The project "Control post no 1" is an EU-project, to develop and implement courses for transport companies, veterinary inspectors and control post owners. Develop of handbook for transport companies and control post owners. The project includes demonstrations, evaluations and publications.
The project "Control post no 2" designs and develops quality criteria’s for certification/ranking of control posts. THe project includes demonstrations with the best ranked control posts and development of criteria for transport companies.
From the department: Girma Gebresenbet
Developed and improved logistics solutions are a prerequisite for local food to become more profitable forproducers and for the volumes to increase.The purpose of this project is to study the need for logistics support and to further develop customized logistics solutions for producers of locally produced food. The specific objectives of the project are to analyze the existing logistics solutions, to develop alternative concepts adapted to producer needs and to develop advice and guidelines for producers.
The project is implemented as case studies in cooperation with companies and is based on interviews, analysis using GIS and route optimization, and evaluation of transport economics and environmental impact.
The project is expected to generate new knowledge and solutions leading to industry commitment in continued development of the concept of small-scale and locally produced food with consumer confidence and improved ability to position Swedish products on the market.
Participants from the department: David Ljungberg and Ingrid Nordmark
The project "African Fruits" started in January 2012.
Supply chain management approach to minimize postharvest loss in fruits and vegetables. The project contains studies on several fruit and vegetabled like potatoes and tomatoes.
From the department: Girma Gebresenbet
The project "Europruning" started in April 2012.
Website: http://www.europruning.eu/
From the department: Girma Gebresenbet
Project "Reverse logistics in Uganda"
From the department: Joel Kinobe.
The Project "New prospects for intermodal transport in the food chain" started in 2012.
Railway transport is significantly more energy efficient than road transport. Through Sweden, large quantities of food are transported every day by truck. Shifting more of the food transport to rail could lower energy consumption as well as reduce the environmental impact. This project is based on experiences from an existing intermodal solution and analyses the possibilities to develop the intermodal transport solutions, geographically and by increasing volumes through collaboration between actors in the food chain. By sharing best practice and analysing preconditions and experiences, possibilities may open up for more actors to distribute food by rail instead of solely by truck.
The purpose of this project was to contribute to more efficient transport in the food chain by increased use of intermodal transport.
The goal was to evaluate the intermodal solution introduced by Coop in 2009 and to analyse preconditions, experiences and opportunities to extend the scheme and distribute the model.
The project was financed by Energimyndigheten.
Participating from the Department were David Ljungberg, Girma Gebresenbet, Ingrid Nordmark and Erik Thorning (Master student).
Partners: Coop Logistik AB, Green Cargo AB
More information: David Ljungberg
Biogas has a unique potential to reduce fossil fuel dependency and the climate impact from waste, manure and fuel supply. However, planning for biogas production is a complex task and new tools for logistics optimization are required, so that more profitable opportunities can be identified.
The purpose of this project was to generate knowledge and tools that can improve the conditions for new biogas production. The specific objectives were to promote logistics experiences from existing facilities, to develop an optimization model for strategic planning, and to apply the model in a concrete case study in Enköping (Scandinavian Biogas).
The project was implemented in the following phases: a systematic review, model development and a case study where optimized solutions were developed and analyzed. Case study results generate direct benefits while general conclusions and tools can be used in strategic planning and further research.
The final report of the project can be found at the f3 centre
Project leader: David Ljungberg
Participants: Alfredo de Toro (SLU), Carina Gunnarsson (JTI )
Partner Organisation: Scandinavian Biogas Fuels
Funding: The project is funded by f3 Centre (Swedish Knowledge Centre for Renewable Transportation Fuels / Svenskt kunskapscentrum för förnybara drivmedel)
More information: David Ljungberg
Improving the agricultural supply chain: case studies in Uppsala region
The Swedish food and agricultural industry competes on an international market, and it is essential that transports systems, facility location and terms of delivery are adapted to create effective material flows in relation to economy, environment and animal welfare.
