Finland on the right path to the future reindeer husbandry
Reindeer husbandry in Finland is on the right track. Conservation of biodiversity, different interests in land use and sustainable, future reindeer pasturing – everything is included in the plan that a working group has put together. This was presented and discussed at a webinar arranged by NKJ on Tuesday 9 May.
Svensk text längre ner
Sirviö Tapani, chairman of the working group, was the first speaker at the webinar. He spoke about the goal of the working group to bring together authorities, reindeer husbandry practitioners, researchers and nature conservation organizations to take part in a dialogue. It turned out to be a fruitful dialogue, that resulted in eight goals for the future.
The eight goals were presented on the webinar by Sirpa Rasmus, the reporting secretary in the working group.
1 The first point deals with the reindeer grazing species-specific management and utilization plans for the reindeer pastures that have been developed, that are being tested in pilot trials in 2023. The working group suggests listening to the experiences from the trials, and proceeding with the plans as they are formulated today. A reduction in the number of reindeer by 7% is considered by the working group to be sufficient to prevent grazing pressure from becoming too heavy.
2 The working group believe it is important to develop a producer organization in order to strengthen the bargaining power of reindeer husbandry on the market, and thereby increase the possibilities for good profitability.
3 Climate change affects reindeer husbandry. The legislation that provides compensation for losses in connection with extreme weather needs to be developed, as well as the industry’s own tools to reduce the effects of weather- and environmental conditions, as well as animal diseases.
4 Today’s price and operational support should be changed to a support that is not linked to production volume, to become an income transfer for the producer. This needs to be further investigated and a new system introduced by way of a transition period.
5 Reindeer herding is a living part of the cultural heritage of the local communities in the reindeer herding area, and is strongly linked to the language and other culture of the indigenous people. The proposal is to investigate through research whether the current support system fulfills its purpose.
6 A foundation could function as a tool to simultaneously secure the reindeer’s habitat and maintain and strengthen a diverse mountain nature. The two interests often coincide.
7 Land use issues become more and more tangible and create conflicts. Therefore, active work must be done to create dialogue between the parties that are affected.
8 Monitoring and observation systems are important for reindeer husbandry to be able to adapt to new conditions.
Another issue touched upon by the working group is predator management. This was also an issue that was raised in the discussion by the participants of the webinar. The working group thinks it is necessary to find models for how to avoid predator damage to reindeer, while following the plans for the management of the predator tribes that exist. Reindeer management, land use, but also the examination of the damage and the estimation of the predator strains can be developed in this respect.
Sirpa Rasmus presentation
Svensk text
Rennäringen i Finland är på rätt väg. Bevarande av den biologiska mångfalden, olika intressen av markanvändning och ett hållbart, framtida renbete – allt ryms i planen som en arbetsgrupp har lagt upp. Detta framkom vid ett webbinarium arrangerat av NKJ tisdagen 9 maj.
Sirviö Tapani, ordförande för arbetsgruppen, inledde webbinariet genom att berätta om hur arbetsgruppen har velat sammanföra myndigheter, rennäring, forskare och naturvårdsorganisationer i en dialog. Det blev en fruktbar dialog, som också ledde arbetsgruppen fram till åtta mål för framtiden.
De åtta målen presenterades på webbinariet av Sirpa Rasmus, rapporteringssekreterare i arbetsgruppen.
1 Den första punkten handlar om de renbeteslagsspecifika skötsel- och nyttjandeplaner för renbetesmarkerna som tagits fram, och också testas i pilotförsök under 2023. Arbetsgruppen föreslår att man lyssnar till erfarenheterna från försöken, och går vidare med planerna så som de är formulerade idag. En minskning av antalet renar med 7% anser arbetsgruppen räcker för att betestrycket inte ska bli för stort.
2 Arbetsgruppen tycker att det är viktigt att utveckla en producentorganisation för att stärka rennäringens förhandlingskraft på marknaden, och därmed öka möjligheterna för en god lönsamhet.
3 Klimatförändringarna påverkar rennäringen. Lagstiftningen som ger ersättning vid förluster i samband med extremt väder behöver utvecklas, liksom näringen egna verktyg för att minska effekterna av väder- och naturförhållanden och djursjukdomar.
4 Dagens pris- och insatsstöd bör förändras till ett stöd som inte är kopplat till produktionen, för att bli en inkomst för producenten. Detta behöver utredas och ett nytt system införas via en övergångsperiod.
5 Renskötseln är en levande del av lokalsamfundens kulturarv i renskötselområdet, och är starkt kopplad till ursprungsfolkets språk och övriga kultur. Förslaget är att genom forskning utreda om det nuvarande stödsystemet fyller sitt syfte.
