{"id":41856,"date":"2023-12-15T17:21:17","date_gmt":"2023-12-15T16:21:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.axfoundation.se\/?post_type=project&p=41856"},"modified":"2024-09-13T16:59:27","modified_gmt":"2024-09-13T14:59:27","slug":"transeco-agroecological-farming","status":"publish","type":"project","link":"https:\/\/www.axfoundation.se\/en\/projects\/transeco-agroecological-farming","title":{"rendered":"TRANSECO \u2013 Can Agroecology be Profitable?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n \"In\n

In agroecological cultivation, ecosystem services from cultivated and wild biological diversity replace fossil-based input materials like mineral fertilizers and pesticides.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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The Issue<\/h2>\n
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The global food system stands as one of the major causes of biodiversity loss. Even in Sweden, there has been a rationalization within agriculture that has led to larger fields and more intensive cultivation systems with higher use of mineral fertilizers and pesticides. These lead to greenhouse gas emissions during the production of inputs and nutrients that leak into waterways, causing eutrophication and acidification, resulting in disrupted ecosystems.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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Another factor negatively affecting biodiversity is the compaction of agricultural land with heavy machinery, making it harder for insects, worms, and microorganisms to thrive and perform their ecological functions. There is still a lack of knowledge and business models encouraging farmers to transition, a gap that TRANSECO aims to address.<\/p>\n

The transition to agroecological farming must happen with maintained or improved farm economics.<\/p>\n

\u2013 Christian Sj\u00f6land, Project Manager Future Food, Axfoundation<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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Our Solution<\/h2>\n
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The solution lies in a food system where it is profitable to conduct farming that benefits biological diversity. The TRANSECO project works towards this goal. It aims to facilitate more Swedish farmers transitioning to a resource-efficient and sustainable agriculture that uses fewer input materials (often fossil-based) and relies more on ecosystem services provided by biological diversity, such as insects pollinating crops or worms enhancing soil fertility.<\/p>\n

TRANSECO compares the economics and ecology between 15 farms using agroecological principles and 15 conventional farms in Sweden. This comparison will contribute to understanding how agroecological methods can affect farm yield, ecosystem services, and agricultural economics in a changing climate. The ambition is for TRANSECO to stimulate the transition to sustainable cultivation methods, technical innovation, and increased profitability for farmers. Stakeholders from the entire value chain collaborate to test these concepts among both farmers and consumers.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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\n \"Wild\n

Wild and cultivated pollinators like bees, butterflies, and other insects play a crucial role in the production of many crops.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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Project Goals<\/h2>\n
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Overall Impact Goals:<\/strong><\/p>\n