The study, published in Environmental Science and Policy, is based on workshops with participants in an initiative called Swedish Carbon Sequestration [Svensk Kolinlagring]. The workshop participants discussed what alternative futures might look like, how they would function, and how to get there. Together they created a vision for a more sustainable farm- and food system, including; perennial crops, keyline design, online farmers markets, increased collaboration between farms, and increased knowledge about soil health. The participants highlighted complex interactions between animals, trees, leys, and crops that can support carbon sequestration. They also emphasized the need to increase both farmer’s and society’s knowledge about soil health and its multiple positive effects on carbon sequestration.
The study highlights that the food system will be transformed by changes in consumer demand, increased knowledge and awareness, shortened value chains, and by changing policies and financial support systems to favor farmers who engage with agroecological principles of farming. However, the transformation of the farm- and food system clash with current agricultural policies and EU laws.
– Today's agricultural policy and EU laws focus on quantity, on growing large quantities of crops, says Emma Johansson. The problem is that this kind of agriculture does not contribute to carbon sequestration, on the contrary, it depletes the soils.
Another challenge, according to the researchers, is the lack of cost-effective methods for measuring carbon sequestration with enough precision, especially underground. This makes it difficult for companies that want to invest in carbon sequestration to be able to measure and report how much carbon sequestration they have contributed to.
– We need to create an understanding among the companies that want to invest in carbon sequestration that there are many important values, such as vital ecosystems, increased biodiversity, living soils, and not least better health and economy for farmers, says Emma Johansson.
According to the researchers, it is important to create a more holistic vision of what sustainable farm- and food system looks like, but it requires that we are open to other ways of valuing carbon sequestration, but also to changing policy and legislation.
Visions for a sustainable farm-and food industry
Together with farmers and representatives from the food industry the researchers have listed a number of visions and principles for a sustainable farm- and food system, with increased carbon sequestration..