6 En stiftelse skulle kunna fungera som ett verktyg för att samtidigt trygga renarnas livsrum och upprätthålla och stärka en mångsidig fjällnatur. De båda intressena sammanfaller ofta.
7 Markanvändningsfrågor blir mer och mer påtagliga och skapar konflikter. Därför måste ett aktivt arbete göras för att skapa dialog mellan de parter som påverkas.
8 Övervaknings- och observationssystem är viktiga för att rennäringen ska kunna anpassa sig till nya förhållanden.
En annan fråga som berörts av arbetsgruppen är rovdjurshanteringen. Det var också en fråga som deltagarna på webbinariet tog upp till diskussion. Arbetsgruppen tycker att det är nödvändigt att hitta modeller för hur rovdjursskador på ren ska undvikas, samtidigt som man följer de planer för hanteringen av rovdjursstammarna som finns. Renskötseln, markanvändningen, men också granskningen av skadorna och uppskattningen av rovdjursstammarna kan utvecklas i det här avseendet.
Webinar: Towards a profitable, sustainable and culturally significant reindeer husbandry in Finland
Join the webinar “Towards a profitable, sustainable and culturally significant reindeer husbandry in Finland” 9th of May! The webinar is based on a recently published report with the same name.
At the end of 2021, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry in Finland appointed a multi-stakeholder working group: “Future of reindeer husbandry”. The group’s task was to prepare operating models for the management and use of reindeer pastures for each co-ops, as well as to assess other development needs for reindeer husbandry in Finland. The working group presented its proposals and recommendations in the final report (scroll to the bottom of the page to download) on February 28, 2023.The webinar, that will be arranged on Teams, gives you the opportunity to hear a short introduction to the report by the working group’s chairman Tapani Sirviö (Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry) and one of the research representatives, Sirpa Rasmus (University of Lapland). The report proposes some measures and recommendations that will also be presented. The participants will then be involved in a discussion based on the report.
Agenda
1. Background for the work and working method
2. Measures and recommendations proposed by the working group
3. Discussion
Register via mail to nkj@slu.se. Write that you want to register for the “Towards a profitable, sustainable and culturally significant reindeer husbandry in Finland” webinar, your name and email.
Deadline: The link to the Teams meeting will be sent out to registered participants May 8th, so NKJ needs your registration at the latest May 8th at 12.00 AM!
NKJ report on challenges for reindeer husbandry in the Nordic region
Recently, NKJ arranged a conference on challenges for reindeer husbandry in the Nordic region. The conclusions from the conference and an overall view of the state of reindeer husbandry in the Nordic countries are now available in a report.
The topic of the 2022 conference was challenges to reindeer husbandry, in particular the impact of predators, as well as consequences of a changing climate in Sweden, Finland and Norway. The conference contained four parts: Part 1: Loss of reindeer to predators, Part 2: Governance, Part 3: Ongoing research projects and Part 4: Reindeer husbandry in a changing climate. The report gives a summary of the presentations and discussions in each part.
The report also gives a long list of key take-aways from the conference. The importance of synthesis between traditional and scientific knowledge is one of the twelve points in the list. Download the report (below) to see all of the messages the participating researchers, authorities, organisations and stakeholders underline.
The Nordic Conference on Reindeer Husbandry was arranged 9-10 November 2022 at NIBIO Svanhovd, Pasvik, Norway.
OPEN CALL: soil health and agroecology
Soil health is fundamental for a sustainable agriculture. Even more so in a future with a warmer climate. Therefore, NKJ announces funding for networks that can bring the issue to the future.
You can apply for funding for networking activities for researchers and stakeholders in soil health and agroecology. NKJ will fund networks for two years with at most 300.000 SEK. Network grants are from August 2023 to April 2025.
Apply at the latest April 1st – you are welcome with your application today!
The focus area of this call is soil health and agroecology connected to living labs and the upcoming call in Horizon Europe. Living labs are research and innovation arenas which are user-centred, place-based and transdisciplinary. The involvement of partners from research, farming, forestry etc., policy makers and other stakeholders will ensure the co-design of systemic research, testing, monitoring, evaluation, adoption and spreading of solutions.
The aim of the call is to promote Nordic collaboration between researchers from agricultural and food sectors by networking activities including workshops, conferences and seminars. Transdisciplinary networks between researchers and stakeholders are encouraged.
NKJ networks should include applicants from research institutions from at least three different countries in the Nordic region. Stakeholders are encouraged to participate but cannot be the main applicant. PhD students and young researchers should be included in the network.
Men and women must be represented by a minimum of 40% each of the participants in the network. NKJ also encourages persons with other gender orientations to participate.
