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A (green) wave of the future? : exploring the discourse of self-sufficiency in Sweden
Get PDFDuring the last years, Sweden has seen the rise of a new green wave (NGV) consisting of people who move to rural areas in a strive for self-sufficiency and alternative ways of living. The point of departure for this thesis is that radical changes in lifestyle is a result of discontent with some aspect(s) of mainstream society. Through unstructured interviews and a discourse analysis inspired by Carol Bacchi’s WPR-approach, I investigate discourses present in the NGV through inquiries into the respondents’ practices and motives. The study shows that the respondents’ daily practices and life choices are motivated by their ideas about our economic system, social change, food production and sustainability. The findings are then placed in the context of ecomodernism, degrowth, the crisis of democracy and an economic system based on growth, consumption and paid labour
Power, Justice and Food Sovereignty in Urban Foodscapes : a case of the food retail sector in Malmö, Sweden
Get PDFOf the many challenges facing the global industrial food system, the concentration of power is at the centre. A decreasing number of corporations have increasing control over what, where, how and for whom food is produced, distributed and sold. In Sweden, the food retail sector is characterized by an oligopoly of three corporations owning 90% of the market. This research highlights how the uniform food retail sector constrains sustainable food systems transformation. The food retail sector is the main link between farmers and citizens in the industrial food system. In many ways, farmers are trapped in the ‘treadmill’ of agribusiness, and consumer demand is an insufficient tool to achieve profound change.
Through the lens of political agroecology and urban food planning, this research investigates how national policy and local planning shapes the food retail sector and how this sector in turn shapes the food system. Through a qualitative and comparative case study of the city of Malmö, Sweden, the research examines how the food retail sector influences urban foodscapes and what that signifies for food sovereignty and food justice for the citizens of Malmö, and beyond. The methods include a policy review, interviews with key stakeholders, foodscape mapping, and field observations. Findings suggest that national and municipal governance protect hegemonic structures in the food system through supporting dominating food retail. On a national level, these asymmetric power relations disfavor food producers, especially smaller and sustainable production, and consumer-citizens through the promotion of corporate diets. On a local level, food retail shapes urban populations’ availability to food, which varies between socioeconomic weaker and stronger areas. Concepts of food sovereignty and food justice were used to reflect upon citizens’ accessibility to nutritious, sustainably produced and culturally appropriate foods through urban food retail
Natural regeneration of lodgepole pine after fire
Get PDFContortatall (Pinus contorta) introducerades i Sverige på 1970-talet och idag finns det cirka 600 000 hektar skog där contortatallen är det dominerade trädslaget. Trädet har en förmåga till självföryngring, vilket har väckt oro på grund av potentiella ekologiska risker. Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka hur olika typer av bränder påverkar självföryngringen av contortatall i svenska skogsekosystem. Studien genomfördes i Fågelsjö brandområde, där inventeringar utfördes i bestånd som drabbats av olika typer av bränder samt i ett bestånd som inte brunnit.
Inventeringen visade att antalet självföryngrade contortaplantor var signifikant högre i bestånd där både trädkronor och mark har brunnit jämfört med bestånd där endast marken har brunnit. Resultaten indikerar att kronbränder skapar bättre förutsättningar för fröspridning och etablering. Vid jämförelse mellan äldre och yngre contortabestånd visade sig självföryngringen vara högre i äldre bestånd, vilket kan bero på större fröbank.
Resultaten från denna studie har flera praktiska tillämpningar för skogsförvaltning och naturvård. Förståelsen av hur olika typer av bränder påverkar självföryngringen av contortatall kan hjälpa skogsförvaltare att utveckla bättre strategier för att hantera och kontrollera spridningen av arten. En tidigare studie hävdar att kontrollerade hyggesbränningar kan vara ett effektivt verktyg för att begränsa contortatallens utbredning medan resultat från denna studie visar att naturliga bränder kan främja dess spridning. Särskilt i äldre bestånd som drabbats av kronbrand antyder resultaten att man kan förvänta sig en jämn och tät föryngring, vilket kan vara en ekonomisk fördel genom kostnadsfri föryngring i vissa bestånd.
