1. Sustainable Agriculture –discussion points
Ingrid Karlsson,
December 2008

2. Sustainability cannot be discussed without a political, economic, social, ecological and demographic context

3. Discussion!
Actual problems discussed in Scandinavia and ”western” Europe
High productivity or less leaching and chemicals in agriculture should be the main priority?
E.g. Increase productivity per area and preserve forest and other natural biotopes for flora and fauna – produce much for an increasing world population with ”chemical methods” and preserve biodiversity for future generations
Or- increase area and decrease productivity (e.g. organic farming, low intensity farming) by taking down forest, draining wetlands, and/or introduce limits to meat consumption

4. Discussion! Actual problems in rural areas in transition countries:
Relations rural development and economy: low income and low life quality leads to low status and low motivation for working with agricultural activities
The global trade regulations and the EU regulations have a very great (but maybe not sustainable?) eonomic impact on the organisation of agriculture. Where are we heading? Which development is most sustainable?
Relations rural development and human health: Alcoholism, drug addiction, diseases, (for instance tuberculosis, giardiasis, salmonella, HIV/Aids), give rise to low human (and sometimes animal) life quality

5. Discuss in groups of 4 persons the priorities for sustainable rural development in your own regions
Each individual give his/her suggestions to the three most important changes needed in order to improve rural development/agriculture in you own country
Write them down on a piece of paper and give to the seminar organisers

6. Which sustainability is most important?
Sustaining original ecosystems?
Sustaining historical agricultural landscapes?
Sustaining natural resources (soil, water, non-renewable energy sources etc)
Sustaining farmers access to crop and grazing lands?
Sustaining human indigenous traditions and agricultural practices?

7. Suggestions for future priorities
Property rights – give people (both men and women!) incentives to invest in their land and give people an asset against which to borrow. In many ”transition countries” much investment need to be done in machinery, storage buildings, animal housing, and not least education and training especilly in management and economics.
Improve infrastructure for timely delivery and safety of agricultural input supply and for storage and transport of the products from the farm to the table.
Support for local and regional diversity of human agricultural activities and food preferences – especially farmers´ indigenous knowledge

8. Develop new rural professions such as tourism and small enterprises
Improve possibilities to commute (by environmental friendly public transport) from rural to urban areas
Use the rural areas for services – waste treatment, water treatment, energy production (wind, solar, bio-energy)