Open access publications in the SLU publication database

Abstract

Transport plays a controversial role and highly related to almost all sectors of human activities. It plays an important role in stimulating economy and promoting the well being and quality of human life. However, its negative impact on the environment in the form of pollution is increasing at a high rate, and thus becoming a serious threat to plant, animal and human life. In the recent decades, goods transport has been intensified and its contribution to the environmental deterioration is steadily increasing. Transport of agricultural produce, means of production, food and wood is a significant component of goods transport as a whole in Sweden, and the trend of intensification is analogous with other sectors. The paper addresses the transport-induced environmental constraints with especial emphasis on goods transport in agricultural sector. Brief analysis is made on the causes and effects of goods transport intensification. Global and national awareness on the amelioration of the most pervasive environmental problems such as pollution, global warming and ozone depletion are presented. A brief account is given on goods flow within farms, to and from farms and the tendencies in production, holdings, and transport demand in each sub-sector is discussed. The paper presents also the general visions and strategies to reach the goal of the development of environmentally sustainable goods transport. It emphasized the role of Information Technology to attenuate the intensity of transport and its consequence on environment. Finally, the role of Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and its sectoral responsibility in agricultural transport is highlighted and some plausible proposals are forwarded to facilitate research and education to promote the environmentally sustainable goods transport in the sector.