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Exploring the potentials of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) in Food Loss (FL) mitigation : Alnarp's Agroecology Farm, Skåne, Sweden
Get PDFFood Loss (FL) is considered a threat to local, regional and global food security. It is a common
phenomenon in the mainstream food system, due to factors such as supply chain management, high
regulation standards, and consumer preference. This study investigates the potentials of Community
Supported Agriculture in vegetable FL mitigation, in Alnarp's Agroecology Farm. in Skåne, Sweden. A
qualitative approach was followed, through an in-depth interview with staff, volunteers and
subscribers. The empirical findings gathered were analysed using the theoretical lens of Shove et
al, (2012) practice theory. To evaluate how materials, competence and meanings influenced the
current state of vegetable Food Loss in the farm, in relation to the existing agricultural
practices. The study reveals that, Food Loss reduction attributed to Community Supported
Agricultural practice in the farm may be associated to decentralized pick up points, food donation
scheme, integrated pest management, and production-based subscriptions. The study provides an
experimental space, where the potentials of Community Supported Agriculture in Food Loss mitigation
is Alnarp's Agroecology Farm in Skåne, is critically looked a
Influence of organic acids on the sorption of phosphorus to ferrihydrate and imogolite-type nanoparticles
Get PDFPhosphorus (P) is an essential macronutrient for plant growth, yet its availability in forest soils can be limited by the strong adsorption onto mineral surfaces. This thesis studied the sorption behaviour of P to synthetic ferrihydrite (Fh) and proto-imogolite (PIM), two abundant secondary minerals in the B horizons of Swedish Podzols, as a function of pH. P sorption decreased with increasing pH for both Fh and PIM, due to a less positively charged surface. P sorbed more strongly to PIM at pH >5.5 than to Fh, but less below pH 4.9, due to dissolution of PIM. Furthermore, the influence of two organic acid anions, D-gluconate (GL) and oxalate (Ox) was tested. Both acid anions were found to be able to mobilise P from Fh and PIM and thus make it more bioavailable to plants. Ox was more efficient at mobilising P than GL, especially from PIM. Its main mechanism was through the dissolution of the mineral, with a higher ability to dissolve PIM than Fh, thus releasing more P. GL could not dissolve the minerals when P was present. It hindered P sorption through competition for the same binding sites. Experimental data from single sorbent system were used to optimise complexation constants for the Fh CD-MUSIC Model (Gustafsson and Antelo 2022) and the PIM Basic Stern Model (Flor´en et al. in preparation). While modelled sorption behaviour to Fh was tolerable, sorption to PIM could not be accurately portrayed due to experimental errors as well as potentially inaccurate fundamental properties used as input. Only the P sorption to PIM in the single sorbent system could be successfully represented
Empowering through ‘nature’? : the role of ‘nature’ within Girls* on Ice Program for long-term impacts on young women in science, art, and outdoor exploration
Get PDFInequality and environmental degradation are deeply intertwined, severe problems of our time. While taking steps to address these problems, structural changes on different levels include changes of social constructions of privilege and oppression, of marginalized groups, and non-human life. Empowering outdoor educational programs are one way to take steps towards equality by using natural environments for educational goals, while simultaneously challenging those social constructions.
Building on the academic literature and theories on structural inequality, the debate around ‘nature’ and outdoor science education, this thesis aims to explore the role of ‘nature’ in the outdoor science education program Girls* on Ice. This program aims to empower young women through outdoor exploration, arts, and science.
Empirically, this thesis draws on interviews with eight people who are involved in the program. Two of them have been founding a branch of the Girls* on Ice Program, while the other six have been joining the program as participants. Through the use of inductive thematic analysis, the findings show that ‘nature’ in the program acts as a dynamic, active frame. It serves simultaneously as a setting, subject of consideration, and entity to relate to. Those aspects, in combination with a strongly supportive social environment, lead to an intensified and cared-for emotional connection to nature, empowerment in different dimensions, the consideration of career choices in male-dominated areas, and the formation of a supportive social network.
