Sweden aims to increase domestic food production

Sweden aims to increase its food production, according to an agreement struck between the coalition government and major opposition parties in parliament on Monday.

According to the new strategy, announced Monday and outlined on the Swedish government website, Sweden's food production should accelerate while the national environment targets should also be reached.

The aim is to create growth and jobs and to contribute to sustainable development in Sweden, according to the statement published on the government's website.

"We produce too little food in our country. We would be living dangerously were we to continue this development and production keeps decreasing," the Social Democrat minister for rural affairs Sven-Erik Bucht told news agency TT.

He explained that he was referring to the fact that Swedish food production has decreased significantly in the past two decades and said food production must increase in rural areas of Sweden.

Several parties now stress that food production is central to creating economic growth and job opportunities in rural Sweden and that the new agreement will make it easier for consumers to make conscious choices in the grocery stores, for instance it will be easier to opt for organic or locally produced products.

According to the government statement published Monday, the new strategy includes three overall areas: rules and conditions for achieving a competitive and sustainable food-production chain; generating high consumer confidence and a competitive market; and supporting innovation and knowledge-building in order to create both sustainable production and consumption. Endit