Call text with all information you need (Word)
The purpose of NKJ networking:
- Facilitate collaboration between researchers in the Nordic countries by networking activities.
- Interlink research projects initiated in the Nordic region
- Increase synergies in agriculture and food sector research in the Nordic countries
- Bridge gaps between research and practice.
- Encourage Nordic researchers and institutions to apply for funding from larger funds like e.g. Horizon Europe.
PhD course in Aarhus: “Applied methods in crop physiology”
The NKJ funded network NordCrop will arrange a new PhD course in March. The focus will be applied methods in crop physiology.
The aim of the course is to provide an introduction to measurements of plant processes. The students should after the course be able to select and develop suitable methods for measuring and analysing data in their PhD work. The course will provide smoking hot knowledge and an overview of the current status of physiological measurement problems. Both new and emerging technologies will be presented.
The week will contain both lectures and hands on practice.
The course will be held in English. Requirements are relevant courses in crop physiology from MSc level.
The dates are 27-31 March 2023. Read more and registration here (at the latest Febr 1st).
Concrete tools for checking the health of soil
Researchers have gathered science based information from different Nordic countries in a manual on how to check out the health of soil with low-tech methods, readily available and easy to use for farmers and others. The researchers also provide strategies for improving soil health.
During 2021-2022 researchers gathered in the network “Nordic Network on soil health” (NetSH). They shared research, knowledge and experiences on how to improve and sustain soil health in Nordic agricultural soils. They shared the most relevant low-tech methods for evaluating soil health with each other and in workshops.
Healthy soil functions are important for healthy soil-plant ecosystems on the farms, so strategies for farmers to improve and sustain soil functions, soil structure and soil biology have been in focus.
NetSH also held an open webinar, “Soil health in the Nordic region”, that gained a lot of attention with 130 participants. In addition to this, there were two online meetings and one on-soil workshop arranged by the network.
Photo: Reidun Pommeresche, NORSØK
MANUALS: How to check your soil?
Methods to evaluate soil health on farms has been demonstrated to make them available to as many as possible. Assessment of soil structure, soil compaction, root growth and soil biology has been discussed in the network and knowledge has been exchanged.
The most important tool is the spade combined with sensory evaluations, including pressing soil clumps between your fingers to evaluate how easily they brake and checking the smell of the soil in different depths.
The manuals are available in four Nordic languages:
• Danish: Tjek jordens sundhed
• Finnish: MARA Maan rakenteen aistinvarainen arviointi (2019) – Avointen oppimateriaalien kirjasto (aoe.fi) and Peltomaan laatutesti, Microsoft Word – Peltomaan_laatutesti_Havainto_ohjeet2.doc (proagria.fi)
These methods give a high score to soils with good structure with raisin shaped (rounded and porous) soil aggregates, deep and well growing plant roots, how easily the soil clumps brake, not to hard soil pans and the presence of several pink (inside) root noodles on legume roots and some earthworms in the soil. A healthy soil should relatively fast decompose organic matter, have some dark brown to black color due to organic matter content and have a smell of different fungi, like forest soils. All these methods include focus on comparing soil samples taken with a spade and to visualize and discuss soil functions and soil health with the farmers.
Compacted soil – a common Nordic problem
In the Nordic region we all experience the most severe soil problems in vegetable and cereal production. Much of this can be linked to soil compaction, with a very hard pan (zone) just below the tillage depth. But also in grass production there are soil structural and drainage challenges. In many cereal fields and some grass fields the straw and plant residues decompose very slowly or almost not at all.
In the Nordic region the soil types range from organic (peat) agricultural soils with more than 40 % soil organic matter to different mineral soils with low content of organic matter. In some areas the content of soil organic carbon (SOC) is creeping under 1,5 % (= 3 % soil organic matter SOM) which often is highlighted as a critical lower limit to several soil functions. In our Nordic cool conditions, we discussed that the content have to be higher than this for the soil to function well.
Some strategies to improve soil health
A selection of strategies to improve soil health in the Nordic region as discussed in the Network-meetings and on the workshop is listed here. The order of the key words is not ranked.
Mineral soil:
How to improve soil biology? Input of plant residues and other organic material, better crop rotations and plant diversity, enough water and oxygen in the soil, increase the content of SOM if it is very low.
How to improve aggregate stability? Ley (grass/clover) in the crop rotation, green plants most of the year, use of animal manure and compost, and liming with limestone or natural gypsum.
How to avoid soil compaction and improve soil structure? Lowering tire load and tire pressure and not driving on wet soil. Use a mixture of cover crops, sub crop in cereal and when deep tillage is used, sow plants immediately.
