Transforming the food value chain based on ecologically and economically sustainable crop production (TRANSECO)
Project overview
Participants
More related research
Global goals
- 2. Zero hunger
- 12. Responsible consumption and production
- 13. Climate action
- 15. Life on land
Short summary
We assess the capacity for upscaling of agroecology practices and business models by examining actor-specific motivations for adoption on large actor populations in the value chain. Gained knowledge will inform policymakers for the transition to sustainable and resilient food systems.
Transforming agriculture is key for achieving several UN Sustainable Development Goals, for mitigating and adapting to climate change and to reverse biodiversity decline. Interest is surging for more resilient and environmentally friendly crop production based on agroecological principles that rely on Ecosystem Services provided by managed and wild biodiversity. Agroecological practices include, for instance, diverse crop rotations, intercropping, less or no pesticide use, and managing soils for increased soil organic matter.
But uptake is low, partly because ecological and economic efficiencies and trade-offs are poorly understood. Also, actors along the entire food value chain need to engage for a broad transition.
We investigate the ecology and economics on Swedish farms with or without adoption of agroecological practices in Sweden.
We develop indicators to track ecological and economic efficiencies, i.e., how inputs of labour, capital, nutrients etc, influence the farm economy, productivity and waste, and how ecological-economic processes drive input-output relations under climate change.
With actors in the entire food value chain, we develop business and marketing solutions which realize sustainability values gained, that return to and incentivize the farmer for further sustainability progress.