European Regional Development Fund INTERREG III B project:    Baltic Ecological Recycling Agriculture and Society (BERAS) Can recycling save the Baltic Sea? The role of Agriculture The main conclusions from the BERAS summarised now in 12 points. They are based on the seven printed reports and the executive summary available on this internet side (under above Report sheet). The serious environmental situation in the Baltic Sea is a consequence of agricultural specialisation, pollution from industries, incorrect waste management and the unsustainable lifestyle prevailing in the countries around the Baltic Sea (i.e. in its drainage basin). Reduced use of limited energy and other resources and no use of pesticides resulting in less pollution of air, water and soil. Increased recycling of nutrients within the agricultural systems trough integration of plant and animals in farming systems reducing leaching from fields. These are important goals for a more sustainable lifestyle and will also contribute positively to regional development. Significant local initiatives in this direction can be found in small rural communities in the countries of the Baltic Sea region, and there is a need to analyse their environmental and economic consequences, as well as the opportunities and obstacles facing different actors along the food chain. It is also necessary to develop knowledge and skills in this area, and to recognise the potential for and consequences of a larger-scale changeover to such systems throughout the region. The aim is to develop a knowledge base reducing the negative environmental impacts in the Baltic Sea drainage area of production, distribution, processing and consumption of food. The project is based on case studies, complemented with scenarios and consequence analyses, of ongoing practical, local ecological initiatives to promote local food supply cooperation between consumers and ecological producers in rural villages in the eight EU and EU-candidate countries around the Baltic Sea, with the aim of learning and promoting more sustainable food supply systems. The project is a EU-founded INTERREG III B project. Methodological is the project based on studies of 42 selected ecological recycling farms representing different farming conditions and 10 examples of more or less local and/or regional food systems distributed in the eight partner countries. The first work package, (WP 1) include action research with both evaluation and promoting selected, already established local ecological food initiatives and recycling farms in each country and exchange of experience with other initiatives in and between the project countries. The evaluation process with feed back to the actors include the second WP (2) studying what environmental benefits can be achieved through local ecological consumption, processing and ecological integrated recycling farming, in comparison with conventional food systems, the third WP (3) evaluating economic consequences and the fourth WP (4) the consequences at the societal level including rural development and job opportunities. The finally Agenda (WP5) with recommendation for implementations and dissemination. The main conclusions from the BERAS work>>   Standing in the centre is the farm owner Merija Vilüna together with most of the BERAS researcher in the BERAS-Latvia conference with the “torte”. In picture start from left side on the table Salla Kakriainen (Fi), Helena Kailuoto (Fi), Schäfer (de). Next row, standing, from the left: Annamarie Hannula (Fi), Merija Vilüna (Latvia), Artur Granstedt (Se), Laura Seppanen (Fi),Ib S Kristenssen (dk). In the back row from left: Dzidra Kraismani (Latvia), Markus Larsson with the child (Se), Antto Vihma (Fi), Olof Thomsson (Se), Holger Fisher (de), Marko Nousiainen (fi), Tiina.Lehto (Fi), Ole Tyrsted Jörgensen (Dk), Pentti Seuri (Fi) and Thomas Schneider (Se). Not in picture: Hans v Essen (Se), Miia Kuisma (Fi), Kari Vesala (Fi), Per Berg (Se), Angelica Buesciena (Lithuania), Merit Mikk (Estonia), Airi Vetamaa (Estonia), Maria (Pl) and Jaroslav Stalenga (Pl).

News Scientific report published in Biological Agriculture and Horticulture (BAH):Ecological Recycling Agriculture ...  BAH2009.pdf New BERAS project planned within Central Baltic Interreg IV A programme Priority 1, Safe and healthy environment:  – BERAS Policy Action Read more