Ecosystem Health & Sustainable Agriculture EHSA

1. Ecosystem Health & Sustainable Agriculture EHSA CBSS Round table discussion seminar The Environmental standing of the Baltic Sea: from political proposal to practical project 17 March, 2008 Christine Jakobsson Director Baltic University Programme Uppsala University

2. The Baltic Sea & eutrophication • N or P? • Coastal areas • Nitrogen fixation in the sea • P in organic material e.g. manure, plant material, sewage sludge, is very reactive • Algal blooms • Waste water treatment plants • Agriculture

3. Algae bloom

4. Baltic Sea Region Project (BSRP)HELCOM ICES, SLU/WWF/BUP, NEFCOWorldbank/GEF/Sida/NEFCOA regional platform for water relatedco-operation& action

5. 4 Components • Comp. 1: Large Marine Ecosystem Activities • Comp. 2: Land and Coastal Management Activities • Comp. 3: Institutional Strengthening and Regional Capacity Building • Comp. 4: Project Management

6. Goals for sustainable agriculture Agriculture contributes significantly to the society of the future. Sustainable agriculture is the production of high quality food and other agricultural products / services in the long run with consideration taken to economy and social structure, in such a way that the resource base of non-renewable and renewable resources is maintained. Important sub-goals are: 1. the farmers income should be sufficient to provide a fair standard of living in the agricultural community 2. the farmers should practise production methods which do not threaten human or animal health or degrade the environment including biodiversity and at the same time minimise the environmental responsibilities that future generations must assume 3. non-renewable resources have to gradually be replaced by renewable resources and that recirculation of non-renewable resources is maximised 4. sustainable agriculture will meet societies needs of food and recreation and preserve the landscape, cultural values and the historical heritage of rural areas and contribute to create stable well developed and secure rural communities 5. the ethical aspects of agricultural production are secured

7. Baltic 21 - An Agenda 21 for the Baltic Sea Region The Baltic 21 Agriculture Sector priority actions: • Education and training • Create demonstration watersheds with demonstration farmsin a network in the different countries (part of joint action 3) • Develop a ”Virtual Research Institute” for sustainable agriculture based on the already existing NOVABOVA in the Baltic Sea Region. • Elaborate and implement agro-environmental legislation and policies

8. Ecosystem Health & Sustainable Agriculture New Course Package !! • New course package on SD & agriculture & ecosystem health for university level • Developed in cooperation withBUP& theEnvirovet Balticnetwork • Countries: Belarus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Kaliningrad & St. Petersburg in Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Ukraine & the USA • Part of HELCOM and GEF’s Baltic Sea Regional Project in NW Russia (Sida financed) • Baltic 21 Lighthouse project • 4 seminars in St. Petersburg in 2007-2008 • 4 seminars in Kaliningrad in 2008 • 1 seminar in Tartu, Kaunas, Jelgava, & Rogow in 2008

9. Unique cooperation • Agronomists, • Veterinaries, • Animal scientists, • Nature geographers, • Biologists, • Wildlife biologists, • Chemists • Economists • Rural development specialists • Public health professionals etc. • Gender specialist and social experts • New concept on sustainable agriculture & its part in the rural ecosystem; • sustainable agriculture covered from the different aspects represented by the above mentioned professions; • substantial knowledge on land use & rural development, ecosystem health & the interactions between the wild & the domestic population, poverty alleviation, legislation, control measures.

10. Definition of the ecosystem approach • Ecosystems consist of: flora, fauna, other organisms, the surrounding environment. • Are all a part of a food chain, with interconnections where the different levels influence each other as the result of complex & dynamic relationships. • If a critical species decreases in number or disappears, these relationships can break down. The ecosystem can then take on a completely different state after the break down. • Sustainable management must be based on this perspective & consider the impact of proposed measures in a holistic manner. • The ecosystem approach places more far-reaching demands on protection measures. • Management: - more adaptive & instructive with clear links between implemented measures, environmental monitoring & research; - based more on the obligations of the sectors & less on their rights. • The aim is to preserve the structure & function of ecosystems & hence maintain their capacity to provide us with goods & services.

11. Non-sustainable issues of present day agriculture Production · Contaminants and residues in food · Unfavourable market conditions for agricultural production • Excessive livestock density • Changing climate, temperatures, water availability, storms Natural resources · Dependence on fossil energy · Low efficiencyof energy use in agricultural production · Dependence on non-renewable phosphorus deposits · Lack of water and of high water quality · Nutrient losses (N and P) to the environment · Decrease in soil fertility (acidification, carbon content, nutrient status, structure, compaction, salinisation) · Erosion · Pesticide residues in soil, water and non-target organisms · Accumulation of heavy metals and nuclides · Soil contamination with persistent organic and inorganic substances · Loss of biodiversity and genetic resources · Air pollution (NH3, CH4, N2O, pesticides)

12. Non-sustainable issues of present day agriculture Human and animal welfare · Occupational threats to farmers & consumers health · Dependence on growth promoters & antibiotics in animal production · Unfavourable animal welfare & threats to animal health • Diseases that can spread from animals to humans e g BSE, avian influenza Socio-economic criteria · Unfavourable economical profitability of farming · Lack of food security & food production security · Unfavourable social infra-structure in rural areas · Lack of preservation of nature & historical values · Urbanisation Competence- Education · Lack of education, information & management skill

