Reija Hietala

Localisation of primary food production in Finland: production potential and environmental impacts of food consumption patterns

The potential for and environmental consequences of localising primary production of food were investigated by considering different food consumption patterns, based on conventional and organic production. Environmental impact was assessed according to agricultural land use and numbers of production animals, both of which depend on food consumption. The results were quantified in terms of nutrient balances, greenhouse gas and acid emissions and the diversity of crop cultivation, which indicate eutrophication of watersheds, climate change and landscape changes, respectively. The study region was able to satisfy its own needs for all farming and food consumption scenarios. Dietary choice had a marked impact on agricultural land use and on the environmental parameters considered. Organic farming for local food production resulted in higher greenhouse gas emissions. Compared with mixed diets, the vegetarian diet was associated with lower emissions and nutrient surpluses, but also with reduced crop diversity. The arable areas allocated to leys and pastures were also smaller. The study area represents a predominantly rural region and is a net exporter of agricultural produce. Therefore, only part of the environmental impact of food production results from local needs. Both the differences among the dietary options and the overall environmental benefit of localised primary food production were greatly reduced when considering total agricultural production of the region. Much of the negative impact of agriculture is due to food consumption in the densely populated urban areas, but the consequences are mainly felt in the production areas. The environmental impacts of localisation of primary food production for the rural areas are small and inconsistent. The results indicate the importance of defining ‘local’ on a regional basis and including the urban food sinks in impact assessment.

Systems frame for multidisciplinary study on sustainability of localising food

The local, as opposed to global, food system refers to the idea of achieving food equitability, access, security, responsibility and environmental stewardship by means of localising food. We studied the effects and learning challenges of localising the food system at municipal and provincial scales in a Finnish case. In our multidisciplinary project, we developed a conceptual system model to facilitate interdisciplinary communication and integration. In the model, a food system was divided into the economic, the biophysical and, as the link between these two, the learning subsystems. The model and our disciplinary results from case studies within each of the subsystems are described. The theories and methods in analysing environmental and socioeconomic impacts of, and learning challenges for, localising the food system are discussed. Our experience gives support to foodshed thinking: it is essential to include both the rural source and the urban sink areas in a food system.

Introduction: Livelihood Security in Changing Socio-Economic Environment in Himachal Pradesh

Livelihood security refers to the means of living necessary for human life both at the local level and in relation to the rest of the world. In the Himachal Pradesh region in India, the issues that are relevant in this context range from nutrition and agricultural production to the vigour of various types of ecosystem services. This book is based on a 3 years long research project, and addresses some primary aspects of livelihoods; i.e., land use practices among different natural resources, food production, income distribution, and community participation in the selected areas of the study region. The research mainly focuses on three principal themes: the roles of the changing agricultural production, the impacts of tree plantations, and the socio-economic impacts of tourism and other external actors (particularly NGOs) in the management of achieving livelihood security.

Livelihood Security in Northwestern Himalaya

Livelihood Security in Cross-Cultural and Cross-Sectoral Perspectives.- Climate Change and Livelihood Security.- Glaciers and Livelihood Security.- Land Use and Cover Change.- Ecological Footprint Analysis of Dharamshala.- Medicinal Plants - Health Security.- Tourism and Urban Waste Management.- Livelihood Security in Agriculture and Forest Sectors.- Ecosystem Services in a Watershed.- Shifting from food to cash crops.- GM issue in agricultural production.- Changing diets in a changing society.- Ch Newcomers and their livelihood security.- The role of NGOs in regional development.- Challenges of greening the Himalayas through the Clean Development Mechanism: experiences from Himachal Pradesh.- Livelihood Security in Different Agro-Ecological Environments.- Livelihood Security in Changing Socio-Economic Environment: Recommendations for Academic Communities, Policy Makers and Community Groups.

Nearby Nature and Experiential Farming: How are their Roles Perceived within the Rural–Urban Fringe?

Abstract This paper presents the preferences of residents towards green areas and, in particular, for agricultural environments in Vantaa City, southern Finland. The study area includes three growing suburbs and farming land immediately adjacent to the city centre. During the study period, new residential areas in the fringe area, combined with a simultaneous build-up of the road network, resulted in fragmentation and increased land use diversity. We found that the farming land at the fringe of the city had a greater recreational role than its basic function linked to either food or fodder production. Visual mapping of pleasant places proved the importance of public traditional farms and that preserved nature areas were preferred more than constructed parks for residents living in the urban fringe. This suggests that an emphasis in careful urban land use policy might be placed more upon the maintenance of natural areas that remain unchanged.

A methodological Markov-CA projection of the greening agricultural landscape—a case study from 2005 to 2017 in southwestern Finland

The aim of the reformed EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) 2014–2020 is to enhance greening via an ecological focus area, arable crop diversification, and the maintenance of permanent grasslands. This study tests the greening process in the case of agricultural landscape in southwestern Finland by projecting land use between 2005 and 2017. The study method integrates the quantitative results of Markov chains and spatial features of a cellular automata model. Initially, land use change was recognized by appropriate metrics. The trend of greening following the CAP policy indicated that permanent grassland patches were more persistent with forest patches than agricultural land that lost its vegetated strips to neighboring land use patches. The modeling approach was demonstrated to provide acceptable performance when used as a spatial assessment tool for observing critical patch level changes reflecting the greening agricultural policy.

Livelihood Security in Changing Socio-Economic Environment: Summary and Policy Recommendations

The present study identifies and analyses the environmental and socio-economic impacts on the livelihoods in urban and rural settings of the mountainous state of Himachal Pradesh. The findings deal with the broader objectives of the changing patterns of agricultural production with special reference to diversification, as well as forest-based livelihood outcomes, Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) forest project activities, the roles of different ethnic groups and non-governmental organizations, and the benefits and shortcomings of tourism as a livelihood source. The research suggests that for better agricultural performance and improved land productivity; irrigational facilities need to be strengthened, an overall governmental programme for supporting the farmers of small land holdings should secure the farmers’ livelihood utilities and stop the process of scattered land transforming into wasteland, also the monkey menace shall be controlled. Moreover, the forestry CDM projects have been found to involve several financial, ecological, and social challenges which should be urgently recognized, and the conditions of the plantations and the impacts the projects have on livelihood properly and continuously followed by an independent monitoring agency in Himachal Pradesh, and in the other areas as well. The role of the NGOs is acknowledged due to their operations in health and social sector, and the fact that they concentrate on the very poorest and the most marginalized people. A qualitative improvement in the educational system with more emphasis on female technical and vocational education for self-employment generation is strongly suggested.