In English

“A genuine ecological alternative for a good environmental status of the Baltic Sea, mitigating adverse climate effect from agriculture and secure a sustainable and prosperous development in the region.”

A Baltic Sea Regional project applied to EU-Interreg

 

 

Background and main topics of the BERAS Implementation project

BERAS Implementation is a three year EU project (2010 – 2013) with a strong association involving all 10 countries in the Baltic Sea Region plus Norway. Within the associations there are ministries, regional and local authorities, universities and research institutes, NGO´s and the business sector.

BERAS Implementation is a genuine ecological alternative for a sustainable and prosperous development in the Baltic Sea Region. The focus of the project is to establish ecological recycling agriculture and Sustainable Food Societies in the whole region.

The project is based on practical case studies and scientific evaluations demonstrating that Ecological Recycling Agriculture (ERA) has the potential, when compared to conventional agriculture, to reduce nitrogen pollution from agriculture to the Baltic Sea by half and significantly reduce phosphorus leaching.

The objectives of the BERAS implementation

Conversion to Ecological Recycling Agriculture (ERA) without use of artificial fertilizers, imported fodder and no use of pesticides and thereby achieve a good environmental status in the Baltic Sea.

Reduce green house emissions from agriculture and food sector through low input of external resources, regional food supply and soil improvement.

Enhance rural development in the region.

The actions

Increasing market demand and introduce ecological food through initiatives “Diet for a clean Baltic” for public and private sector.

Introducing techniques and increasing competence among farmers conversion to ERA farming system.

Introducing techniques and knowledge about ERA to agriculture advisory services, authorities etc.

Developing agricultural policy instruments to overcome economic barriers for conversion and provide long term economic incentives for low input recycling agriculture in line with Polluter Pay Principle.

The project is based on practical case studies and scientific evaluations demonstrating that Ecological Recycling Agriculture (ERA) has the potential, when compared to conventional agriculture, to reduce nitrogen pollution from agriculture to the Baltic Sea by half and significantly reduce phosphorus leaching.

By connecting the ERA farms to the other actors in the whole food chain – processors, distributors and consumers – we will create fully integrated examples of local Sustainable Food Societies. These societies will be established in all partner countries.

ERA-concept:

Ecological Recycling Agriculture means production that fulfills certain recommendations. An ERA-farm should have:

  • A diverse plant rotation system ( leys with legumes etc.)
  • Balanced animal stock ( 0.5 – 0.9 animal livestock units (LU) pr. ha)
  • Self sufficiency in resources (The goal is to have more than 90% self sufficiency with fodder and manure

Diet for a clean Baltic

The aim of the project is to increase the number of ecological recycling farms. One part of the project is to create a diet, which goal is to improve the situation of Baltic Sea through environmentally friendly nutrition, based on organic agriculture. Conversion process to Ecological Recycling Agriculture will be market driven by involving the food sector in public and private sector and consumers in general under the consept of  “Diet for a clean Baltic”.

Aims
• Good, tasty and healthy food.
• Organic food –for better nutritional value as well as for lesser impact on the environment.
• Local food – to minimize the transport of food
• Food according to season – reduce cost and increases the variation in food served during the year. Living with seasons requires menus adapted to availability.
• Right balance of food – more vegetables, whole grain and less meat, chicken and pork (80% of vegetables and 20% meat).
• Reducing leftover food – actively minimize the waste of energy
through less leftovers from the kitchen and at the tables.

Finnish BERAS- cooperation restaurants are restaurant Juuri in Helsinki.

Restaurant Juuri: http://www.juuri.fi/

Sustainable food society: BERAS implementation center in Loimaa, Finland

BERAS Implementation Center (BIC) is the key concept of the project. The focus of the BIC is the sustainable agricultural system – Ecological Recycling Agriculture (ERA). By connecting the ERA farm to the other actors in the food chain – processing, distribution, and consumers – we will create fully integrated examples of sustainable food societies. These societies will also function as learning centers, example for farmers in their region and hopefully inspire other similar initiatives.

The general idea of the BIC is to establish sustainable food societies that will function and continue after the project period.

BIC Center is in cooperation and in cloce distance from Sarka –the Finnish museum of agriculture.

The professionals and consumers will benefit from the BERAS Implementation Centre; information, research and experience. You will find information related to your work about modern technology and protection of the agricultural environment that has been combined in an attractive and in economically viable way. You will find information related to ecological recycling agriculture; from the basics of  production to the plate of the consumer. The Finnish BERAS-center will start operations in Loimaa, in Heikkilä organic beef-cattle farm, in co-operation with Sarka-museum. Organic shop, Volter, in Heikkilä farm was opened in May 2012.

You can ask guided tours from Sarka museum. Organic-theme tour in the museum + guided tour in organic-Heikkilä farm, with an option to enjoy diet for a clean Baltic-lunch (or regular lunch) in the Sarka-restaurant.

Tour package: 10 euros per person. Lunch; Diet for a clean Baltic ( 22e) or regular lunch (9e)

www.sarka.fi, p. (+3582) 763 7700, info@sarka.fi

Link to Sarka museum: http://www.sarka.fi/

Link to the farm: http://www.luomu-heikkila.fi/

 

The involvement

The project has 25 partners from 10 countries and is
supported by ministries, financial institutions, NGOs
and other key stakeholders representing the whole food
chain from farmer to consumer.

Partners in Finland

MTT Agrifood Research Finland

Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment
Institute of Finnish Environment
University of Helsinki, Department of Agricultural Sciences

Questions? Contact:

leena.j.saari ( at )helsinki.fi

jukka.kivela (at )helsinki.fi

pentti.seuri ( at )mtt.fi

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