Food policy
Translated from Swedish by AI; the translation may contain errors. The Swedish text is the original.
Summary AI, written in advance
The debate concerns Swedish food production, its competitiveness, and preparedness. M argues that Swedish agriculture is sustainable and that production needs to increase to strengthen the self-sufficiency rate and reduce climate impact 1. M emphasizes that the government is working to lower costs by reducing taxes, fees, and red tape 1. S expresses concern over climate change and extreme weather such as drought, which threatens production 2. S requests preventive plans for drought and wants the permit processes for irrigation to be expedited 3. M responds that the government is working to simplify regulations and that there are funds allocated for emergency water 4.
Written by AI in advance and may contain errors. The numbers lead to the speech a statement builds on; check against the text below.
Johanna Hornberger (M)
Madam Speaker! Swedish agriculture is one of the world's most sustainable. Swedish-produced food contributes to reduced global climate impact. Swedish farmers use the least antibiotics of all in the EU. Swedish food production is good, and it is something we can be proud of.
The animals in Sweden are healthy. They produce a lot, and moreover, sustainably. A liter of Swedish milk emits approximately half as much as the world average or about 20 percent lower than the EU average. Because Swedish animals are healthy, antibiotics are not needed. This leads to our use of antibiotics being the lowest in the EU and one of the lowest in the world. Our dairy cows contribute both milk and meat, which makes the climate impact from a kilo of beef low in relation to many other countries.
Antibiotic resistance is something that can make many feel concerned, and it is a serious and growing problem in the world. It risks leaving us without effective antibiotics both for humans and for animals. It is a situation we must take very seriously, and here in Sweden, we are at the forefront. For 13 consecutive years, Swedish farmers have used the least antibiotics of all EU countries.
Sweden has a history and a tradition of safeguarding good health for animals. This has led to Sweden having a broad and far-reaching preventive work against ill health in animals through sound animal husbandry, preventive animal healthcare, and active disease control. Thus, we in Sweden have reached a good position with healthy animals that need less antibiotics. It is also positive that antibiotic use in all EU countries has decreased significantly. The latest measurement from the European Food Safety Authority shows the lowest level ever of antibiotic use among EU countries.
Madam Speaker! Swedish food production is good, but it is not enough. At the beginning of the 90s, Sweden's farmers produced 75 percent of the country's food. Today we usually say carelessly that every other bite comes from Swedish food production, so only half. Sweden needs an increased food production for preparedness, for the climate, and for reduced use of antibiotics.
The national food strategy, which extends until 2030, is the first Swedish food strategy that covers the entire food chain. It is a long-term strategy aimed at increased and sustainable production of food, which can lead to more jobs and sustainable growth throughout the country. The food strategy's overall goals thus focus on competitiveness and on ensuring that food production shall increase.
But unfortunately, the rest of the current document does not live up to the expectations that follow from such a clear goal. The Moderates have been clear that sharper measures are required that strengthen competitiveness in the food chain, where the most important thing individually is lower costs. Costs are higher in Sweden than in comparable countries. This is partly about direct costs in the form of taxes and fees, and partly about indirect costs through red tape, administration, and costly special requirements, especially in monitoring. It is important to have a long-term strategy. We have advocated for a mid-term evaluation by 2025 at the latest.
Madam Speaker! The Government's focus is to increase the competitiveness within Swedish food production. Therefore, the Government already at the beginning of 2023 started the work with the follow-up and evaluation of the existing food strategy. Now we look forward to the work being completed so that concrete measures for increased food production can get underway. We keep our promises.
Madam Speaker! Preparedness in Sweden has recently come into focus with the deteriorating security situation, the effects of the pandemic, and climate change. Food preparedness is, of course, a major and important part of preparedness. Increased Swedish food production increases our self-sufficiency and thus our robustness in times of war and crisis.
The Government has, in addition to starting the work to update the food strategy, taken direct measures to strengthen the preparedness of food production. In the budget for 2024, 20 million was allocated to develop proposals for measures that strengthen Sweden's preparedness within primary production of food.
The government also wants to facilitate ownership changes and create a better investment climate in agriculture. The government is also reviewing control, fees, and financing in the food chain. The purpose is to make it easier for companies, which in the long run strengthens competitiveness and security of supply.
The government has also allocated 80 million kronor to the Swedish Food Agency for a simpler and more predictable fee system for slaughterhouse inspection - an important step to strengthen the competitiveness of Swedish animal production.
