The western perspective

Abstract

Swedish institutes and organizations established agricultural research and development projects in the Baltic Sea region already in 1991. Activities have mainly been performed by the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), the Federation of Swedish Farmers (LRF), the Swedish Institute of Agricultural Engineering (JTI), and Agricultural Societies in Sweden. The main financiers have been BITS, Sida and the Swedish Institute. In research cooperation, NOVABA has played an important role. NOVABA is the organization for cooperation between the Nordic and Baltic agricultural universities in the above-mentioned sector. Experience has shown that all projects must have a comprehensive view. Economic, environmental, social and cultural aspects must be observed simultaneously. The goals and ambitions for the environmental sector will probably fait if they are not followed-up by economic development. The major economic problem to be solved in the Baltic republics, Russia and Poland is how to stimulate privately owned farms, in order to attain sustainable agriculture. In this process local mobilization, business planning, local cooperation, and production combinations are key concepts.