| 1. |
- Röös, Elin, et al.
(författare)
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Diagnostic, regenerative or fossil-free - exploring stakeholder perceptions of Swedish food system sustainability
- 2023
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Ingår i: Ecological Economics. - : Elsevier B.V.. - 0921-8009 .- 1873-6106. ; 203
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In an analysis of food system sustainability challenges and solutions among Swedish food system actors using Q-methodology, five perspectives were identified. One of the main three perspectives placed the highest priority on reduced meat consumption, food waste, and climate impact in agriculture, but downplayed strategies highlighted in the national food strategy and social aspects, and can be interpreted as a diagnostic climate mitigation-oriented perspective that does not reflect current negotiated policy processes or ‘softer’ values of food. In an alternative regenerative perspective, industrialized large-scale farming and lack of internalization of external costs were regarded as the main problems, and diversity, soil health, and organic farming as the main solutions. Proponents of a third perspective regarded phasing out fossil fuels, increased profitability of companies, increased meat production, and self-sufficiency as high priorities. These contrasting views can be a major barrier to transforming the Swedish food system. However, a number of entry points for change (i.e. aspects highly important for some and neutral for others) were identified, including focusing on healthy diets and increased production of fruit and vegetables. Focusing on these can build trust among stakeholders before moving to discussions about the larger and more sensitive systemic changes needed. © 2022 The Authors
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| 2. |
- Råberg, Tora, et al.
(författare)
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Productivity in an arable and stockless organic cropping system may be enhanced by strategic recycling of biomass
- 2019
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Ingår i: Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems. - : Cambridge University Press. - 1742-1705 .- 1742-1713. ; 34:1, s. 20-32
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Recirculation of nitrogen (N) from crop residue and green-manure biomass resources may reduce the need to add new reactive N to maintain crop yield and quality. The aim of this study was to determine how different strategies for recycling residual and green-manure biomass influence yield and N concentration of the edible parts of food crops in a stockless organic cropping system. For this purpose, three biomass distribution treatments were investigated in a field experiment, based on a cropping system designed to produce both high-quality food crops and biomass resources from crop residues, cover crops and a green-manure ley. The three treatments, applied at the cropping system level, were: (1) incorporating the aboveground biomass resources in situ (IS); (2) harvesting, ensiling and redistributing the same biomass resources to the non-legume crops (biomass redistribution, BR); and (3) harvesting, ensiling and using the biomass resources as substrate for production of bio-methane via anaerobic digestion (AD) followed by distribution of the digestate as bio-fertilizer to the non-legume crops. The redistribution of ensiled (BR) and digested (AD) biomass did not increase the yield of the edible parts in winter rye (Secale cereal L.), white cabbage (Brassica oleracea L.) or red beet (Beta vulgaris L.) compared with leaving the biomass on the ground at harvest (IS). The BR treatment increased the yield of lentil intercropped with oat, compared with IS treatment in one of the two studied years. The total biomass yield of the cover crop following winter rye was significantly higher in the BR treatment than in IS in both years. The legume proportion in the green-manure ley was significantly higher in the AD and BR treatments as compared with IS in one of the experimental years. This study showed that strategic biomass redistribution has the potential to enhance biomass productivity while maintaining food crop yields, thereby enhancing whole system productivity. Biomass redistribution systems both with and without biogas digestion offer a new strategy for the development of multifunctional arable cropping systems that rely on internal nutrient cycling.
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| 3. |
- Ahlberg-Eliasson, Karin, et al.
