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Sustainable food produc2on in Sweden – to grow and eat from perennial intercropping systems Results from a par2cipatory learning and ac2on research project, 2012 - 2016 Main project aims were to provide prac-cal and theore-cal knowledge for the development of agroforestry systems in agricultural and subsistence farming and iden-fy types of systems that could provide important contribu-ons, as well as relevant combina-ons of species and varie-es to be included. Study sites & methods: One of the systems studied was edible forest gardens. Thirteen research sites (60 m 2 ) with a common three dimensional design have been established. The research group comprised 13 smallholders and two researchers with exper-se in environmental science and in par-cipatory methodologies. Findings Edible forest gardens were found to work well on marginal lands Harvest from perennials was small and the level of ground cover low the first year of establishment, while annuals would easily be included From year three in the establishment "salads" from perennial leafy vegetables were available throughout the growing season In the Swedish climate an edible forest garden may not fully provide the bulk of energy, proteins and carbohydrates needed in a diet Conclusion The main benefits is produc-on of vitamins and minerals in mul-ple layers with low levels of inputs, while at the same -me increasing the amount of trees and bushes in the agri-cultural landscape contribu-ng to genera-on of ecosystem services For forest gardens to give serious contribu-on to food produc-on scaling issues without losing crucial ecosystem services will be of special concern Small-scale machinery for management and harvest need to be developed Availability of plants and useful varie-es for edible forest gardens in temperate will be important More knowledge about harvest poten-al and nutri-onal values of different plants and varie-es will be needed Strata Plants Medium to large canopy trees (> 10 m) alder (Alnus glutinosa) Small trees and large shrubs (4<9 m) apple trees (Malus domestica) and hazelnut (Corylus avellana) Shrubs (<3m) Siberian pea tree (Caragana arborescens), silverberry (Elaeagnus commutata), buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides), saskatoon (Amelanchier anifolia), dwarf quince (Chaenomeles japonica) Herbaceous perennials (< 3m) garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata), mentha (Mentha spp.), mallow (Malva spp.) and comfrey (Symphytum uplandica), daylilies (Hemerocallis spp.), anise hyssop (Agastache Foeniculum), sweet cicely (Myrrhis odorata), oregano (Origanun vulgare), good king Henry (Chenopodium bonusChenricus) Climbers vines (Vitis vinifera), Caucasian spinach (Hablitzia tamnoides), arctic kiwi (Actinida kolomikta), blackberry (Rubus laciniatus) Ground cover plants and creepers strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) and wild strawberry (Fragaria vesca), Welsh onion (Allium fistulosum) Underground layer common bistort (Bistorta major Gray) Permanent sampling points, inside and outside of the research site, were established the year of planta-on (2013). Ini-al vegeta-on and basic soil parameters were documented. In- and outputs, labour hours, photographic documenta-on at permanent point at set dates and a diary with nota-ons on important observa-ons were recorded. All experiences have been well discussed in the group and conclusions drawn together. Caucasian spinach (Hablitzia tamnoides) Good king Henry (Chenopodium bonus-henricus) Contact: Johanna Björklund, School of Science and Technology, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden [email protected] Karin Eksvärd, Inspire AcLon Research AB, Knivsta, Sweden, [email protected] ChrisLna Schaffer: Department of Physical Geography and Quaternary Geology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden, chrisLna.schaff[email protected] Hazelnut (Corylus avellana) Saskatoon (Amelanchier anifolia) Daylilies (Hemerocallis spp.) Sweet cicely (Myrrhis odorata) Photo: Johanna Björklund Photo: Esbjörn Wandt Photo Annika Korhonen Photo: Johanna Björklund Photo: Johanna Björklund Photo: Johanna Björklund Photo odla.nu Photo odla.n Photo Anna-Lena Anderberg

Sustainable food produc2on in Sweden – to grow …...edible forest gardens. Thirteen research sites (60 m2) with a common three dimensional design have been established. The research

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Sustainablefoodproduc2oninSweden–togrowandeatfromperennialintercroppingsystems

Resultsfromapar2cipatorylearningandac2onresearchproject,2012-2016

Mainprojectaimsweretoprovideprac-calandtheore-calknowledgeforthedevelopmentofagroforestrysystemsinagriculturalandsubsistencefarmingandiden-fytypesofsystemsthatcouldprovideimportantcontribu-ons,aswellasrelevantcombina-onsofspeciesandvarie-estobeincluded.

