At Strömnäsgården, traditional agriculture is being challenged through regenerative methods and shared resources. During the Creaternity Impact Days in Boden, Magnus Eriksson shared his experiences and visions for a more sustainable food production system.
“I thought for a long time about whether I should accept the invitation. It felt like this event was for people from industry and technology, from universities, professors, and researchers – what was I doing here?” says Magnus Eriksson about his initial feelings before speaking at Creaternity Impact Days in Boden.
But he soon realized that the farm he runs together with Åsa Lindmo has something unique to offer. At Strömnäsgården in Övre Svartlå, about 30 kilometers outside central Boden, multiple producers share land and resources. The result is a local ecosystem where different operations complement and strengthen each other. The farm raises swedish mountain cows that graze only on roughage and are kept outdoors year-round. During the summer, the first – and so far only – pasture-raised chickens in Norrbotten are also raised here. Vegetable cultivation and animal husbandry coexist on six hectares of farmland, and Magnus is currently in discussions with a beekeeper whom he hopes will establish operations on the farm this summer.
“I want my farm to serve as an example for others to be inspired by. Strömnäsgården doesn’t need to grow, but if more people adopt our working methods on a larger scale, that would be fantastic.”
Magnus Eriksson, co-owner of Strömnäsgården.
Food strategy in practice
The Creaternity Impact Days consisted of two themes. The first day focused on food and circularity and was co-organized by the Municipality of Boden, Boden Business Park, Arctic Food Arena and Luleå University of Technology (LTU). The second day focused on energy and urban development and was organized by the Municipality of Boden, Boden Business Park and LTU.
The event gathered local and national experts in both fields. On the food-focused day, more than 100 industry professionals convened at Boden Business Park. Participants discussed the future of food supply and how by-products from one sector can become valuable resources for another.
Sara Watz, strategic coordinator for the future of the food industry at Boden Business Park, opened the day by presenting Boden’s strategic efforts in food production. She highlighted, among other things, the municipality’s involvement in the PLATE project, which was represented on-site by Anna-Karin Quetel from the Stockholm Resilience Centre.
“This event was tailored to bring together the vital food industry. It clearly demonstrates the great need for collaboration, exchanging ideas, and finding new opportunities for cooperation. We see this as the starting point for similar events in Norrbotten”, says Sara Watz.
“For Boden, it’s about daring to prioritize, focus, and ensure that everyone moves in the same direction. We need to secure a resilient food industry, healthier residents, and a thriving natural environment that can provide food for all – in both everyday life and crises. The strategic work serves as our shared roadmap to achieve this goal.”
Challenges and confidence in the future
For Magnus Eriksson, sustainability is not just about producing food. It is also about creating new structures, where more people can participate in agriculture without having to buy large farms or invest in expensive machinery.
“By thinking differently and seeing what opportunities already exist on the farm – without depleting resources – endless possibilities open up. It’s about building resilience and allowing different operations to collaborate and complement each other.”
However, running a small-scale, regenerative agriculture is not without its challenges. Self-sufficiency is an ideal, but not always a practical reality.
“I try to be as self-sufficient as possible, but I am not able to grow all the feed myself. I buy grain as locally as I can, but it’s still something we can’t get locally. It’s a constant balancing act between economy and sustainability.”
He believes that the future of farming must rely on multiple sources of income.
“I don’t think future farms can be based on a single activity. There needs to be room for multiple businesses to coexist in the same space and for shared resources to be used more efficiently. That builds resilience – both against climate change and crop failure.”
After a day filled with conversations, insights and new ideas, Magnus summed up his experience:
“I had planned to go home at lunchtime, but I stayed all day. That says something about how important this is – to talk, be inspired and find new ways forward”.
Creaternity at Luleå University of Technology is an interdisciplinary initiative that uses digitalization to promote circular material use and efficient energy application. Through close collaboration between researchers, companies and society, synergies are created that drive sustainable development.
Creaternity Impact Days are organized in collaboration with Region Norrbotten, municipalities and companies to stimulate innovation and collaboration in circular economy and sustainable materials.
