Sweden Faces Food Security Risks Amid Heavy Import Dependence and Production Challenges

Sweden imports about half of the food it consumes, a dependency that raises significant concerns regarding the country's food security and sustainability amid potential disruptions to import supplies. Recent calculations by the Lantbrukarnas riksförbund (LRF) reveal that, in the event of an abrupt stop to food imports, essential foods would run out quickly: tomatoes would be gone by October, lamb meat by November, and apples by December, with other staples such as cheese lasting until January and pork until June the following year.

LRF highlights that food security is not only about stockpiling but also about securing strong domestic food production. However, Swedish farmers face a "triple squeeze" of high costs, regulatory burdens, and uncertainty over future investments, reducing profitability and the capacity to scale production during crises. Eva Hörnström, a tomato grower from Timrå, points out that despite the potential to increase tomato output—especially in northern Sweden, where conditions are favorable—high energy and production costs make it unprofitable.

LRF's vice president, Mikaela Johnsson, stresses the urgency of bolstering domestic food production to reduce vulnerability. Food researcher Henrik Haller also warns that over-reliance on international supply chains may leave Sweden without adequate food. Compounding the issue, the Swedish government's efforts to decrease EU agricultural subsidies threaten to weaken domestic food production further.

To address these challenges, LRF proposes three political changes: integrating food security considerations into all policy decisions, setting concrete goals to increase Swedish food production, and creating more profitable conditions for investments in domestic agriculture.

With Sweden’s food supply at a delicate balance, these recommendations emphasize the need for proactive measures to enhance self-sufficiency and food system resilience in the face of global uncertainties and rising production costs.