Trollenäs covers 1,200 hectares of arable land and is located in a district with a long and rich history. The estate has been owned and managed by the same family since 1682 and is a modern and efficient farm, built on solid knowledge and a clear pride at every stage. Crop production consists of crops and grains such as wheat, malting barley, rapeseed and sugar beet.  Anders Malmström, who has been part of the business for three decades, knows most about crop production and the conditions of agriculture. But despite all the years in the same place, he feels far from finished. 
 
"It's the variety that makes the farming profession so fascinating. No two days are the same. I hardly know where the time has gone, which says a lot. Being a farmer is about constant problem solving, but also about cooperation, planning and leadership. It spans the entire spectrum. It never gets monotonous, and that's probably why I still think it's just as fun after thirty years," says Anders. 

From curiosity to pioneer 

For Anders, curiosity has always been a driving force, perhaps it was also the driving force that made Trollenäs become part of Climate & Nature already when the program was launched a decade ago.     Completely convinced. But the opportunity to influence the design of the programme, combined with financial compensation that creates the conditions to drive development forward, made him more interested. 
 
"It was a natural step for us, both to contribute to environmental and climate work and to strengthen the business. I really appreciated that we got to give  input to the program in the beginning. But the most important thing was still that there was a clear economic upside. You cannot run a farm solely on conviction, there must be profitability to be able to reinvest and work long-term. That's why this works: the measures make a difference, and there's a business in that," Anders describes .  

A collaboration built on trust 

Anders emphasizes the importance of the relationship with Lantmännen. There is a mutual trust, where you feel that you get back more than it costs to be part of the program.  including the use of fossil-free fuel, flowering zones and cover crops. For Anders and his colleagues at Trollenäs , the program has also become a concrete tool for driving sustainability work forward. 
 
"It really made us think. We started to do more than what was required, put out straw bales for bees, established more flowering zones and made extra efforts for beneficial animals. It feels good to be able to show that we are actually doing something positive," says Anders. 

The need for long-term rules of the game

When Anders talks about the future of agriculture and the ongoing work with the transition, he returns to a central theme: the need for a long-term approach. One of the biggest challenges for agriculture today, he believes, is the lack of stability in the regulations. He calls for a common thread and more perseverance in the decisions, in order to be able to plan investments and development over time. 
 
"Swedish agriculture has enormous strength, but it risks being lost if the conditions do not improve. We can produce high-quality food in large volumes, but it requires that we get the right tools. Profitability and sustainability must go hand in hand, otherwise there is no long-term future. That is why initiatives such as Climate & Nature are so important because you pay the farmer for the work that is done and the value that is created," says Anders.     

Anders also reflects on the growing gap between urban and rural areas, and he thinks that the farmer is far from the consumer today. Many lack understanding of how food is actually produced and believe that the debate is often simplified. Climate and Nature play an important role here.  
 
" The programme makes our work visible, it shows concretely how we contribute to climate benefits and biodiversity. This is needed, especially at a time when fewer and fewer people have a direct connection to agriculture," he says. 

Confidence 

For Anders, the next ten years are about cooperation and trust. He wants Climate & Nature to continue to be built in close dialogue with farmers, so that the program remains a tool that both drives development and reflects the reality on the farms. 

And despite all the challenges, he sees a bright future. After thirty years at Trollenäs , the passion for agriculture is still as strong. 

"Swedish agriculture has fantastic  potential. We have the know-how, the technology and the will. Now it is important that we get the right conditions, so that we can continue to produce good food for future generations," concludes Anders.