Laying the groundwork : community contributions to ecosystem regeneration and business model emergence : a case study of regenerative ocean farming in Finland

Abstract

Nature regeneration is a critical response to biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation. Regenerative Ocean Farming offers a novel approach combining food production and ecosystem regeneration. However, the foundational role of community actor contributions in enabling ecosystem regenerative practices remains underexplored. This thesis examines the contributions of community actors in early-stage ecosystem regenerative practices and how these contributions lay the foundation for regenerative business model emergence. A qualitative case study was conducted on a community-driven regenerative ocean farming initiative in Finland, focusing on experimental activities on the duck mussel species. Data was collected through seven semi-structured interviews, two field observations, supplemented by virtual meetings and discussions. Findings of this study revealed strategic community roles in early-stage regenerative practices, formation of Strategic Local Ecological Knowledge (Strategic-LEK), and the use of gastronomy as a tool for market and cultural legitimation. These contributions collectively enable conditions for ecosystem regeneration and support the co-emergence of regenerative businesses rooted in place-based ecological knowledge, social collaboration, and cultural values.