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The main conclusions from the BERAS work
1. The main reason for the increased load of nitrogen and phosphorus from agriculture to the
2. A specialization of agriculture in
3. Agriculture based on the principles of ecological recycling would, according to the results in the BERAS project, lead to a decrease in the calculated nitrogen leaching by half as well as a significant reduction in the loss of phosphorus. Ecological Recycling Agriculture (ERA-agriculture) was defined as an agriculture system based on local and renewable resources with an integration of animal and crop production (on each farm or farms in close proximity) so a large part of the nutrient uptake in the fodder production (in Europe on about 80 % of the arable land) is effectively recycled. This in effect means that each farm strives to be self-sufficient in fodder production which in turn limits animal density and ensures a more even distribution of animal to most farms (WP2, BERAS report 5, II).
4. Nitrogen losses would diminish more in the countries that today have an intensive agriculture than in the Baltic countries and
5. The total output of animal and crop products would not have to decrease with such an agriculture reform in the Baltic Sea Basin, if the production level on the documented ecological recycling farms in Sweden is taken as standard. (WP2, BERAS report 5, II).
6. The proportion of leys in a future ecological recycling agriculture would increase in areas that are now mostly specialised in grain production. Leys with both clover and grass would have to be produced on all farms. This would increase the chances of diminishing plant nutrients’ leaching, building up and protecting the humus content in soil and promoting biological diversity (WP2, BERAS report 5, II).
7. Increased ley production would result in the reallocation of meat production. Production of meat from non ruminant animal (poultry, pigs) would decrease by half, while beef production would increase correspondingly –assuming today’s level of meat consumption. (WP2, BERAS report 5, IX).
8. Local production, processing and distribution of food products from ecological recycling agriculture could diminish primary energy consumption and green house gas emissions compared to the current conventional food system. According to a scenario based on studies of the ecological local food chain in Järna and the average consumer in
9. A more vegetarian food consumption, (75% less meat and 100% more vegetables) could decrease energy consumption by 60% and green house gas emissions by 40 %, compared to Swedish conventional food consumption patterns. The area in
10. An ecological and locally oriented food chain leads to freedom from chemical pesticides, greater diversity in the production and more grazing-based animal husbandry. All of this promotes biodiversity in the farm landscape (WP2, BERAS Report 5, VI). Agriculture based on the integration of animal and crop production and an animal density limited to on-farm self sufficiency in fodder production would prevent the disintegration of the agricultural landscape in parts of the Baltic Sea basin such as Poland where the agricultural landscape is still characterized by a high degree of diversity. In the parts of the Baltic States where large-scale agriculture production from Soviet times has collapsed and in the industrialized and grain dominated areas in
11. Economic studies at the farm level show higher production costs when environmental costs are included (internalized) in the production costs. This includes, among other things, the restrictions on using fodder concentrates. There is a 12% lower production per cow without soy protein. Also limiting the number of animals to the farms own fodder-producing capacity has economic consequences. In the Järna study the cost for milk production was 19% higher compared to conventional agriculture (0,5 - 0,6 SEK per kg milk). The food expenditure for the 15 Järna households with mainly ecological and to a great extent locally produced food was on average 25% higher. However, there was great variation depending on the food profile. Conventionally produced food does not include the environmental costs. They are instead pushed towards the future or to other parts of the world (WP3, BERAS report 3).
12. Practical examples of ecological recycling agriculture, local food processing, cooperation with schools, ecological tourism and the development of local markets have been documented in the eight countries of the project. The studies showed how private initiatives, raised awareness concerning the significance of the food chain for the environment and a more lively cooperation between people can contribute to a more ecologically, economically and sociologically sustainable society. Such a society provides more job opportunities in the countryside and strengthens the local rural economy. This is expected to be of great importance for saving and further developing a vibrant rural culture and improving the quality of life in the
Associate professor Artur Granstedt
Coordinator, BERAS
Swedish Biodynamic Research Institute (SBFI)
Skilleby gård 153 91 Järna, Sweden