(författare)
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Production efficiency of Swedish farm-scale biogas plants
- 2017
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Ingår i: Biomass and Bioenergy. - : Elsevier BV. - 0961-9534 .- 1873-2909. ; 97, s. 27-37
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Biogas from agricultural waste streams represents an important way to produce fossil-free energy, allow nutrient recycling and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, biogas production from agricultural substrates is currently far from reaching its full potential. In Sweden, the number of biogas plants and their output have increased in recent years, but they are still experiencing harsh economic conditions. A recent evaluation (2010–2015) of 31 farm-scale biogas production facilities in Sweden sought to identify parameters of importance for further positive development. In this paper, data on plant operation, gas yield and digestate quality for 27 of these plants are summarised and statistically analysed to investigate factors that could allow an increase in overall biogas production and in nutrient content in the digestate. The analysis showed that addition of co-substrates to manure results in higher gas production, expressed as both specific methane potential and volumetric gas production, than when manure is the sole substrate. Use of co-substrate was also found to be influential for the nutrient content of the digestate. These observed improvements caused by co-digestion should be considered when subsidy systems for manure-based biogas processes are being created, as they could also improve the economics of biogas production. However, to achieve higher efficiency in existing biogas plants and to improve the situation for future investments, a more detailed, long-term evaluation programme should also be considered.
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| 4. |
- Ahlgren, Serina, et al.
(författare)
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Växtnäring till jordbruket i osäkra tider – scenarier och dokumentation från en workshop
- 2024
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Mineralgödsel är en förutsättning för dagens konventionella jordbruk och utan mineralgödsel blir det problematiskt att få fram tillräckligt med foder och livsmedel. Sverige har ingen egen produktion av mineralgödsel och försörjningen är därför helt beroende av import. Denna rapport beskriver hur växtnäring hanteras ur beredskapssynpunkt i Sverige idag, och ger också en liten inblick i hur växtnäring har hanterats i tidigare kriser och pristoppar i andra länder. Rapporten beskriver också tre olika tänkbara krisscenarier där växtnäring behöver hanteras på olika sätt för att säkerställa livsmedelsförsörjningen i Sverige. Tidsperspektivet i scenarierna är relativt kort: ett fokuserar på hur växtnäringsförsörjningen kan lösas under den kommande växtodlingssäsongen medan de andra två scenarierna fokuserar på några år framåt i tiden. Scenarierna diskuterades på en workshop med deltagare från jordbruks- och växtnäringssektorn. I rapporten redovisas diskussionerna från workshopen. Under workshopen lyftes några brister i dagens system och förslag på vilket stöd och långsiktiga förändringar som behövs, för att säkra tillgången på växtnäring i Sverige under en kris: • I vardagen finns det ingen nationell eller regional planering av den svenska primärproduktionen och fördelningen av mineralgödsel eller andra insatsvaror till olika verksamheter, utan allt sköts av marknaden. Det finns därför ingen ansvarig offentlig aktör som har helhetsansvar för området. Vid en allvarlig brist på mineralgödsel kan det behövas någon som kliver in, säkrar leveranser och tar beslut om prioriteringar till olika verksamheter och eventuellt styrning av vem som odlar vad. Det kan även behövas någon som ansvarar för förebyggande arbete. • En trygg och resilient försörjning av växtnäring kommer att kräva en mångfald av lösningar. Dessa kräver i varierande grad samordning mellan marknadsaktörer och myndigheter. Vissa kan också kräva ny lagstiftning. Ett ”Gödselmedelskabinett” med ansvar att ta fram en strategi föreslogs. • Lagstiftning bör justeras alternativt införas för att utöka möjligheterna till miljö- och hälsomässigt säker återvinning av resurser från restflöden. Sådana ändringar skulle kunna förberedas redan nu, så att de snabbt kan träda i kraft i händelse av kris eller krig. • Sverige bör utveckla gemensamma strategier och avtal med andra länder, främst inom Norden, till exempel en nordisk strategi för växtnäringsfrågor.
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| 5. |
- Arvidsson, Johan, et al.
