Food preparedness requires collaboration

Strong potential but also challenges

ÄT UPPsala County is an action plan aiming to contribute to sustainable and competitive food production in Uppsala County, says Sara Eskhult, project leader for ÄT UPPsala.

– We have great potential for food production in Uppsala County. There is abundant grazing and arable land, thriving businesses, research, and innovation. The area also has a strong consumer base. However, challenges exist: we have a limited number of large companies in the food chain, no dairy or mills, an aging farming population, concentrated processing industries, and low production volume relative to the county’s size, Sara explains.

We need land for cultivation

Fredrik Fernqvist addressed the sustainability challenges in both global and local food systems, with land-use conflicts being a pressing issue. Agricultural land may be lost to new shopping centers if short-term goals outweigh long-term considerations.

– But we need land for cultivation. We need resilience to secure food supply and plan for a sustainable and secure food system. Today, some estimates suggest that we only have a 50% self-sufficiency rate, but we need to ensure a diversity of food producers to withstand future crises. Many are involved in this work, but coordination can be difficult, said Fredrik.

The role of municipalities in preparedness

Per Gustavsson, emergency planner at the National Food Agency, spoke about the government’s goals for Sweden’s food preparedness and the report “Food Preparedness in a New Era SOU 2024:8”, presented on 1 February this year.

– It contains a comprehensive description of the food system and municipalities’ role in preparedness. The report covers actions we can take in normal conditions to what needs to be done during war or extreme crises. There are plans from A through E, with A being the usual state and B, C, D for increasingly challenging scenarios. In scenario E, we are at a point where we can no longer manage alone and need international aid, Per said.

– Our agency’s response emphasizes that we must be able to accommodate refugees who also need food; we cannot view preparedness in isolation but as part of a broader perspective. We may need to store more than just grains, and the population must adapt to a different variety of foods. What do we really need to maintain? Resources will not cover everything, Per added.

“Our self-sufficiency is practically nonexistent”

Researcher Rebecka Milestad from KTH spoke about her research on food preparedness in Sweden’s public sector, highlighting how municipalities perform in different areas.

– If we are being blunt, our self-sufficiency is practically nonexistent. During the Cold War, we had high self-sufficiency in basic foods, plans for organization, and preparedness storage. Today, we have low self-sufficiency, increased reliance on imports, and a focus on exports, said Rebecka.

Preparedness requires collaboration

Throughout the breaks and lunch, there was a constant buzz as participants exchanged LinkedIn contacts and discussed food, logistics, and policy.

– Networking is incredibly valuable; it is essential to tackle these issues thoroughly. Having met people in person makes it so much easier to follow up and continue the conversation, said Sara Nygårdh from Uppsala Municipality.

– Preparedness requires collaboration. Many of us feel uncertain; the area is vast and complex, making it easy to get stuck. Networking can indeed be a step forward. To succeed, we need to collaborate across the entire food chain, said Lisa Skogberg from Svenskt Kött.

No diesel, no food

Gunnar Rundgren from Sunnansjö Farm shared insights on food production from an entrepreneur's perspective. Gunnar has worked in agriculture since 1997, producing goat cheese, jam, juice, and helping organic small farmers in Africa export coffee.

– During a midlife crisis, I cycled through Ukraine. In both Ukraine and Russia, there is no food available in rural areas, but everyone produces their own. In Sweden today, most cattle are on large farms with over 99 cows, a result of structural rationalization. We need to promote education in cultivation, cooking, processing, and food storage and support the establishment of more small farms and food producers across Sweden, Gunnar said.

Post-It notes everywhere

In the afternoon, participants gathered in small groups at tables around the room to discuss the current state of food preparedness in Uppsala County and what is needed, now and in the future, to strengthen it.

Intense discussions produced rows of post-it notes filled with ideas on large sheets of paper at the round tables. What were the conclusions?

– Complexity often arises in groups, creating a need for collaboration. Platforms where people can meet and network are crucial. Resources, time, and accountability are necessary for this, but they are also challenging. Access to local food is important and can be addressed in different ways, summarized Fredrik.

Take Concrete Action Now!

The urgency to take concrete action was a shared sentiment among participants. Some felt that people generally assume society will always function as it has, and they can always shop at the local supermarket. But that is not necessarily true. It is crucial to convey the importance of food planning and preparedness to society through various channels.

– This time, we have made progress and worked closely together. We see the same issues, and now there is potential to become strong together, one participant said.

– It’s important that someone takes the lead here. Should it be the county administrative board, which handles other preparedness issues? We can’t wait - without food, we die. In Tierp and Östhammar municipalities, drills are conducted for potential incidents at Forsmark or major power outages. It is important to present clear scenarios to the public to help everyone understand the importance, said another participant.