How to improve the decomposition rate of straw and plant residues in the soil? Cover crops, cut the material before incorporation, check for drainage problems. Oxygen and gas exchange very important for decomposition. Improve soil structure.
How to loosen a hard ploughing pan? Crop rotation + mechanically subsoiling, alfa alfa 2 years and animal manure/sludge.
Peaty soil:
In agricultural organic (peat) soil the aim should be to reduce carbon losses, instead of trying to increase the carbon content. Improve the soil structure from above, not plowing organic material to deep.
Let the spade become your friend
The Nordic farmer should use the spade to check their soils and a more diverse crop rotation as a start to improve soil health. Focus on soil structure and year around green plant cover will be useful in a future with a more unstable climate, with more heavy rains and droughts.
Contact
Network – Sustain Nordic soil health (NetSH)
Reidun Pommeresche, Norwegian Centre for Organic Agriculture (NORSØK) reidun.pommeresche@norsok.no
Lars J. Munkholm (m), Aarhus University lars.munkholm@agro.au.dk
Sari Iivonen (f), FORI/Luke, (Finnish Organic Research Institute under Luke) sari.iivonen@luke.fi
Eva Salomon (f), RISE (Research Institute of Sweden) eva.salomon@ri.se
Join the webinar on sustainable food systems
The NKJ funded network “The role of Nordic research in transition to sustainable agro-marine food systems” is arranging a webinar on sustainable food systems January 24, 2023.
The webinar is entitled “How do Nordic research institutions approach sustainability in the food systems? Experiences from research and education”. It aims to start an interdisciplinary, multi-stakeholder dialogue among the partner universities and other relevant institutions on the role of Nordic research in transition to sustainable agro-marine food systems. The seven Nordic universities will share their experiences and practices. Discussion and comments are welcome!
Invitation 1 (QR code for registration)
Agenda:
13.00-13.05 Welcoming by Sami Kurki, Director of Ruralia Institute, University of Helsinki
13.05-13.12 Short introduction by the Jonathan Eng, Nordic Council, moderator
13.12-13.20 Short speech by NKJ secretariat
13.20-13.30 Aarhus University
13.30-13.40 Agricultural University of Iceland
13.40-13.50 University of Faroe Islands
13.50-14.00 University of Iceland
14.00-14.10 Ruralia Institute
14.10-14.20 SIFO OSLOMET
14.20-14.30 SLU
13.20-13.30 Aarhus University
13.30-13.40 Agricultural University of Iceland
13.40-13.50 University of Faroe Islands
13.50-14.00 University of Iceland
14.00-14.10 Ruralia Institute
14.10-14.20 SIFO OSLOMET
14.20-14.30 SLU
14.30-14.40 Video with interviews to the master/PhD students
14.40-15.00 Launch of the Linkedin page Nordic Academia for Sustainable
Contact
The Nordic conference on reindeer husbandry 2022
The Nordic Conference on Reindeer Husbandry 9-10 November 2022 was held at NIBIO Svanhovd, Pasvik, Norway.
Scroll down for video and photos
The topic of the 2022 conference was challenges to reindeer husbandry, in particular the impact of predators, as well as consequences of a changing climate in Sweden, Finland and Norway. The first day of the conference focused on current status, policy and governance on predators, and the second day focused on issues connected to climate change.