(författare)
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Rubber track systems for conventional tractors : Effects on soil compaction and traction
- 2011
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Ingår i: Soil & Tillage Research. - : Elsevier BV. - 0167-1987 .- 1879-3444. ; 117, s. 103-109
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Traditionally, tractors have been built either for tracks or wheels, with tracks mainly on heavy tractors with high power. Today, it is possible to retrofit four separate track units on a conventional agricultural tractor, creating interesting possibilities for agriculture. The objective of the present study was to compare soil compaction and traction for tracks, single and dual wheels mounted on the same tractor type. Measurements were made on two clay soils (Eutric Cambisols) in Sweden in 2009, using an 85kW tractor with a total weight of 7700kg. The rubber track system consisted of four tracks mounted on the conventional wheel axles of the tractor. The measured stresses were similar for the tracks and dual wheels at all depths studied (15, 30 and 50cm), but were considerably higher for the single wheels at all depths. Simulations of soil stresses correlated closely to measured values for the tracks and the dual wheels, but underestimated soil stresses in the topsoil compared to measured values for the single wheel. Bulk density and penetration resistance were consistently highest and saturated hydraulic conductivity lowest after wheeling with single wheels, while there were no statistically significant differences between tracks and dual wheels. With single wheels and the tractor loaded, saturated hydraulic conductivity decreased to 0.01mh-1 from 0.13mh-1 in the control, while bulk density increased from 1.24 to 1.36Mgm-3. The stress distribution in the driving direction was relatively even along the front and rear tracks, which is an advantage compared with a long single track, which often has an uneven longitudinal stress distribution. Slip was significantly higher for the dual and single wheels compared with tracks. To utilise the large contact area of the tracks, the tractor should have a low weight in relation to the engine power. © 2011 Elsevier B.V.
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| 6. |
- de Morais Lima, Priscila, et al.
(författare)
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Farmers’ perceptions on organic fertilisers towards circularity–a case study in Sweden
- 2024
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Ingår i: Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica - Section B. - : Taylor and Francis Ltd.. - 0906-4710 .- 1651-1913. ; 74:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Adequate treatment of organic manures and digestates from livestock production should reduce environmental impacts and provide well-defined and attractive biofertlisers for a crop production market, which can promote the closure of the nutrient cycle in agriculture. In this sense, a survey was conducted during the autumn of 2021 to investigate Swedish farmers’ perspectives on organic fertilisers use. The survey consisted of an online questionnaire, which was distributed broadly in the social media, homepages, different types of networks and at course events in order to reach all types of farms. There were 22 questions focused on current use, reasons for current use and preferences for future use. The analysis of the 99 fully responded surveys, demonstrated that 43% of the respondents think that they will increase their use of organic fertilisers in the coming 5–10 years and 60% think that they will use manure digestate in different forms (both solid and liquid fractions). Soil improvement was the main reason to use organic fertilisers, but there were also preferences for organic fertilisers with fast release of nutrients. The risk of soil compaction was the main reason not to use organic fertilisers and based on the responses, pellets and granulates seem to be more interesting than liquids and solids in general. Animal manures dominate the current use of organic fertilisers in Sweden however, other types of organic waste such as digestate and digestate derived fertilisers seems appealing to Swedish farmers. In conclusion, from this survey with 62% of the respondees in crop production, we found several indications of that there is a potential for increased use of organic fertilisers in Sweden on farms with limited use today. We found an openness, a broad interest and a demand for different types of products of different forms and origin. Since this demand in the end will almost always depend on the price of products in relation to the price of mineral fertilisers, which are fluctuating, we see the need of policy incentives in order to stimulate initiatives for the development towards increased circularity of nutrients.
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| 7. |
- De Toro, Alfredo, et al.
(författare)
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Cereal harvesting : Strategies and costs under variable weather conditions
- 2012
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Ingår i: Biosystems Engineering. - : Elsevier BV. - 1537-5110 .- 1537-5129. ; 111:4, s. 429-439
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study simulated 30 years of harvesting operations on an hourly basis with a harvesting model linked to a grain moisture model capable of predicting the moisture content of standing ripe wheat using historical weather data from Stockholm, Sweden, as input, in order to assess the effects of weather on cereal harvesting costs. Several combinations of harvester size and grain moisture ceiling were assessed on three cereal areas in terms of overall costs (machine + labour + timeliness + drying) and their annual variations.The main findings obtained by simulation and valid for regions with similar climate and agricultural conditions to the studied region were that: (a) available combining time was highly dependent on grain moisture ceiling, which showed large annual variation, e.g. a moisture ceiling of 21% (w.b.) was related to a potential harvesting time of 65% and a standard deviation of 24% (n = 30 years); (b) in order to complete harvesting operations in most years, it was necessary to operate at a moisture ceiling of 22-24% (w.b.), however, the average moisture content of the harvested grain was much lower, about 17-18%; (c) overall harvesting costs were estimated at approx €140 ha -1 for those systems performing relatively well, i.e. with a daily harvesting capacity of 4-5% of the cereal area and operating at a moisture ceiling of 22-24% (w.b.); and (d) the main sources of annual cost variation were firstly the timeliness costs and secondly the drying costs. © 2012 IAgrE.
