SVT Nyheter2 hours agoAgriculture2 min read

Food quickly runs out when imports are restricted - unprofitable to produce more

Quick Look

Sweden imports 50 percent of its food and LRF warns that import dependence makes the country vulnerable.
A model shows that tomatoes would run out after two months if imports were suspended.
At the same time, LRF sees potential to increase production in northern Sweden with support and incentives.

AI-generated summary

Why It Matters

Sweden imports half of its food according to the LRF, which makes the country dependent on external supply chains. The organization has modeled the consequences of interrupted imports and points to the vulnerability of staples such as tomatoes.

Font size

Sweden imports 50 percent of all food and the National Federation of Farmers, LRF believes that Sweden's import dependence is a problem.

The food disappears quickly

In a fictitious model, LRF has calculated how quickly ordinary foodstuffs will run out, if imports are cut off. The tomatoes disappear after two months and many staple foods will be missing from store shelves quite quickly.

- We want to illustrate how little food we produce in Sweden, says Mikaela Johnsson, vice confederation chairperson of LRF who at the same time believes that Swedish food production can increase with the right incentives.

"Then we'll run out of food"

LRF's view of the vulnerability is supported by food researcher Henrik Haller at Mittuniversitetet.

- If the supply chains we have become dependent on stop working, then we will be without food, he says.

The tomato farm in Ljustorp in Timrå municipality is located at the same latitude as Finland's tomato center Närpes, where more than half of Finland's approximately 34 thousand tons of tomatoes are produced. The difference is marked if you compare with Sweden, where production is half as large and in Norrland minimal. According to the Swedish Agricultural Agency's statistics, there were only 25 tomato farms in the whole of Norrland in 2023. At the same time, LRF sees great potential for both tomatoes and other foods in the north.

- Many are looking at northern Sweden, we could increase food production there, says Mikaela Johnsson.

The light gives the taste

Eva Hörnström in Ljustorp agrees. She sees the long bright summer days as a success factor.

- It is the light that gives the tomatoes their good taste, she says.

The downside is the difficulty in achieving profitability, Eva Hörnström calls for support and advice from experts to find the balance in production.

- It is difficult to calculate yourself how to be able to make it more efficient, she says.

Sweden wants to reduce EU support

Researcher Henrik Haller believes that it is reasonable to support agriculture, at the same time LRF is concerned that Sweden is pushing in the EU for reduced agricultural support.

- That would weaken Swedish food production, says Mikaela Johnsson.

What to Watch

AI outlook — possibilities, not facts

Sweden will increase support for food production in northern Sweden if import dependence is perceived as a security threat.
Possible · Within months
The debate about the EU's agricultural support will intensify in Sweden if the food supply is perceived as insecure.
Possible · Within months

Open Questions

How much would increased production in northern Sweden cost?
What concrete incentives does LRF propose to increase production?
What does the government's position look like regarding the EU's agricultural support?