We receive more or less daily reports in the media about climate change and about how nature is being depleted as a result of human impact. Sustainable agriculture is a matter of destiny.
- This applies not least to agriculture, which must be more sustainable in the long term. And not only is it possible, it is also necessary. Not least for our children and grandchildren, says Anita Falkenek, CEO of KRAV.
Swedish agriculture is far ahead compared to how it looks in many other countries. We have tough legislation, we are a leader in animal welfare and animal health and there is a great interest both among consumers and among producers for sustainably produced food in the country.
Anita Falkenek emphasizes that several, parallel measures are needed in agriculture, industry and by us consumers.
- It is clearly necessary to move to a more sustainable agriculture, where there are clear regulations for ecological and KRAV that protect the soil, watercourses and biodiversity.
Anita Falkenek explains that there are good conditions for increasing organic farming.
- A recent study shows that Swedish farms that are ecologically driven have better profitability than traditional farms. The crop yields of organic farms are also gradually increasing, partly because the knowledge of crops and farming methods is increased and partly because the soil is feeling better when their fertility increases.
Another assumption that Anita Falkenek emphasizes is that consumers continue to demand organically produced food.
- The Swedish farmers are good at adjusting their production according to what we consumers demand, says Anita Falkenek.
But as consumers , we also have to take greater responsibility, Anita Falkenek points out.
- Foods today are generally too cheap. The production of food has become increasingly efficient, which is good but often at the expense of a great environmental and climate impact. Something like that as a consumer is difficult to have facts about.
- In addition, we are now discarding to consumers a large part of the foods we trade, which have thus cost us money to buy and cost the environment to manufacture. Processing and retailing also needs to reduce their waste of food being discarded.
A third aspect that Anita Falkenek emphasizes is that we must change our eating habits in other ways as well.
- We must increase the proportion of vegetables and eat less meat. It is good for both our health and the environment. It is simply more resource efficient and has far less climatic impact on growing vegetables and cereals that we as consumers eat than giving it to the cattle. But when we eat meat, it is important that we choose meat from organic farms or from animals that have grazed on natural pastures.
- It is also very important to remember that organic farming needs animals to create a sustainable cycle with the industry.
One question that Anita Falkenek often gets is whether the food would be sufficient for everyone if all food was produced in an organic way.
"Yes, I am convinced," she says emphatically. But it requires that we use a combination of the conditions that exist, that is, reduce food waste and our meat consumption. Then the food that is produced can be grown and produced organically, so that it does not happen at the expense of nature.
- There is also a reserve. Up to ten percent of all agricultural land in Sweden is currently in decline.
The production of food in Sweden and around the world accounts for a large part of the climate and environmental impact both globally and locally. But with sustainable production of food, you also reach the many solutions, says Anita Falkenek, CEO of KRAV.
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