Together we are best!

Danish agriculture has a long and proud tradition of cooperation, and the cooperative movement has a great deal of credit for the development of a strong value-adding agricultural sector in Denmark. Admittedly, the development of new technologies also has a part of the credit, such as the invention of the milk centrifuge, which in its time enabled a more efficient production of butter and cheese for export, and whey with necessary essential amino acids as a by-product for increased pig production, but it was first and foremost the ability to jointly use the new technological opportunities in connection with the creation of cooperative dairies and slaughterhouses that made the growth adventure possible.

Agroecology represents a scientific discipline to study and develop the possibilities of interaction between the individual components of the agricultural system, with the various technological possibilities, soil types, climatic conditions, plants, livestock, etc.; and not least man, who manages and develops the agro-ecosystem's production and balance with nature, the surrounding environment, and today the entire climate of the globe. 

Our strength at Aarhus University, and in particular the Department of Agroecology, as well as the new Faculty of Technical Sciences, is that we have expertise in virtually all components of the agricultural system, and thus can both develop and test new single technologies, and at the same time put them in context. , and involve research-based feedback from the actors and decisionmakers who individually - and collaboratively - implement the new technology in favour of more sustainable production. With our knowledge, we have every opportunity to create the backdrop for the next adventure in agriculture, whether it be the continued development of a strong ecology sector, bio based solutions with grass and other biomass for local protein and energy supply and recycling of valuable resources, or combination with new genetic engineering techniques to which the department's latest section can also contribute!

Some of the best examples of where our broad knowledge comes to the benefit of society can be found in our research-based policy support, which draws on cross-cutting knowledge, both within the institute, across institutes, and even universities. An important point here is that we are just developing research-based methods for pooling knowledge, and this is an area where we have a special potential for coordinating research projects. As a coordinator, for example, we have just won a € 7 million EU project entitled “Multi-actor and transdisciplinary development of efficient and resilient MIXED farming and agroforestry systems (MIXED)”. Here, the potentials of collaboration between production branches and synergy with new technologies are highlighted for selected production systems, in dialogue with networks of researchers and stakeholders in Denmark and a number of other European countries (see photo).

Photo: Marie (top) and Anne Grete (bottom) present to the project partners how we will bring our knowledge of life cycle analysis (LCA) and research-based development of new production systems into play in relation to the selected cases in the new EU project MIXED.

We can learn a lot by bringing our knowledge and research methods into play in relation to innovative cases, such as those studied in the MIXED project, and thus bringing important new knowledge home. But we also have an obligation to bring our knowledge into play all over the world, thereby contributing to the UN's global goal number 17 on "Partnerships for the goals", as precisely contributing to the UN's World Goal is an important part of the AU's new strategy. In several contexts, we already have close collaboration with researchers, and a wide range of stakeholders globally. This applies, among other things under the auspices of the INMS international UN project on the development of a more integrated management of the nitrogen resource, and the connection with the international government work under the auspices of the United Nations Environment Organization (UN-ECE), where we work particularly with capacity building in the countries east of the EU, but also with regard to working in Asia, and in developing countries, with our research tradition, and tradition of cross-cutting collaboration, we have special opportunities to apply. Developing such research-related collaborations should therefore be a strategic investment for us.

Graphics: United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Finally, I would also like to mention in connection with the UN that Denmark has been a leader in the formulation and accession of the rather famous Aarhus Convention, which "aims to implement the ideas of citizenship in concrete matters" and whose purpose is to "create a trusting relationship between civil society and the governments of the participating countries.” Here, projects around collaboration across research-disciplines and with the involvement of citizens are crucial. In our case, especially the stakeholders in relation to the development of sustainable food production and land management. Fortunately, especially in recent times, we have experienced some very dramatic consequences given by this convention, which entitles the citizen to "... live in an environment that is satisfactory for his or her health and well-being, guarantees each party the right to access information, public participation in decision-making and access to appeals and judicial review.” Nevertheless, the reason why we are in the intersection is precisely that the research-based knowledge, we hold is crucial to maintaining these rights, can be proud to contribute to this, and it is precisely the cross-cutting research and collaboration with key stakeholders throughout the value chain that drives the knowledge that the entire community and future generations will benefit from!

Graphics: The Aarhus Convention.