Madeleine Bonow

Goat cheese production in Sweden – a pioneering experience in the re-emergence of local food

Abstract The re-emergence and modernization of traditional goat-cheese production in Jämtland led to the articulation of a localized agri-food system that represents the frontline of the return and reinforcement of local food in Sweden. Already in the 1970s, some initiatives were undertaken to formalize the productive activities of this branch and to improve the product quality. The most important project was the articulation of a cooperative that, unlike all other Swedish cooperatives, engaged its members in the development of a joint trademark, development of a standardized assortment, common marketing efforts and finding creative solutions for infrastructure problems. Despite the overall success, we also found some downsides. Producing goat cheese requires that at least two people are involved, because the workload often leads to body injuries and illness for people working alone. By studying the institutional frameworks, rules and regulations, the economic function and entrepreneurial dynamics, and the dynamics of knowledge and competences, the article highlights how and why farm dairies in Jämtland became reinforced and modernized. This grasps both the actions of individual economic agents and their interaction with their environment. A special emphasis was put on the role of regional authorities in this process. Even though many obstacles have been removed and the trade has found successful ways to solve strategic issues concerning product development and marketing, there are still important structural shortcomings that might decrease the profitability and endanger the future development of the trade. There is a lack of experience and infrastructure to solve more complex problems like animal health and the potential risks related to the consumption of unpasteurized cheese and the increasing incidence of Tick-Borne Encephalitis (TBE).

Population genetic structure of crucian carp (Carassius carassius) in man-made ponds and wild populations in Sweden

Although once popular prior to the last century, the aquaculture of crucian carp Carassius carassius (L. 1758) in Sweden gradually fell from favour. This is the first genetic comparison of crucian carp from historic man-made ponds in the Scandinavian Peninsula. The aim was to identify old populations without admixture and to compare the relationship of pond populations from different provinces in Sweden. In total, nine microsatellite loci from 234 individuals from 20 locations in varied parts of Sweden were analysed. The genetic distances of crucian carp populations indicated that the populations in the southernmost province of Sweden, Scania, shared a common history. A pond population in the province Småland also showed a common inheritance with this group. In the province Uppland, further north in Sweden, the population genetic distances suggested a much more complex history of crucian carp distributions in the ponds. The data showed that there are some ponds with potentially old populations without admixture, but also that several ponds might have been stocked with fish from many sources.

The role of horse keeping in transforming peri-urban landscapes: A case study from metropolitan Stockholm, Sweden

ABSTRACT The authors analyze sustainable cultural landscapes through the lens of ecosystem services. Their case study focuses on transformation of the peri-urban landscape of the Stockholm region, Sweden. Peri-urban landscapes are characterized by diversified and fragmented land uses that are strongly related to urban lifestyles. The rapidly increasing trend for recreational horse keeping is replacing traditional agriculture. Horse keepers’ and local government perspectives on horse keeping are examined, as well as the related demand for ecosystem services, which affects the landscape. The article is based on government documents, interviews with local government officials, and field visits to 16 horse-keeping facilities in two municipalities. Horse keeping was found important for sustaining cultural ecosystem services related to a rural cultural landscape and for maintaining traditional agriculture that provides provisioning ecosystem services. However, several differences between traditional agriculture and horse keeping that affect the demand for ecosystem services related to land use were found to shift the focus from provisioning services to recreational services. The authors conclude that horse keeping, as an emerging crosscutting issue in peri-urban landscapes, needs new more integrative planning processes that account for the full range of ecosystem services and links between cultural services and ecosystem functioning.

Community gardening in Stockholm : participation, driving forces and the role of the municipality

The paper reports on a study of community gardening in Stockholm. We contribute to the body of knowledge about the sustainability of community gardens and this new form of citizen-led initiatives i ...

Swedish Fishing in the Wake of ITQ

In recent years, Sweden has managed its fisheries in line with the analysis made by the European Commission: overcapacity is persistent and only a few fleet segments have a level of income that can provide acceptable wages and scope for investment. An ITQ system was put in place in pelagic fisheries in the autumn of 2009. The chapter analyses the effects of the introduction of ITQ in Sweden. The introduction of the ITQs in the pelagic fishery led to a rationalization of the fleet, which, at first glance, has meant a more profitable pelagic fishery, with less black money (Wramner, Professor emeritus environmental science and former director of the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management. Interview, 2013 09 02, 2013) in the fishery. However, not all of the catch fisheries have been placed under ITQ, and this has produced unintended effects. First mover advantages and forms of concentration and expansion have been stimulated in a skewed fashion. The system is inflexible when it comes to making markets for by-catch, and hinders the recruitment of young fishers into the industry. It has also led to displacement of Swedish pelagic fishers into coastal demersal fishing or overseas fisheries, and to the sale of boats to owners who are now active in cod fishing or in the shrimp fishery. As a result, there is now overcapacity, poor profitability, and catch dumping in the Swedish shrimp fisheries and perhaps in Sweden’s Baltic Sea cod fishery.

Kalixlöjrom - an institutional analysis of the application and implementation of Sweden's first PDO

The use and implementation of Geographical Indications (GI) is a wellestablished practice in most EU countries. Previous studies show thatthe use of PDOs and PGIs is directly related to previous ex ...