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| 8. |
- Dippel, Sabine, et al.
(författare)
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Health and welfare of organic pigs in Europe assessed with animal-based parameters
- 2014
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Ingår i: Organic Agriculture. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1879-4238 .- 1879-4246. ; 4:2, s. 149-161
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Organic pig farming aims at maintaining a high health and welfare state of the animals through appropriate housing, management and feeding. Better knowledge of health and welfare indicators should help to identify critical points and hence to improve health and welfare as well as performance of organic pigs. This paper describes the health and welfare of organic pigs from 101 farms across six EU countries, using selected animal-based parameters from the Welfare Quality® protocol. Parameters were collected in sows, suckling and weaned piglets in 3 to 20 farms per country. Their assessment was trained before farm visits and inter-observer agreement determined after farm visits. The most prevalent problems identified in sows were thinness (median farm prevalence 18.8 %, range 0–81.0), injuries on the anterior part of the body (15.5 %, 0–66.7), injuries on hind part of body (7.9 %, 0–50), obesity (4.9 %, 0–50.0) and vulva lesions (3.5 %, 0–42.9). In suckling piglets, the median prevalence in terms of groups affected per farm was 0 % for all parameters but ‘> 50 % dirty piglets in group’, for which it was 10 %. Farm prevalence ranged from 0 to 100 % for ‘≥ 1 lame piglet in group’, presence of diarrhoea, and ‘> 50 % dirty piglets in group’. In weaned piglets, the median prevalence in terms of groups affected per farm was 0 % with a range of 0 to 100 % for all parameters. Based on the collected data, body condition, skin and vulva lesions in sows, lameness, diarrhoea and respiratory problems in piglets could be used as management and welfare indicators, with good potential for enhancement through farm improvement schemes like herd health planning. However, some definitions could be improved, especially lameness, diarrhoea and respiratory problems in piglets.
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| 9. |
- Ekelöf, Joakim, et al.
(författare)
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Översvämmad potatis dör inte av syrebrist
- 2010
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Ingår i: LTJ-fakultetens faktablad. - Alnarp : Fakulteten för landskapsplanering, trädgårds- och jordbruksvetenskap, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet.
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Annan publikation (populärvet., debatt m.m.)abstract
- Det händer allt för ofta att potatisfält blir översvämmade under regniga somrar och höstar. Att potatisen tar skada är känt, men vad beror det på? I den här studien undersöktes om det verkligen är syrebrist som ger upphov till potatisens skador. Studien pekar på att det finns andra parametrar som har större betydelse.
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| 10. |
- Karlsson, Anna-Karin, et al.
(författare)
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SustAinimal Grazing Living Lab–a survey of grazing management on dairy farms in northern Sweden
- 2024
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Ingår i: Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica - Section B. - : Taylor and Francis Ltd.. - 0906-4710 .- 1651-1913. ; 74:1, s. 1-6
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A survey was conducted on 302 Sweden dairy farms (response rate 98%) to identify grazing and grassland management strategies and main challenges to grazing in northern Sweden. The most common grazing strategy on all dairy farms was continuous grazing (59%) followed by rotational grazing (45%), while organic dairy farms preferentially adopted rotational grazing (69%). The main challenges reported in grazing dairy cows on temporary grasslands on conventional farms were trampling damage and seasonal variations in grass growth, while for organic dairy farmers, the primary challenge was weed control. Only a few farms had grazing on semi-natural grasslands. Future sustainable grazing should focus on optimising grazing strategy in relation to on-farm grazing locations and nutrient supply for high-yielding dairy cows.
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