Overall, this study contributes to a better understanding of how ‘nature’ could contribute to the process of societal change towards equality and sustainability. For this reason, incorporating immersive nature experiences into education may represent an essential step towards reducing systemic barriers in science and outdoor exploration, and therefore, also, towards a more sustainable society
Vad kostar det? Samband mellan utgifter för förnybar energi och jordbruksproduktivitet i Sverige
No full textThe effect of renewable energy expenditure on farm productivity in Sweden was investigated by estimating its association with output-input efficiency at the farm level. An unbalanced panel of microdata from the Swedish Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN), comprising 6.730 observations from 2008-2023, was used in a log-log Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression framework. The relationship was analysed across farm types and size quartiles to account for structural differences. The result showed no statistically significant association between renewable energy expenditure and productivity in the overall sample. However, higher renewable energy costs were significantly negatively associated with productivity among the largest field crop and grazing livestock farms, as well as among the smallest dairy farms. In contrast, smaller field crop and grazing livestock farms exhibited positive but statistically insignificant relationships. No significant association was found for large dairy farms. These findings suggest that both production type and farm size play a crucial role in determining the economic viability of renewable energy investments. The results can inform policy efforts aimed at supporting a fair and efficient transition to clean energy in agriculture
Who shoulders the responsibility for rural transports? : a case study about the co-distribution solution in Los
Get PDFTransporter av gods på landsbygden är olik från dess motsvarighet i tätbefolkade områden och därför behöver de beskrivas därefter. Landsbygdstransporter är därför ett begrepp jag vill använda för att skildra samlastningslösningen som växte fram i Los, Ljusdals kommun. Syftet med uppsatsen är att undersöka vad som motiverar landsbygdsaktörer att involvera sig i landsbygdstransporter. Arbetet är av kvalitativ art i form av en fallstudie där ett urval aktörer aktiva inom landsbygdstransporter i Los intervjuas. Arbetet visar att transportlösningen växte fram och upprätthålls av en kombination av ekonomiska och sociala incitament. Vidare visar arbetet på att det finns alternativa lösningar till tidigare offentligt förvaltade samhällsviktiga funktioner och rollen av socialt kapital inom landsbygdens utveckling.Rural transport of goods is different from their counterpart in densely populated areas, hence need to be addressed accordingly. To more accurately depict the co-distribution solution in Los, Ljusdal Municipality, I want to coin and use the term “Rural Transports (of Goods)”. The aim of this essay is to examine what motivates rural agents to engage in Rural Transports. The thesis is of qualitative kind, with a case study of a selection of agents involved in Rural Transports in Los. The results show that the co-distribution solution in Los was developed and maintained by a combination of economic and social incentives. Furthermore, the essay shows that there are alternative solutions to formerly publicly funded essential services and the role social capital has within Rural Development
Navigating the unpredictable: resilience strategies in the face of Nature’s changes : an empirical study of smallholder farmers in Zambia
Get PDFThis study investigates the impact of drought on food security and evaluates the effectiveness of climate coping strategies adopted by smallholder farmers in Zambia between 2012 and 2019. Utilizing panel data from the Rural Agricultural Livelihoods Survey (RALS) and employing a Two-Way Fixed Effects (TWFE) regression model, the research finds that droughts significantly reduce food security, with the 2015 season marking the most severe shock. However, households that adopted adaptive strategies—particularly crop diversification, soil conservation, and water harvesting—exhibited greater resilience. Among these, crop diversification demonstrated the highest return on investment and widest adoption, while irrigation, despite its potential, remained underutilized due to cost barriers. The study also highlights the critical role of enabling factors such as education, credit access, and extension services in amplifying adaptive capacity. The results underscore the importance of localized, multi-dimensional policy interventions to strengthen climate resilience in vulnerable agroecological zones. This research contributes to the empirical literature on climate adaptation by offering robust, context-specific insights that inform both policy and practice in sub-Saharan agriculture
