Green upscaling of an established path? The case of salmon farming in Norway

Abstract

The scholarly debate at the intersection of the path development debate in economic geography and the sustainability transitions literature has shed new light on the emergence of new growth paths as well as the ‘green’ transformation of existing paths. However, in the face of not only sustainability challenges but also a growing world population, several sectors will need to expand. This includes parts of the bioeconomy, that hold the promise of delivering sustainably produced foods, energy and material inputs. This article conceptualizes sustainable growth as green upscaling and focuses on intertwined processes of path expansion and transformation enabled by innovation in both governance and technology, and argues that to understand the prospects for bioeconomy growth, natural resources and ecological infrastructures demand more attention. Empirically, the article analyses the Norwegian salmon farming (aquaculture) industry, where developments over the last decade have been guided by a vision of sustainable growth. The findings reveal that despite considerable innovation, green upscaling remains elusive.