CRISIS PREPAREDNESS | New major investment in agricultural innovation – to increase the country’s self-sufficiency

If Sweden is to become more self-sufficient and prepared for future crises, new ways of thinking about food production are needed. This according to Annie Drottberger, a researcher at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, who is leading a new five-year initiative to establish a knowledge center for sustainable primary production.

– Every second bite we eat comes from imported food. But the potential for increasing Swedish food production is great, and in parallel it is important to increase the sustainability of agricultural production systems, she says.

Sweden’s self-sufficiency rate is 50%, compared to Finland’s 80%. To deal with various types of crises and trade barriers, Sweden needs to increase its self-sufficiency. We can invest in growing more vegetables, potatoes, fruit and berries. But also increase the breeding of pigs, chickens, cows, sheep and lambs.

– For this, we need both more technology and more innovative ways of working. For example, we need to refine storage techniques for root crops or streamline greenhouse production with AI-driven systems, says Annie Drottberger.

Focus on the first step in the food chain

The five-year initiative, funded by Sparbanken Skåne and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences with SEK 50 million, will strengthen the link between research and practice in southern Sweden and thus offer better support to small businesses. The focus is on the first stage of the food chain – the production of vegetables, meat and cereals.

– Horticulture is mainly concentrated in Skåne, where more than 70% of the country’s vegetables, fruit and berries are grown. Skåne is also, together with Västra Götaland and Östergötland, a leader in cereal production, says Annie Drottberger, and adds that we need to be better at utilizing the vegetable protein production that takes place in the country.

Innovation at multiple levels

Innovation looks different depending on the size and circumstances of the company. Some need advanced technologies such as AI and sensors in greenhouses, others are working on simpler improvements such as better storage or new business models.

Annie Drottberger underlines that Sweden is an innovative country with many new ideas.

– But we need more innovations that really make a difference. It’s about raising the level of innovation to increase competitiveness and self-sufficiency, she emphasizes.

Small business owners in key role – but with big challenges

Today, smallholders and small food businesses face several structural barriers in their innovation processes. In addition to having limited time and resources to work on innovation, many find it difficult to scale up their ideas – and there are also no support structures that match research with the practical needs of businesses.

– Smaller firms are also challenged by the fact that their innovations can be copied by larger players in the value chain. This reduces the incentives for them to take the risk of developing new products.

In addition to creating new knowledge through research, the initiative will build networks and structures to offer practical support – everything from project partnerships and coaching via SLU Holding to reference groups where researchers and entrepreneurs meet.

Annie Drottberger emphasizes the importance of each company finding its own path. For some, this means investing in technology, for others in agro-ecological methods or social innovations such as collaboration and local sales.

– There is no one-size-fits-all solution. But what we do know is that Sweden’s ability to produce food needs to be strengthened, and that starts with giving our small businesses the right conditions to innovate, she says.

Contact annie.drottberger@slu.se

See also:
Article on Annie Drottberger’s PhD thesis “More vegetable growers are using AI”.