Primärt gathers stakeholders around innovation for sustainable agriculture

The conference is organised by the SLU and Sparbanken Skånes Centre for Sustainable Primary Production (link).

Primary production faces several major sustainability challenges.

Production needs to reduce its environmental and climate impact, adapt to climate change, and increase preparedness. Producers require sustainable working conditions, and new generations need to be able to enter the industry. On top of that, profitability for agricultural businesses must be ensured.

At the same time, there are many opportunities to make primary production more sustainable. Innovation and technology are important parts of this, as well as collaboration between different stakeholders.

This is the starting point for the conference Primärt – Forum för hållbart lantbruk. 

– The conference encompasses all these challenges and opportunities, with innovation as a running theme, says Anna Maňourová, coordinator of the conference.

On 25 November, farmers, researchers, advisors, public officials, industry stakeholders and other actors will gather at the conference in Alnarp to share knowledge and explore pathways to sustainable agriculture.

Thematic tracks for stakeholder dialogue

To make the most of the breadth of sustainable primary production as a topic and create the conditions for meaningful exchange, the team behind the conference has taken a slightly different approach from the way a scientific conference is usually structured.

During part of the day, participants can choose from twelve thematic tracks for in-depth conversations. Examples of track themes include soil health, climate adaptation, digitalisation, the cost of sustainability and the next generation of farmers.

Participation has been the guiding principle in planning the conference, says Anna Maňourová.

– We wanted to create an environment where participants from different backgrounds are encouraged to share their thoughts and take an active part in the conference. That’s where the idea of informal conversations in smaller groups came from.

Each track is led by a core group made up of a moderator, a farmer, a researcher, an advisor and an industry representative. The make-up of the core group is meant to reflect the different backgrounds of the conference participants.

– Together, they represent different perspectives and invite the other participants in the room into an open dialogue, she says.

In designing the tracks, Anna Maňourová was inspired by colleagues at SLU Holding who have shared stories from conferences outside of academia, such as The Drop and Agroecology Forum in Malmö.

By offering many different themes, Anna Maňourová hopes that everyone will find a topic they really care about. The aim is for the tracks to be a safe space for participants to join the conversation, whether they have questions, ideas or concerns.

– I want the conversations to be inspiring and to generate new knowledge, and for people from different fields and sectors to find common ground. And I hope some of these connections lead to something concrete: a project or a cross-sector collaboration that wouldn’t have happened otherwise, says Anna Maňourová.

Speakers and panel on innovation, sustainability and solutions

The tracks take place in the second half of the conference. Before that, participants can look forward to a range of exciting sessions.

To set the scene, the day begins with three talks on innovation and sustainability in primary production.

First up is Jacob van den Borne, entrepreneur and precision-farmer from the Netherlands. Johanna Olsson, coordinator for AgroDrive at RISE, follows. Finally, Maria Lundesjö and Marit Wirén Toll from Axfoundation tells us about the Future food programme.

Read interviews with our speakers here (link).

The talks are followed by a panel conversation moderated by Lennart Wikström, titled “From promise to practice in primary production”.

Three farmers raise real challenges from the farm and discuss new ways forward with a researcher, an advisor and an industry expert.

The panellists are: Cissi Klasson, Annelövsgrisen, Martin Andersson, Löderups växt, Patrik Andersson, Tomatens hus, Gunnel Hansson, Hushållningssällskapet, Per Frankelius, Linköping University, and Bengt Persson, Välingetorp invest.

The SLU Alnarp and Sparbanken Skåne Innovation Award

After lunch, the winners of the SLU Alnarp and Sparbanken Skåne Innovation Award will be announced. The winners will pitch their ideas on stage.

Read more about the award here (link).

The day ends with a shared dinner at Loftet in Alnarp.

See also:

• Watch our conference video where a few of the people who will participate in the conference share their thoughts on sustainable primary production and which questions they bring with them to Alnarp.
• The Biotron celebrates its’ 10-year anniversary on November 25th. Primärt participants are invited to register for a guided tour in the research facility.