In the green lies delight : a site analysis of experiential values in the Ulleråker cultivation area with a focus on visitors
No full textStadens grönska är avgörande för invånarnas välmående och hälsa, att båda minskar gör uppdraget att främja stärkande livsmiljöer än mer angeläget. I en tid av förtätning som framträdande strategi i stadsplaneringen ökar vikten av att stadens offentliga utrymmen kan tillgodose alla människors grundläggande behov. Stadsodling kommer med många viktiga och positiva bidrag till inte minst odlarnas hälsa och välmående, men det är inte lika tydligt klarlagt vad odlingsområden kan erbjuda för fler besökare än för odlarna. Uppsatsen undersöker ett odlingsområdes upplevelsekvaliteter utifrån modellen Perceived Sensory Dimensions, PSD. Upplevelsekvaliteterna analyseras genom platsbesök och bedöms med hjälp av ett analysverktyg baserat på en förlaga från Stigsdotter et al. (2020). Sammanfattningsvis identifierades att platsen innehåller många element som bidrar till en varierad och rik upplevelse, samtidigt som den också har flera inslag som skapar en känsla av sammanhållning. Enligt teorin är detta ett motsatspar som ofta motverkar varandra. För att stärka platsens upplevelsekvaliteter ur ett besökarperspektiv föreslås i korthet insatser för att öka platsens sociala och kulturella kvaliteter. Detta stärker inte nödvändigtvis platsens restorativa funktion men bedöms fungera väl ihop med platsens användning och befintliga kvaliteter.The city's greenery is crucial for the well-being and health of its residents, and as both declines, the mission to promote supportive living environments becomes even more pressing. In an era where urban densification is a key strategy in city planning, the importance of public spaces meeting the basic needs of all people increases. Urban gardening offers many important and positive contributions, particularly to the health and well-being of the gardeners themselves, but it is less clear what such areas can offer to visitors beyond the gardeners. This thesis explores the experiential qualities of an urban gardening area using the Perceived Sensory Dimensions (PSD) model. The qualities were analysed through site visits and assessed using an analytical tool based on a framework by Stigsdotter et al. (2020). The findings reveal that the site contains many elements that contribute to a rich and varied experience, while also incorporating features that foster a sense of coherence. According to the theoretical framework, these two qualities often stand in opposition to each other. To enhance the experiential qualities of the site from a visitor’s perspective, interventions aimed at strengthening its social and cultural qualities are proposed in short. While these interventions may not necessarily enhance the restorative functions of the space, they are deemed compatible with its current use and existing qualities
The ash grove as a therapeutic site : an analysis of restorative qualities
Get PDFKyrkogården kan upplevas som en rogivande plats att vistas på och trots den sorgsenhet som vilar över platsen kan kyrkogården med dess olika områden ändå vara läkande för den som sörjer eller lider av mental trötthet. Detta examensarbete presenterar en undersökning av askgravlunden som terapeutisk plats genom en litteraturstudie och en tematisk jämförande studie av fem askgravlundar i Sverige. Analysen av askgravlundarna har utgått från ett antal teorier inom hälsa och välbefinnande ur ett miljöpsykologiskt perspektiv. Landskapsarkitekten Inger Berglunds studie om minneslunden som kyrkogårdens meditativa rum från 1994 har även legat till grund för denna studie där askgravlunden som meditativt rum undersökts. De fem besökta askgravlundarna är analyserade främst utifrån tre olika aspekter: närvaron av icke-religiösa symboler som kan ge en andlig laddning, landskapsarkitekten Inger Berglunds tio råd vid skapandet av ett meditativt rum samt professor i miljöpsykologi och landskapsarkitektur Patrik Grahns teori om de åtta multisensoriska dimensionerna/kvaliteterna. Syftet med examensarbetet har varit att analysera den terapeutiska effekten och de restorativa kvaliteterna i askgravlundar utifrån dess utformning och gestaltning.