13. Ecosystem Health & Sustainable Agriculture Modules Rural development and land use Sustainable agriculture Ecology and animal health 3 books for university teaching

14. EHSA Activities • Stakeholders LFA planning Meeting, 10-12 Sept. 2005, Kaunas, Lithuania • Identifying local coordinators 2006 • Kick-Off Meeting, 27-29 Nov. 2006,Tallinn, Estonia • Homepage started in December 2006 • Newsletter start in Spring 2007 • Editors meetingsOct 2007 modules 2,3; April -08 module 4 • Authors meeting, 25-26 June 2008, Klaipeda, Lithuania • Planning meeting with Russian coordinators 14-16 Nov 2007 • Seminar /training course(1st of 12) 13-14 Dec. 2007 & the rest during 2008 • Film productionin 2008 (if financing is secured) • Editing conferencein Autumn 2008 • Layout &printing of books Autumn/Winter 2008/2009 • Teachers conferencesin 2009

15. Local Coordinators Kaliningrad: Helena Kropinova, Anna Polyotkina, Elena Kostyk, Immanuel Kant Russian State University St. Petersburg: Nikolay Poliansky, EleenaKorneva, Marina Efremova, St. Petersburg State Agrarian University & Alexandra Izosimova, Academy of Management and Agribusiness of Non-Chernozem Zone of Russian Federation Estonia:Arvo Ital, Tallinn Technical University, Institute of Environmental Engineering Latvia:MairaDzelzkaleja in cooperation with ViestursJansons, Latvia University of Agriculture Lithuania: Angelia Buciene, Klaipeda University Poland: Jozef Moseij, Warsaw Agricultural University,

16. EHSA & the future • Substantial holistic knowledge on ecosystem health & sustainable agriculture based on research & experience. Written by well-known experts within the BSR & the Great Lakes region. • Suitable for continuing education for advisors • University education to provide a solid background • Large multiplying effect after the project ends as the educational package will be offered to all universities within the BSR & GLR • Good platform for future research

17. EHSA & the future • A planned continuation together with the Swedish Farmers Federation, WWF and Keep Baltic Tidy • Result of the Agricultural and Environmental Ministers Meeting in Saltsjöbaden, April 2007 • Meeting Agri-environmental extension services around the Baltic Sea, Riga, Latvia, 6 – 7 Dec. 2007 • Baltic 21 project • Cooperation on agri-environmental extention service around the Baltic Sea • Example - Transfer Focus on Nutrients

18. The Baltic University Programme • a network of 220 universities & • institutes of higher learning; • 14 countries in the Baltic Sea Basin • 14 regional centres • 1.500 teachers/researchers contributed • 9.500 students yearly • coordinated by a Secretariat at Uppsala • University, Sweden; • focuses onsustainable development, • environmental protection & democracy

19. Thank you for your attention and interest! www.balticuniv.uu.se

20. Module 2. Rural Development & Land Use • The rural landscape • The Rural society • Human perspectives on values of the landscape • Planning, management and assessment • Policy instruments and governance

21. Module 3. Sustainable Agriculture • Definition of sustainable & unsustainable issues in agriculture • Reduce the nutrient losses from agriculture • Reduce the risks connected with the use of plant protection products • Protection of ground & surface water for drinking water purposes in agricultural areas • Improve efficiency of energy & transports • Improve efficiency of raw materials usage for high quality agricultural productivity • Combating soil degradation

22. Module 3. Sustainable Agriculture cont… • Production of high quality products & balanced feeding • Animal welfare • Occupational health • Maintain & promote biodiversity • Promote balanced land use & improve landscape diversity • Recycling of nutrients in bio-solids(sewage sludge, compost, organic materials) human urine, by-products from industries; • Counteract climate effects

23. Module 4. Ecology and Animal Health • Stewardship of biodiversity A.1. Terrestrial A.2. Aquatic • Monitoring for diseases in wildlife populations • Preventing transmission of infectious diseases among wildlife, domestic animal, and human populations • Prevention & reduction of impacts of chemical contaminants on ecosystems • Food Safety

24. Module 4. Ecology and Animal Health …. • Differences in North American, EU and Russian Perspectives • Impact of Climate Change on Wildlife, Domestic Animal, Human, and Ecosystem Health: Preparing for global warming

25. The Baltic University Programme Undergraduate courses Environmental Science courses 1. The Baltic Sea Environment 2. Environmental Science 3. English for Environmental Science The Baltic Sea Region (area studies) courses 1. The Baltic Sea Region – Cultures, Politics, Societies 2. Peoples of the Baltic 3. Regional Development and the Baltic Sea Region Sustainable Development course 1. A Sustainable Baltic Region

26. The Baltic University Programme • Master courses • Water Management courses • 1. Sustainable Water Management in Baltic Sea Region • 2. The Baltic Waterscape • 3. The Use and Management of Water • 4. River Basin Management • Environmental Management courses • 1. Policy Instruments for Environmental Management • 2. Cleaner Production & Technologies • 3. Product Design & Life Cycle Techniques • 4. Environmental Management Systems & Certification • Sustainable community development courses • 1. The city • 2. Building sustainable communities • 3. Sustainable Urban Management