Find the speakers and their presentations in the outline of the program below:
Part 1 Loss of reindeer to predators
Keynote: “Main challenges”
Click on title/name for PowerPoint presentation, click on VIDEO for filmed presentation
• Paliskuntain yhdistys/Reindeer Herders Association Finland – Sanna Hast VIDEO
• Svenska samernas riksförbund/Reindeer herders organisation Sweden – Matti Blind Berg VIDEO
• Norske Reindriftsamers Landsforbund/Reindeer herders organisation Norway – Leif Anders Somby VIDEO
Status and consequences of loss – development within the Nordic countries
“Tap av reinsdyr i de Nordiske landene – status og konsekvenser for næringen” – Svein Morten Eilertsen (NIBIO) VIDEO
Stocks, management and monitoring of stocks
“Large carnivores in reindeer herding districts” – Ilpo Kojola (Luke) VIDEO
Part 2 Governance
Keynote: “Measures to reduce loss”
• Ministry of Environment, NO – Torbjørn Lange VIDEO
• Sami Parliament, SE – Ander-Erling Fjällås VIDEO
Compensation for loss – comparative perspective
”Economic-Ecological System Analysis of the Costs of Predation and Difficult Winter Conditions on Reindeer Husbandry” – Antti-Juhani Pekkarinen (Luke) VIDEO
Documentation of loss, use of traditional knowledge – Karen Anette Anti (NRL) VIDEO
Part 3 Ongoing research projects
“Beitenæringer og rovvilt i nord” – Snorre Hagen (NIBIO) VIDEO
“Future of reindeer husbandry – workshops in Finland; joint work of projects CHARTER, CLIMINI and POVAUS” – Sirpa Rasmus (University of Lapland) VIDEO
Part 4 Reindeer husbandry in a changing climate
Keynote: “Challenges climate change adaptation”
• Svenska samernas riksförbund/Reindeer Herders organisation Sweden – Matti Blind Berg VIDEO
• Paliskuntain yhdistys/Reindeer Herders’ Association Finland – Sanna Hast VIDEO
• Norske Reindriftsamers Landsforbund/Reindeer Herders organisation Norway – Leif Anders Somby VIDEO
Consequences of climate change
“Interconnections of climate change, reindeer husbandry and other land use” – Anna Skarin (SLU) VIDEO
“The Times They Are A-Changin’ – research trends and perspectives of reindeer pastoralism – a text mining approach” – Øystein Holand (Norges miljø-og biovitenskaplige universitet) VIDEO
“Climate change impacts on reindeer pastures” – Jutta Kapfer (NIBIO) NOT AVAILABLE
“Climate change increase the risk of facing difficult winters in reindeer herding” – Jouko Kumpula (Luke) VIDEO
“Coping strategies of herders, knowledge gaps and long-term planning needs” – Sirpa Rasmus (University of Lapland) VIDEO
“Presentation of knowledge gaps identified in the report: NIBIO Brage: Kartlegging av forskning på reindriftsområdet – kunnskapsgrunnlag og forskningsbehov”- Inger Hansen (NIBIO) VIDEO
See more of the arrangement:
NKJ ska undersöka motståndskraften mot samhälleliga kriser
Klarar vi nordbor oss om det blir kris? De nordiska samhällena har nyligen drabbats av flera större, oförutsägbara händelser med stark påverkan på viktiga samhällssystem, som till exempel stora skogsbränder, pandemi och krig i närområdet. Dessa kriser har väckt frågor om vilken beredskap som finns i samhället och hur god förmågan att hantera större störningar faktiskt är.
Kriser påverkar samhället på flera sätt. Även bioekonomin påverkas, oavsett om krisen utgörs av klimatförändringar, pandemi eller krig och konflikter.
Länder går samman för att samarbeta kring militärt försvar – nationella lösningar kan stärkas genom aktiva samarbeten mellan länder. På samma sätt behövs gemensamma strategier för till exempel försörjning.
I Norden finns redan starka kopplingar mellan länderna inom områdena skog, jordbruk, livsmedel och fisk. Det finns alltså goda förutsättningar för att öka och formalisera den gemensamma beredskapen inom Norden och därmed stärka resiliensen* i alla länderna i händelse av kris.
Nordic Agri Research (NKJ) och Nordic Forest Research (SNS) har fått i uppdrag av Nordiska Ministerrådet att undersöka och utveckla resiliensen i den nordiska bioekonomin.
Vi kommer att ställa frågor som
- Vilka är de kritiska länkarna i värdekedjorna inom den nordiska bioekonomin och hur påverkas dessa i kristider?
- Hur påverkas arbetskraft, energipriser, insatsvaror och investeringar av den osäkerhet som kriser skapar?
Det här vill vi åstadkomma:
- Ökad dialog och kunskap om resiliens i Norden
- Nordiska samarbeten och gemensamma insatser
- Policyrekommendationer för fortsatt arbete
Under maj-juni 2022 genomfördes en förstudie i form av kartläggning och analys av insatser som redan är på gång när det gäller resiliens i tider av kris i de olika nordisk länderna. Kartläggningen visar att det finns ett stort intresse för ämnet kris, resiliens och beredskap i Norden och att det pågår en rad insatser på ämnet.
Workshop för framtiden
Under november 2022 kommer NKJ och SNS att arrangera fyra workshoppar med sakkunniga för att diskutera områden som är viktiga för att stärka resiliensen i den nordiska bioekonomin.
Jordbruk: 7 nov, 9-11 CET
Livsmedel: 8 nov, 9-11 CET
Skogsbruk: 14 nov, 9-11 CET
Fiske: 15 nov, 9-11 CET
Är du expert inom något av de aktuella områdena och vill delta i att stärka den nordiska resiliensen? Anmäl dig nu! Deadline är 24 oktober.
Anmäl dig här!
*Resiliens är den långsiktiga förmågan hos ett system att hantera förändringar och fortsätta att utvecklas.