Currently, the sector is undergoing significant structural transitions, including organisational change, centralisation and reduction in number of facilities for processing and storage. At the same time, however, it has been argued that local and regional processing would reduce environmental impact and improve animal welfare by reducing the demand for transport, and local and regional as well as mobile abattoirs have been promoted as alternatives to the current tendency.
The overarching goal of the project was to promote en effective agricultural logistics system, by the development of models for localisation analysis and delivery strategies for a lean material flow, and by identifying possibilities for intermodal transport and route optimisation, for improving the economic competitiveness and reducing the environmental impact of the agricultural sector. Specific objectives of the project were to:
Quality of Life and Management of Living Resources
Report (in Swedish)
Summary
It is assumed that mobile and semi-mobile abattoirs could lead to a better handling of slaughter animals, which might decrease stress and give a better quality of meat. If transport of live animals could cease, as with mobile abattoirs, many factors related to stress could be eliminated. But there will always be some factors, for example, preloading handling, that can lead to stress even in mobile abattoir system. The skills and knowledge of the personal handling the animals is very important for good animal welfare. Decreased transport, as with semi-mobile abattoirs, lead to reduction of pressure on the environment.
Mobile and semi-mobile abattoirs, in which animals can be slaughtered on the farm or near the farm, could be an alternative slaughtersystem to the conventional one. This alternative is aimed to minimize stress induced by handling and transport activities on animals prior to slaughtering, and thereby attenuate the risks for reduced meat quality. More over, minimized transport could lead to reduction of environmental degradation imposed by emissions generated from vehicles.
The objective of the project was to map out possibilities and constrains associated with mobile abattoirs for cattle, sheep, swine and poultry, and to identify pertinent and steering parameters and factors which may determine the development and implement of mobile abattoirs.
The project included a literature review, study visits to abattoirs for cattle and swine and a mobile abattoir for deer. Interviews with relevant individuals and organisations were also carried out.
The proposals for the mobile abattoirs are based on the rules and regulations set up by 'Livsmedelsverket' concerning slaughter hygiene and the animal protection act concerning handling of slaughter animals. In common, for cattle, sheep swine and poultry slaughter, the suggested mobile abattoir comprises the following components: a component for stunning, slaughter and cooling and a separate cooling component for transportation of meat. In the semi-mobile abattoir, there will also be a component for butchering of meat. Water of good hygienic quality in sufficient amounts are needed. Slaughter waste may be decomposed after being heated to 70° C, which might be a problem in mobile abattoir. In semi-mobile, the waste could be handled easily.
Improving loading and unloading facilities and method to minimize stress inducing factors on animal during transport from farm to abattoir
Transport and handlings of slaughter animals is associated with series of events, which causes stressful conditions on animals compromising the welfare of animals and meat quality. Earlier researchers have confirmed that loading and un-loading are the most stress inducing factors on animals during transport (Gebresenbet and Ericsson, 1998; Trunkfield and Brom, 1990; Warriss,1990). Scientists have revealed this problem; however, adequate and satisfactory methods and better facilities have not yet been developed and recommended for implementation. Therefore the development of an appropriate loading and unloading methods and facilities is essential for minimizing stress on animals.
From the preliminary observation made at Swedish abattoir, the incidence of transport of cattle with elongated hoofs occurs occasionally even though according to the Swedish law, it is forbidden to transport sick animals. More over, scientific data is not available on the occurrence of transport of such animals.
The main objective of the current project is to improve loading methods and facilities to minimize the prevailing adverse effects on animal welfare. The specific objectives are to:
To achieve the stated objectives, continuous measurement of heart rate, video filming, and close observation will be made on cattle during loading and unloading. At least 100 farms will be visited to map out loading facilities including ramp angle and floor surface quality.
Funding organization: Swedish Board of Agriculture
SAMTRA - coordination of goods distribution
Investigation of the opportunities and barriers to coordinated goods distribution in central Uppsala.
Report (in Swedish)