Sammanfattningsvis bidrar denna studie med insikter om hur olika typer av bränder påverkar självföryngringen av contortatall. Vidare forskning rekommenderas för att undersöka långsiktiga effekter av bränder och olika klimatförhållanden på spridningen av contortatall.Lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) was introduced in Sweden in the 1970s, and today there are approximately 600 000 hectares of forest where lodgepole pine is the dominant tree species. The tree has the ability to self-regenerate, which has raised concerns due to potential ecological risks. The aim of this study was to investigate how different types of forest fires affect the self-regeneration of lodgepole pine in Swedish forest ecosystems. The study was conducted in the fire affected area near Fågelsjö, where inventories were carried out in stands affected by various types of fires as well as in a stand that had not burned at all.
The inventory showed that the number of self-regenerated lodgepole pine seedlings was significantly higher in stands where both crowns and ground had burned compared to stands where only ground had burned. The results indicate that crown fires create better conditions for seed dispersal and establishment. Comparing older and younger lodgepole pine stands, self-regeneration was higher in older stands, which may be due to a larger seed bank.
The results of this study have several practical applications for forest management and conservation. Understanding how different types of fires affect self-regeneration of lodgepole pine can help forest managers develop better strategies to manage and control the spread of the species. A previous study claims that controlled prescribed burns can be an effective tool to limit the spread of lodgepole pine, while results from this study show that natural fires may promote its spread.
Particularly in older stands affected by crown fires, the results suggest that a uniform and dense regeneration can be expected, which could be and economic advantage through cost-free regeneration in certain stands.
In summary this study provides insights into how different types of forest fires affect the self-regeneration of lodgepole pine and can help forest managers develop strategies to manage the species depending on the fire type. Further research is recommended to examine the long-term effects of forest fires and different climate conditions on the spread of lodgepole pine
Stability of sewage sludge biochars in soil
Get PDFDetermining the stability of sewage sludge biochar is crucial to ensure its contribution to carbon sequestration. As a primary objective, this thesis work aimed to evaluate the stability of sewage sludge biochars in agricultural soil using established methodologies: chemical oxidation and incubation experiments (92 days) coupled with modelling. Employing these methods yielded an inconclusive assessment of biochar stability. The chemical oxidation using potassium permanganate results indicated that the sewage sludge biochar used in this study is stable, with about 86 % stable biochar C that could persist in soil for around 100 years. However, findings from the 92 days incubation experiment, combined with modelling, suggested that sewage sludge biochar is not that stable (only 7% carbon remaining after 100 years). The inconsistency between both approaches likely owes to the shortness of incubation time and the use of a single first-order model, which is likely to lead to an underestimation of stability. Additionally, the study investigated the potential contribution of carbonates to carbon dioxide emissions and the aim was to differentiate between carbon dioxide emissions originating from organic carbon in biochar and those potentially contributed by carbonates. To accomplish this, the biochar was treated with acid to eliminate carbonates, before incubating both treated and untreated samples. By measuring and comparing the cumulative carbon dioxide emissions from both sets, the carbonate contribution could be isolated. This was done by subtracting the emissions from the treated (carbonate-free) samples from those of the untreated samples, allowing for a more precise evaluation of organic carbon-derived emissions from biochar. Statistical analysis revealed a significant impact of carbonates on carbon dioxide emissions (p=0.0005). In future research, the incubation experiment needs to be extended for a longer period (e.g., 1 year) to obtain more reliable estimates of the carbon stability of sewage sludge biochars
Effect of moose browsing on the growth and quality of Pinus sylvestris
