For Per Fridolf, the proximity to agriculture has always been a matter of course. Growing up on a farm, he has an understanding of its importance, which has made it natural for him to work in the field. Not least, it is about being part of something bigger, where what you do actually contributes to people getting food on the table, in Sweden as well as in other parts of the world. are those that extend beyond their own organization, something that Climate & Nature clearly shows. 

He describes the farmer as the very engine of change. Climate & Nature may rest on scientific criteria, but its success stands or falls on how well they can be applied to the field. 
 
" A requirement can look excellent on paper, provide great climate benefits, promote biodiversity or contribute to international goals, but if it becomes too expensive or practically unfeasible, the entire model falls. Therefore, the work is about constantly weighing benefits against costs and making the criteria understandable, consistent and fair," says Per. 

In this also lies a deeper insight that sustainability must be as much about a long-term perspective as it is about acute climate benefits. Reducing the footprint here and now is important, but at least as central is securing productivity by 2030, 2050 and beyond. Agriculture must also work for the next generation, both environmentally and economically. And it is precisely the economy that is often the decisive bottleneck. When margins are squeezed, it becomes difficult for the farmer to invest in new methods, unless the willingness to pay further up the value chain is in place. 
 
"Farmers are the hub of the transition, without them there is no food on the tables. But when the economy is under pressure, it becomes difficult to make the necessary investments. If the market does not place a value on sustainable production, how will the farmer be able to do so?" says Per.  

History also shows why continuity matters: the fact that the cultivation programme has been in existence for ten years may seem like a long time, but for the farmer it is only two crop rotations. Many previous initiatives in the industry have come and gone, but if Climate & Nature is to deserve the trust, perseverance is required. The long-term approach is the very foundation for more people to dare to invest.  

The power of a ready-to-use, scalable program 

What distinguishes Climate & Nature on the market , according to Per , is that it is not a prototype or a pilot, it is a ready-made, scalable system. The program can already deliver large volumes of grain with a documented lower climate footprint.  

"Scalability is the hallmark of the program, regardless of whether the need is 10 tons or 100,000 tons, the capacity is there. For companies that have to meet their climate goals, not least within scope 3, this will be a crucial resource, according to Per.  

Per also emphasizes the courage of the companies that dare to invest. Paulig is one example. When food prices skyrocketed in 2022, they still chose to connect with Climate & Nature. It was a strategic decision that showed that sustainability is not a question of the next quarterly report, but of the legitimacy of the future. Such choices build both consumer confidence and the credibility of the industry. 

" Demand will only grow. At a time when companies need to show that they are actually acting on their climate goals, Climate & Nature offers something unique, a program that is already working and can grow further.   and the ambitions must be offensive. That's what makes it so much fun to work with Climate & Nature," Per concludes.