Study sites&methods:One of the systems studiedwasedibleforestgardens.Thirteenresearchsites(60m2)witha common three dimensional design have beenestablished.

Theresearchgroupcomprised13smallholdersandtworesearcherswithexper-seinenvironmentalscienceandinpar-cipatorymethodologies.

Findings•  Edible forest gardenswere found toworkwell on

marginallands•  Harvestfromperennialswassmallandthelevelof

ground cover low the first year of establishment,whileannualswouldeasilybeincluded

•  Fromyearthreeintheestablishment"salads"fromperennial leafy vegetables were availablethroughoutthegrowingseason

•  IntheSwedishclimateanedibleforestgardenmaynot fully provide the bulk of energy, proteins andcarbohydratesneededinadiet

Conclusion•  The main benefits is produc-on of vitamins and

mineralsinmul-plelayerswithlowlevelsofinputs,while at the same -me increasing the amount oftrees and bushes in the agri-cultural landscapecontribu-ngtogenera-onofecosystemservices

•  For forest gardens to give serious contribu-on tofood produc-on scaling issues without losingcrucial ecosystem services will be of specialconcern

•  Small-scale machinery for management andharvestneedtobedeveloped

•  Availabilityofplantsandusefulvarie-esforedibleforestgardensintemperatewillbeimportant

•  More knowledge about harvest poten-al andnutri-onal values of different plants and varie-eswillbeneeded

Strata% Plants%Medium'to'large'canopy'trees'(>'10'm)'' alder'(Alnus&glutinosa)'Small'trees'and'large'shrubs'(4<9'm)' apple'trees'(Malus&domestica)'and'

hazelnut'(Corylus&avellana)'Shrubs'(<3m)' Siberian'pea'tree'(Caragana&arborescens),'

silverberry'(Elaeagnus&commutata),'buckthorn'(Hippophae&rhamnoides),'saskatoon'(Amelanchier&anifolia),'dwarf'quince'(Chaenomeles&japonica)'

Herbaceous'perennials'(<'3m)' garlic'mustard'(Alliaria&petiolata),'mentha'(Mentha&spp.),'mallow'(Malva&spp.)&and'comfrey'(Symphytum&uplandica),'daylilies'(Hemerocallis&spp.),!anise'hyssop&(Agastache&Foeniculum),'sweet'cicely'(Myrrhis&odorata),'oregano!(Origanun&vulgare),'good'king'Henry'(Chenopodium&bonusChenricus)'

Climbers' vines'(Vitis&vinifera),'Caucasian'spinach'(Hablitzia&tamnoides),'arctic'kiwi'(Actinida&kolomikta),'blackberry'(Rubus&laciniatus)'

Ground'cover'plants'and'creepers' strawberry'(Fragaria&×&ananassa)&and'wild'strawberry'(Fragaria&vesca),'Welsh'onion'(Allium&fistulosum)''

Underground'layer' common'bistort'(Bistorta&major&Gray)''

Permanent sampling points, inside and outside of theresearchsite,wereestablishedtheyearofplanta-on(2013).Ini-al vegeta-on and basic soil parameters weredocumented. In- and outputs, labour hours, photographicdocumenta-onatpermanentpointatsetdatesandadiarywithnota-onsonimportantobserva-onswererecorded.All experiences have beenwell discussed in the group andconclusionsdrawntogether.

Caucasianspinach(Hablitziatamnoides)

GoodkingHenry(Chenopodiumbonus-henricus)

Contact:JohannaBjörklund,SchoolofScienceandTechnology,ÖrebroUniversity,Örebro,[email protected]ärd,InspireAcLonResearchAB,Knivsta,Sweden,[email protected]:DepartmentofPhysicalGeographyandQuaternaryGeology,StockholmUniversity,Stockholm,Sweden,[email protected]

Hazelnut(Corylusavellana)

Saskatoon(Amelanchieranifolia)

Daylilies(Hemerocallisspp.)

Sweetcicely(Myrrhisodorata)

Photo:JohannaBjörklund Photo:EsbjörnWandt

PhotoAnnikaKorhonen

Photo:JohannaBjörklund

Photo:JohannaBjörklund

Photo:JohannaBjörklund

Photoodla.nu

Photoodla.nu

PhotoAnna-LenaAnderberg