Project description
The purpose of this paper is to examine how multifunctionality can be used on farms, and between the
local actors in Lejre and the surrounding area. The purpose is furthermore to examine how
multifunctionality can contribute to sustainable development and thereby resilience in the agricultural
system. This has been done based on a qualitative study and interviews with two farmers and two actors,
who already work with multifunctional agriculture. Socio-ecology is the overall theoretical approach of
this paper. This means it is necessary to work towards sustainable development and resilience in both the
social economic and natural system, to strengthen the agricultural system despite systematic changes, to
ensure future food production. It can be concluded, through the analysis, that the two farms work with a
multifunctionality that is design in different ways, with different starting point and purposes. In addition,
it can be concluded that, despite an overall economic goal, multifunctionality can have side effects that
can have social and environmental benefits. Moreover, it can be concluded that, in relation to the
development of multifunctionality on a local level, multifunctionality can be used to create circularity in
the community, increase the added value of agricultural products (both market and non-market), and
strengthen the local communication. Furthermore, it can be concluded through discussion that
multifunctionality, sustainability and resilience are not always equivalent. Multifunctionality can be used
as a tool to achieve sustainability, if this is the purpose of the application. However, multifunctionality is
not in itself equivalent to sustainable development and resilience.
