SAFE – safe and sustainable processes in Swedish agriculture

The aim of this project is to describe and develop a deepened understanding of how agricultural entrepreneurs work to reach safe and sustainable working processes in their businesses, and by this contribute to concept development regarding how safe and sustainable processes can be developed and create sustainable competitiveness in the industry. The project is conducted in co-operation with agricultural extension services; VÄXA (co-applicant), Hushållningssällskapet Kalmar Kronoberg Blekinge, Nordlunds Utveckling AB, and agricultural entrepreneurs who actively are working with the development of their businesses. There will be both academic and practical contributions from the project. Expected results from an academic perspective are the identified safe and sustainable working processes and how these can serve as a competitive advantage in Swedish agriculture. Expected results for practice are new knowledge about safe and sustainable working processes as well as suggestions of problem solutions for agricultural entrepreneurs.

Practical, empirical, and theoretical problem with aim and research questions

The project addresses practical, empirical, and theoretical issues. The practical problem relates to the problematic situation with accidents in the agricultural industry (including smallholder forestry) together with increasing market competition. The empirical and theoretical problem can be defined through the fact that we lack research about how agricultural entrepreneurs work to integrate safe and sustainable working processes in their businesses. We also lack conceptual models for how to reach safe and sustainable working processes in the industry. Thus, we see contributions both from a practical as well as an academic point of view in the proposed research project.

The aim of this project is to describe and develop a deepened understanding of how agricultural entrepreneurs work to integrate safe and sustainable working processes in their businesses and by this contribute to concept development regarding how safe and sustainable processes can be developed and create greater competitiveness in the industry.

Research questions

1. How do agricultural entrepreneurs work to reach safe and sustainable working processes in their businesses?
2. How can agricultural entrepreneurs integrate safe and sustainable working processes in their business?
3. In what ways can safe and sustainable processes be a competitive advantage in Swedish agriculture?