Get PDFÄlgstammens storlek är något som diskuteras kraftigt i dagsläget. Skogsägare som är emot betesskador vill se en minskning av älgstammen, medan jägare vill ha en kraftig älgstam för jaktens skull. Syftet med detta arbete var att ta reda på hur fyra olika storlekar på älgstammen kan påverka skogen, där det är 0, 10, 30 eller 50 älgar per 1000 hektar som jämförs. Påverkan är kopplad till tillväxt och virkeskvalitet, som undersöks genom inventering av områden där praktiska försök gjorts i sju upprepningar med konstgjord betning som motsvarar de olika storlekarna av älgstammen. En simulerad förstagallring visade att urvalet och volymen för gallringen försämras desto högre densitet det är på älgstammen. En marginell förbättring (0–7%) av beståndens andel skadade träd kunde göras vid gallring. Studien påvisar en negativ påverkan på tillväxt och virkeskvalitet för tall med en ökad densitet på älgstammen. En jämförelse av volymen visar att 10, 30 och 50 älgar per 1000 hektar i genomsnitt minskar volymen med 5%, 16% respektive 53% jämfört med kontrollparcellerna där inget bete är simulerat, medan volymen utanför inhägnaderna i genomsnitt var 20% lägre än kontrollparcellerna. För tre av inhägnaderna kunde det visas att ökad älgtäthet ger lägre diameter med statistiskt signifikant resultat, där även de fyra resterande inhägnaderna hade negativ trend med ökad älgtäthet men med något högre p-värde. Studien visar därmed att en högre älgtäthet ger sämre förutsättningar för bestånden gällande kvalitet, tillväxt samt vid skötsel genom gallring. Genom att jämföra de olika älgtätheterna inom inhägnaderna med det utanför inhägnaderna blir resultatet att bestånden i verkligheten är utsatt för samma påverkan som en älgtäthet mellan 30 och 50 älgar per 1000 hektar. Hur stor den optimala älgtätheten är i verkligheten beror på hur stor tillväxtförlust och andel skador som accepteras, där värdena från denna studie kan användas som riktmedel.The size of the moose population in Sweden is a topic that is highly discussed today. The forest owners want a reduced population to lower the damages from grazing, while the hunters want an increased size of the population for the hunting. The purpose of this study was to find out how four different sizes of the moose population (0, 10, 30 or 50 moose per 1000 hectares) can impact the forest. The impact is connected to growth and quality of the stems. This was studied by inventorying seven enclosures where practical trials were made with artificial pruning intensity, corresponding to the sizes of the moose population. A simulated first thinning showed that the selection of trees and the thinning volume decreased the higher the density of the moose population was. A marginal improvement (0-7%) of the number of damaged trees in the forest stands could be made when thinning. The study shows a negative impact on growth and stem quality for pine with an increased density of the moose population. A comparison of the volume shows that 10, 30 and 50 moose per 1000 hectares in average decreased the volume with 5%, 16% respective 53% compared with the control plot. For three of the enclosures, it could be shown that an increased moose population gives a decrease in diameter with statistical significance result. The other four enclosures also showed a negative trend for diameter with increased moose population but with a slightly higher p-value. The study therefore shows that a higher moose population gives worse conditions for the stands regarding quality, growth and management by thinning. By comparing the stands with different moose populations inside the enclosures with the stands outside the enclosures, it shows that stands in reality are affected similarly as the ones with a moose population of between 30 and 50 moose per 1000 hectares. How big the optimal moose population is in reality depends on how big loss in growth and how much damage that is acceptable; values from this study can be used as a guideline to decide that
The Influence of the Moon on the Activity of the African Elephant (Loxodonta africana)
Get PDFAfrican elephants (Loxodonta africana) are currently endangered due to significant habitat loss caused primarily by human activities. As keystone species, conservation efforts are important to maintain a functional ecosystem. Previous studies on elephants and other animals have shown that lunar phases can influence their activity patterns. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate how the moon influence the activity and migration behaviour of African elephants in Ol Pejeta Conservancy, and to identify patterns that could help develop strategies to minimize human-elephant conflicts. To achieve this, camera trap images from three corridors in Ol Pejeta Conservancy were analyzed. Total activity and movement in and out of the conservancy were examined in relation to moon illumination and distance. A moonlight index combining both illumination and distance, was calculated. The results showed that activity was highest during periods of low moonlight, near the new moon, and increased again a bit during periods of high moonlight, near the full moon. The circadian rhythm of the elephants was affected by different moonlight index, with increased movement in and out of the conservancy during low moonlight conditions. Nighttime activity