UNHIDE Agroforestry - A Knowledge Exchange Latvia- Sweden 2023-25 - Report - Page 6
To celebrate the summer solstice, men wear wreaths of
oak leaves and women of linden leaves. Painting at the
Skrīveri Agricultural Institute.
person, illustrated with the famous photorealistic
painting “Will you become profitable, little,friend?” by Peter Tillberg from 1970 (Swedish
Museum of Modern Art). It depicts a colorless
elementary school classroom in Sweden, with
students in straight rows of tables. The painting
was a contribution to a larger debate about the
impoverishment of the Swedish countryside after
the “efficiency transformation” of society that was
at the time underway.
that system is inferior in today’s economic competition?
Meanwhile, habits and beliefs are deep rooted,
and the old-school industrial efficiency persists as
a leading ideal at agricultural universities and institutions, as it fits better into yesterday’s economic
model. While climate change increasingly challenges farmers to partner with nature’s ability to
create balance, trees on farm land are still considered tabu. Arguing for example that “trees provide
a reliable hydrology regulation in agriculture” is
still met with skepticism, while demanding more
covered drainage ditches in response to heavier
rain falls remains status quo.
To conclude, our perception of future landscapes
is not solely agroforestry, but a myriad of solutions inspired by the vitality that food forests and
woodland pastures provide.
But, wouldn’t a cost-benefit analysis of a completely independent food system be rational? - Even if
4. CONCLUSION
LIVESTOCK AND TREE
CROPS INSTEAD OF
EMERGENCY STOCK
