The subject area Horticultural and Agroecological Systems combines Horticultural Science and Agroecology in system-oriented studies of the resilience and sustainability of plant production for a wide range of uses, focusing on biological and ecological aspects.
It considers system performance based on the interactivities among abiotic and biotic inputs, pressures and outcomes. Outcome dimensions are (in hierarchical order) environmental impacts, food and nutrition security including food safety, ecosystem services, yield and quality.
The subject area’s activities are embedded in the OneHealth concept, specifically addressing plant stress physiology and ecological interactions with a cross-kingdom approach (from virus and microorganisms to plants and animals). Outcomes are assessed through systems analyses and multivariate statistics.
Horticultural value networks and arable cropping systems share common settings and the basis for transformation when contextualizing the research questions and outcomes.
Focus areas for sustainability enhancements of horticultural value networks include cropping systems, process management in the cultivation of food and ornamentals, pre- and post-harvest management to generate high-quality and safe products.
Arable cropping systems are characterized by crops grown on large areas for production of carbohydrates, fats, fibres and proteins, but also minor crops of high value in monetary or functional terms (e.g. enhancing ecosystem services). The sustainability of arable cropping systems is influenced by choice and diversity of crops, their management, and the resulting environmental, ecological and societal impacts. Agroecology in broad sense entails studies of the ecology of entire food systems, but in the frame of the subject area the focus is on sustainability and practical feasibility of diversified production systems. Agroecological principles of e.g. recycling, input reduction, soil health, biodiversity and synergy are applied in research in the subject area both in horticultural and agricultural plant production.
Central topics that unite Horticulture and Agroecology are biological processes and interactions, value network/value chain perspectives, resilience, sustainability, food and nutrition security. Horticulture and Agroecology provide assessment dimensions that can synergistically be applied to several established and innovative/emerging types of production systems. Both are key with respect to national crisis preparedness and contingency.
The subject area covers studies of a wide range of crops in horticultural and agricultural cropping systems, including non-plant production such as edible mushrooms, in indoor and open-field systems and under both organic and conventional/integrated management at various scales and processing levels. It considers both rural, peri-urban and urban production sites, including annual (e.g. grain legumes, vegetables) and perennial crops (e.g. leys, fruit trees and perennial
cereals) and different end-uses of the harvested products, e.g.: food, feed, ornamentals, green manure, bioenergy feedstocks. In addition to empirical investigations performed in field experiments, greenhouses and laboratories, the subject area engages in participatory research with various stakeholders, and interdisciplinary collaborations to design and assess transition pathways. Transdisciplinary and multicriteria approaches are key for identifying and suggesting actions that enhance economic, environmental and social sustainability.
The research includes studies of circularity in systems for efficient, safe and sustainable use of renewable resources, e.g. growing media, nutrients, energy. Food safety and food security are important topics, including issues around responsible use of resources and impacts of consumer behaviours (e.g. sustainable diets concepts) for sufficient and safe production of food.
The subject area performs teaching linked to its research areas and has several responsibilities at course and programme levels within the Agricultural and rural management, Horticultural engineer – cultivation, Agroecology, Food and Landscape, and Horticultural science programmes.
The subject area is also responsible for the management of field experiments at the field research station Lönnstorp.