was not significantly influenced by moonlight, but daytime activity shows a more pronounced difference. Generally, movement into Ol Pejeta Conservancy was higher in the morning and forenoon, while movement out was higher in the afternoon and before midnight. In conclusion the moon likely influences elephant activity indirectly by affecting the activity patterns of lions and humans. Elephants probably increased their movement during low light to avoid lions, which are more active during new moons, making the conservancy more dangerous at night. Conversely, outside the conservancy, human-elephant conflicts are more prevalent during the day, making those areas safer at night. This can explain elephants going into the conservancy during the morning and forenoon and out of the conservancy during the afternoon and night. Additionally, increased moonlight may facilitate foraging at night
Food allergy and behaviour change in dogs : a Survey
Get PDFFood allergies and adverse food reactions in dogs are when the dog’s immune system reacts to something unfamiliar in their bodies. The symptoms consist of pruritus, scratching, biting, vomiting and diarrhea. Similar symptoms are shown when dogs also are affected by other allergies in the environment. It can be a combination of them both. Owning a dog with food allergy can be challenging and it is a commitment since the owner has to ensure that the dog’s welfare is not negatively impacted. This study aimed to examine what allergies are most common in dogs in Sweden. It aimed to see how many that are diagnosed throughout a veterinarian and the how allergies can affect a dog’s behaviour before and after treatment. A survey was made for owners to dogs with food allergies. It was distributed in 8 different groups on Facebook. The survey was open for 24 days. There were 109 dog owners participating but only 63 were completed. There were more purebred dogs than mix breeds and most of the owners were women between 20-60 years old. The dogs were between less than a year old and over seven years old. The symptoms often began in their younger years, before four years old. The most common allergens in this study that participants chose were chicken, fish,
and beef. Most of the participants took their dogs to a veterinarian for a diagnosis compared to attempt the assessment themselves. The most common method for finding out about food allergy was elimination diet and it is the only method that has been proven to be working so far towards dogs with adverse food reaction. The participants were asked to answer how they experienced their dog´s behaviours before discovering the food allergy and after they changed the diet because of the diagnosis. There were a lot of dogs who suffered with pruritus, stress and aggression. Dogs were also less active. Some dogs didn´t change their behaviour. After diagnosis with food allergy and adapted to a new diet the dogs showed minor change in stress level, increased activity, decreased pruritus and decreased aggression. This study showed that the dog´s behaviour can be affected by its food allergies even though it varied between individuals
Teknisk effektivitet inom svensk slaktgrisproduktion utifrån foderspannmålets ursprung
Get PDFSyftet med studien är att undersöka om den tekniska effektiviteten bland svenska slaktgrisproducenter påverkas av inköp jämfört med egenproduktion av foderspannmål. Data har inhämtats från jordbruksekonomiska undersökningen mellan åren 2015-2021.
För att beräkna påverkan av teknisk effektivitet har denna studie använt en så kallad tvåstegsmodell. I första steget används Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), i steg två utförs två regressionsanalyser, en Tobit-regression och en OLS-regression. Teknisk effektivitet kan anta ett värde mellan noll och ett, där de fullt tekniskt effektiva företagen antar värdet ett. De fullt effektiva observationerna bildar tillsammans den effektiva fronten som resterande observationer i urvalsgruppen jämförs med.
Resultatet från studien kunde inte bevisa att egenproducerat foderspannmål hade någon påverkan på teknisk effektivitet mellan åren 2015-2021.The purpose of this study is to examine how the technical efficiency among Swedish pig producers is affected by either cultivating own feed grains or to purchase. Data was gathered from agricultural economic surveys conducted between 2015-2021. To calculate technical efficiency and investigate its impact, a two-stage model was employed. The first stage used Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and the second stage two regressions analyses were performed: a Tobi-regression and an Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression. Technical efficiency can assume a value between zero and one, where fully technically efficient businesses have a value of one. These fully efficient observations form the efficient frontier against which the remaining observations in the sample group are compared to.
