Sweden

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SLU

The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet, SLU, www.slu.se) was formed in 1977 and is the only agricultural and veterinary university in Sweden. A comprehensive viewpoint, inter-disciplinary approach and applicability are keywords in SLU’s research and teaching and in its contacts with industry and society. The university has locations all over Sweden, facilitating effective collaboration with trade and industry as well as providing seats of learning in the regions. Basic research is often conducted at the very highest international level. Many fields also have specific practical applications, both in agriculture and forestry and in people’s everyday lives.

Svenska Vallföreningen

Svenska Vallföreningen (Swedish Grassland Society, www.svenskavall.se) is a farmer-based (approx. 80%) non-profit and non-governmental association with approx. 1,700 members that in addition to farmers consists of advisors, researchers, and industry and governmental representatives. The association strives for the profitable production and use of grass, forage crops and pasture taking a northern perspective. Svenska Vallföreningen also acts to improve the economic and political situation of grassland farmers, influence and support advisory services, and influence research priorities and strengthen the research budget in forage production.

Svenska Vallföreningen is a member of the European Grassland Federation (EGF, www.europeangrassland.org/) and plays an important role in bridging the divide between academia and industry. As an important platform for communicating research findings, innovations and experiences, and identifying important knowledge gaps, Svenska Vallföreningen works closely with farmers and other stakeholders taking a multi-actor approach when organising seminars, farm/field/stable walks, open days, demonstration of field research etc. Through its seventeen local grassland associations, large climatic differences are represented. Seven issues of Swedish Grassland Magazine are produced and distributed annually. Svenska Vallföreningen is one of the organisers of the Swedish Grass Silage Award, established in 2002. SVall also acts as a referral body to the government and the Swedish Board of Agriculture with regard to e.g. the Common Agriculture Policy. Participation in international meetings and networks reinforces its extensive national and international influence.

Grazing and grassland in Sweden

Sweden is a forest-dominated country where 53% of the area is made up of forest and only 7% of agricultural land. The agricultural land, in turn, consists of 85% arable land and 15% semi-natural grasslands. The arable land is in crop rotation where 44% consists of temporary grasslands. The temporary grasslands are grazed to some extent, for example by dairy cows, while beef suckler cows are the most common animal category on the semi-natural grasslands. The semi-natural pastures consist of many different natural types from open to wooded lands. A rich biodiversity has developed along the long-term, low-intensity use, and continued grazing is necessary for the diversity to persist.

Swedish

Grazing4AgroEcology (G4AE) – ett europeiskt nätverk som syftar till att främja bete och stödja betesbaserade gårdar när det gäller deras ekonomiska och ekologiska resultat samt djurens välfärd.

G4AE är ett EU-finansierat projekt som stöder EU:s strategier om att gynna biologisk mångfald, minska näringsförluster och minska utsläppen av växthusgaser.

Betesbaserad livsmedelsproduktion har kapacitet att producera högkvalitativ mat, gynna lantbrukets konkurrenskraft, öka djurens välfärd samt ge andra ekosystemtjänster som är allmänt uppskattade i samhället. Tyvärr minskar emellertid betesanvändningen generellt i Europa, vilket utgör ett hot mot många ekosystemtjänster.

I G4AE är lantbrukaren och lantbruket i centrum för ett nätverk av flera intressenter i lantbrukets kunskaps- och innovationssystem, inklusive forskning och praktik, lantbruksorganisationer, intresseorganisationer, rådgivare samt konsumenter och andra medborgare.

I nätverket finns samarbetsgårdar, vilka består av 15 lantbruk i varje deltagarland. Samarbetsgårdarna blir källan till bra metoder och innovativa idéer, där vi både samlar in och sprider lätt tillgänglig praktiskt tillämpbar kunskap om bete.

G4AE kommer att vara banbrytande för betesbaserad djurhållning genom att ge lantbrukaren möjlighet att objektivt se och förstå gårdens resultat gällande ekonomi, ekologi och djurvälfärd med hjälp av ett självskattningsverktyg.

Kunskapsnivån inom såväl rådgivning som forskning och praktiskt genomförande kommer att öka genom spridning och utveckling av kända tekniker nationellt och internationellt, både gällande åkermarksbeten och naturbeten.