Multi-million investment in Swedish centres for food research and innovation

The Formas Research Council provides funding for four centres for sustainability and competitiveness in the food system. The aim is to contribute to development and innovation and to build knowledge and skills throughout the food chain through close collaboration among researchers, the business sector and other stakeholders in society. This investment allocates 192 million kronor to four centres and a large number of associated participating parties across Sweden.

How can Sweden become a leading supplier of sustainably produced aquatic food? What role do animals play in increased, sustainable and profitable food production in Sweden’s different regions? How can the food system transform at all stages, from innovation management to customer behaviour awareness? And how can Sweden develop plant-based proteins with health benefits that will be the customer’s first choice? These are some of the questions that the new research centres seek answers to.

“With this investment, we get a fine portfolio of centres that have great potential to boost the sustainability and competitiveness of the Swedish food system in multiple areas and from different perspectives, which is vital,” says Jessica Ekström, senior research officer at Formas. “Among the parties involved in the initiative, we see both large and small Swedish companies, as well as trade associations, municipalities and regions,” she says.

The four centres awarded funding in the call Centers for sustainable and competitive food-systems External link. operate through university–industry partnerships. Their main offices will be located in Örebro, Stockholm, Uppsala and Borås, but their fields will span all of Sweden.

“Long-term research and innovation efforts, collective expertise and co-creation among actors with different perspectives are needed to help transform the food system,” says Erika Ax, senior research officer at Formas. “We believe that in the short and long terms these centres will strengthen food systems at both the local and the national level. They also have global potential, and we look forward to following their development in the future.”

“I’m thrilled that we have been able to implement this call within the national food programme,” says Formas’ Director General Ingrid Peterson. “Strong food security is a concern for society as a whole, as is climate-smart food production. This creates opportunities for long-term knowledge building and skills provision in the food chain. I hope that food is a priority area in the forthcoming research bill so that we can continue to build knowledge throughout the food system.”