The results could not establish that own production of feed has an impact on technical efficiency between the years of 2015 to 2021
It’s about democratic processes : a case study on experimental governance based on municipal democracy in the light of the Case Sofielund 2030 project
Get PDFStäder står inför alltfler komplexa utmaningar och bemöter dessa genom innovativa
tillvägagångssätt och samverkansformer som avviker från traditionell styrning. Case
Sofielund 2030 var ett projekt som syftade till att undersöka hur hållbarhetsmål kan
tillämpas lokalt genom nya, innovativa samarbetsstrukturer och processer. Genom en
projektlogik har Malmö stad involverat en mångfald av aktörer i en ny form av styrning, som den här studien har tolkat som experimentell styrning. Syftet med denna kvalitativa studie är att bidra till ökad kunskap om hur experimentell styrning förhåller sig till
kommunal demokrati och belysa konflikten mellan nytänkande och ansvar. Metoder för studien har varit intervjuer och dokumentanalys. Denna fallstudie har genom att diskutera demokratiska perspektiv som makt, inkludering, transparens, och legitimitet belyst ett visst demokratisk underskott i form av bristande insyn, försvårad ansvarsutkrävning, samt
bristande förtroende från medborgare gentemot projektet. Undersökningen har även pekat på att medborgarinolvering kan gynnas positivt av denna nya styrningsform. Studien har även kritiskt diskuterat ‘projektlogik’ och påtalar kontextuella förklaringar till dess uppkomst och dominans inom den kommunala organisationen. Genom att belysa ett demokratisk
underskott ämnar denna uppsats att bidra med kunskap för en mer balanserad samverkansform.Cities are facing increasingly complex challenges and are addressing them through
innovative approaches and forms of collaboration that deviate from traditional governance. Case Sofielund 2030 was a project aimed at investigating how sustainability goals can be applied locally through new, innovative collaboration structures and processes. Through project logic, the city of Malmö has engaged a variety of stakeholders in a new form of
governance, which this study has interpreted as experimental governance. The purpose of this qualitative study is to contribute to increased knowledge of how experimental
governance relates to local democracy and to illuminate the conflict between innovation and accountability. Methods for the study have included interviews and document analysis. By discussing democratic perspectives such as power, inclusion, transparency, and legitimacy, this case study has highlighted a certain democratic deficit in terms of lacking transparency and accountability, and a lack of trust from citizens towards the project. The research has also indicated that citizen involvement can benefit positively from this new form of
governance. The study has also critically discussed the ‘project logic’ and pointed out contextual explanations for its formation and dominance within the municipal organization. By highlighting a democratic deficit, this paper aims to contribute knowledge for a more balanced form of collaboration
New Genomic Techniques: a brave new world of plant breeding? : Exploring the Potential and Ethical Dimensions of New Genomic Techniques in Plant Breeding
Get PDFThis study is a comprehensive presentation and overview of the ethical, social, legal, technological, and regulatory aspects surrounding New Genomic Techniques (NGTs) in agricultural biotechnology. NGTs such as CRISPR/Cas and TALENs are novel methods of genome editing that offer a more precise, efficient, and sustainable alternative to traditional genetic modification methods. However, they also pose complex ethical and regulatory challenges that require a nuanced and balanced approach. The thesis delves into the evolving regulatory landscape for NGTs, especially in the European Union, and compares global perspectives on GMOs and NGTs. Ethical considerations, such as biodiversity conservation, food safety, and socio-economic equity, are examined to understand how they influence policy development. The ethical matrix is used as a tool to evaluate and analyse various points of view and potential impacts. Furthermore, the research underscores the need for continuous investigation into the long-term environmental and socio-economic impacts of NGTs and proposes future research directions and recommendations. The main aim of this thesis is to contribute to informed and responsible policy making and public discourse, supporting the responsible development and use of NGTs in global agriculture