which in turn became dependent on international value chains for bilberry extract products. Although this multi-scalar interdependence has historically hindered Swedish efforts to increased value added from the vast domestic bilberry resource, recent developments may create opportunities associated with bio-refining processes that combine bio-extraction with food production. These findings testify to the merits of multi-scalar TIS approaches, bring empirical insight to Swedish stakeholders, and add to the literature on technological innovation and industrial path creation by showing how multi-scalar interactions can give rise to path dependency as well as by highlighting that technological relatedness may serve as both facilitator and obstructor in the emergence of new industries.Author summary: An abundance of wild bilberries can be found in Swedish forests. A large part of the collected berries are exported to other countries, where they are used to extract compounds for the production of dietary supplements and cosmetics. In this paper, we investigate why a bilberry bio-extraction industry has failed to materialize in Sweden and discuss potential future development pathways. Our results show that rapid global market formation led Swedish actors to focus on supplying raw bilberries rather than developing domestic bio-extraction capacity. We also highlight opportunities associated with bio-refining processes that combine bio-extraction with food production. These findings are useful for stakeholders to the Swedish bilberry industry and contribute to the scientific understanding of industrial path creation and technological innovation.