Ecological modernization of the agriculture industry in southern Sweden: reducing emissions to the Baltic Sea

Nutrient and pesticide pollution accompanying the intensive agriculture activities of the last fifty years has significantly impacted the Baltic Sea ecosystem in northern Europe. This research focused on identifying and describing the factors that may be promoting or inhibiting the implementation of environmental approaches that could reduce the negative impact of agriculture practices on the Baltic Sea. It is a case study of the ecological modernization of the agriculture industry in Skåne, of southern Sweden, an area well known for its large scale and intensive agriculture practices. Studying the environmental contingent factors (eco-factors) has given some insight into why and how the implementation of certain environmental approaches may or may not be further adopted within the agriculture industry. This research has identified several important aspects that may positively encourage the further integration of environmental approaches within the agriculture industry: financial security, expanding knowledge, and local planning.