Finally, the government makes it cheaper to produce and transport the food on our plates through reduced taxes. The reduction means lower costs for the business sector and for agriculture, which strengthens the competitiveness of Swedish food production.
Madam Speaker! In conclusion, an increased Swedish food production means not only better preparedness but also a production that is more sustainable than that which takes place in other countries. It also reduces both the use of antibiotics and the global climate impact. It contributes to increased growth, development, and employment throughout the entire country.
The Government recognizes the importance of and the potential in Swedish food production and focuses on improving competition and preparedness within the food sector. The endeavor to increase Swedish food production has now gained momentum based on the Government's work to update the food strategy.
Sofia Skönnbrink (S)
Madam Speaker! The Member mentions that we need to strengthen Sweden and improve our preparedness regarding crisis and war. When we had this debate last year, we were in the middle of a very widespread drought with little precipitation, which then shifted to heavy precipitation.
Last week, one could read in Dagens Nyheter that researchers predict that the coming half-year could become the warmest ever measured. It is feared that this will lead to more forest fires and also heatwaves.
This gives one, to say the least, a lump in the stomach. If there is anything we know about heatwaves and drought, it is that agricultural and food production is hit very hard by this type of weather conditions. In 2018, several farmers were forced to emergency slaughter their animals, either because they had too little feed or because they could not get hold of feed at all.
We Social Democrats are very concerned about the developments regarding the climate and the extreme weather that it brings. Therefore, I would like to take the opportunity to ask the member if there is any plan from the government's side regarding how to act to mitigate the consequences of a potential drought coming this summer, 2024.
Johanna Hornberger (M)
Madam Speaker! Thank you, Member, for a good and pertinent question! We know that agriculture and farming, just as the Member says, are very vulnerable to the changes in the climate that we see both in Sweden and across the entire world.
Climate adaptation is part of the work that we will see more of and work more with in this chamber. But it also applies out in the municipalities and to the farmers themselves. We can see it as the government took last year's consequences seriously and appointed a support of almost 200 million kronor to the farmers who were affected at that time.
If the situation were to arise again in the near future, which we hope it does not, one must look at corresponding solutions. I would believe that the Government Offices and the government are considering this. One must therefore take the situation as it comes. If there is further drought that has large effects, we obviously need to support the farmers in that.
Sofia Skönnbrink (S)
Madam Speaker! Thank you, Member, for the answer! As far as drought is concerned, everything indicates that it is a reality that we will have to contend with. I do not think it is a question of when but how, because drought will occur to a greater extent.
The member mentions matters that are rather about how to compensate for losses and other things that can affect a farmer. I would have liked to hear that there should be a clearer plan for how to ensure that the consequence does not become as great for a preventive purpose, rather than how one compensates for losses that arise along the way. The member is welcome to clarify a little bit how the thoughts and discussions are proceeding regarding that specific question.
Connected to extreme heat, drought and reduced precipitation, we know that functioning irrigation is essential so that important harvests do not go to waste. To take water from a lake or a watercourse to irrigate crops, a notification of water activity is required. The notification is made to the County Administrative Board, or one can obtain a permit from the Land and Environment Court.
When we have situations where the drought comes very quickly and we are unprepared, these processes must go much faster so that we do not lose important harvests. The permit processes that the member also mentioned in their speech must therefore be simplified and expedited. I would therefore like to ask the member if the government has any plan for how this specific process can be accelerated if we end up in a situation where certain farmers become dependent on expanded irrigation.
Johanna Hornberger (M)
Madam Speaker! Thank you again, Member, for the elaborated question regarding water and drought for farmers!
The government has previously looked at how emergency water can be ensured. Money has been allocated for the situation that can arise when water is required quickly and there may not be the time needed for the permits that are required.
Regarding permits, I can only agree with what the member says: It needs to go faster, at least. A great deal of work has been carried out at the Government Offices, and we will see propositions on the permit processes during the coming spring. I look forward to that.
I have also met farmers who have told me about the problems when one cannot take water quickly when it is needed because the regulation is too heavy and too cumbersome. We need to rectify this. We need to make the regulation easier. Today's administration and bureaucracy hinder climate adaptation - that is actually what we are talking about.
I believe that we have a good opportunity to see such a simplification being implemented with the proposals we are awaiting during the spring and also with the continued work moving forward.
Source: The Swedish Parliament. The speeches come from the open data of the Riksdag, translated into English by AI, which may contain errors.