Resultatet av undersökningen har visat att askgravlunden kan fungera som terapeutisk plats trots att utformningen och gestaltningen av dessa anläggningar präglas av stora lokala variationer. Analysen visar att ett meditativt rum kan se ut på olika sätt och att det går att skapa en andlig tyngd på en plats utan religiösa symboler. Askgravlunden har visat sig ha restorativa kvaliteter som kan bidra positivt till sorgebearbetningen vid en närståendes bortgång samt vid mental trötthet. Detta examensarbete visar även att det finns utrymme att utföra en större studie av askgravlunden som terapeutisk plats. Genom vidare forskning hade det varit intressant för kyrkogårdsbranschen att göra en uppföljning av Inger Berglunds studie med fokus på hur askgravlunden svarat på behovet av ett mindre anonymt alternativ till minneslunden och hur det påverkat den terapeutiska effekten hos de anhöriga.The cemetery can be experienced as a calming place to visit and its various areas can be healing for those who are grieving or suffering from mental fatigue, despite the sadness that rests over the place. In this thesis, the ash grove as a therapeutic site is analysed through a theoretical study and a thematic comparative study of five ash groves in Sweden. The analysis of the ash grove has been based on several theories regarding health and well-being from the perspective of environmental psychology. The landscape architect Inger Berglund’s study from 1994 regarding the memorial grove as the cemetery’s meditative site has also formed the basis for this study, in which the ash grove as a meditative site has been studied. The five visited ash groves are analysed primary from three different aspects: the presence of non-religious symbols that can give a spiritual feeling, landscape architect Inger Berglund’s ten advises for creating a meditative site, and professor of environmental psychology and landscape architecture Patrik Grahn’s theory of the eight perceived sensory dimensions (PSD). The aim of this thesis has been to analyse the therapeutic effect, and the restorative qualities of the ash grove based on their design and construction.
The results of the study have shown that the ash grove can function as a therapeutic site even though the design and construction of these places are characterised by great local variations. The analysis shows that a meditative site can vary in design and that it’s possible to create a spiritual feeling in a place without religious symbols. The ash grove has been shown to have restorative qualities that can contribute in a positive way to the grief processing after the death of a loved one, and mental fatigue. This thesis also shows that there is room to carry out a larger study of the ash grove as a therapeutic site. Through further research, it would have been interesting for the cemetery-industry to do a follow-up of Inger Berglund’s study, where the focus should be directed at how the ash grove responded to the need for a less anonymous alternative to the memorial grove and how it affected the therapeutic effect of the relatives to the deceased
Sub-lethal effect of a neonicotinoid (Imidacloprid) on red wood ant (Formica rufa) detected using behavioral trials
Get PDFNeonicotinoids are a group of insecticides that pose a serious threat for insects, invertebrates, and
birds. Imidacloprid is a type of neonicotinoid that is available on the Swedish market and in this
study, I investigated the effects this pesticide has on the behavior on red wood ant (Formica rufa)
while exposed to sublethal doses. The ants were exposed to imidacloprid (100mg/l) in a glucose
solution and behavioral changes was observed and compared to a control group that got only glucose
solution. The exposed ants showed changes in behavior regarding: 1) decreased activity, 2) less
exploration, and 3) increased distance to other ants. My conclusion is that imidacloprid in non-lethal
concentrations still could cause changes in ant behavior that possibly have lethal consequences in
complex ecosystem where the ants need to forage and avoid predators
Resurseffektivitet vid naturvårdsåtgärden katning : Utvärdering av olika katningsutföranden
Get PDFThe resource efficiency of the fire-mimicking conservation action of partial girdling (known as “katning” in Swedish) was studied for three methods; Mechanical (Harvester), Motor-manual (Chainsaw) and Manual (Axe) over three standardized girdling intensities. Time data was collected at Ekopark Skatan in Västerbotten, for different work elements. The time required for the “katning” work element decreased with increased mechanization and increased with increased girdling intensity. The difference between the methods decreased when standard hourly costs were used to translate the time required for girdling per tree into a cost per tree. The results showed that there was no significant difference in cost to girdle with a harvester or chainsaw, assuming the same level of intensity in execution.
Further research is needed as efficiency studies for conservation actions are rare. More studies on methods, girdling intensities, and times are of interest for resource efficiency. Above all, future studies need to focus on result effectiveness in terms of the girdling effects on wood chemistry, key structures, and ecology to combine resource efficiency and result effectiveness