Sweden invests in home-grown food to improve self-sufficiency and meet vegan demand – vegconomist
18 November 2021
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As the demand for plant-based foods increases in Sweden, the government has invested 2.5 million euros in local projects to increase the agricultural potential in the country. With a focus on crops such as fava beans, the initiative aims to increase the competitiveness of the national plant-based sector and make plant-based diets more sustainable.
With the majority of the plant-based products consumed in Sweden made from imported soy, Vinnova – Swedish Innovation Agency – finances 17 agricultural projects that will improve the county’s self-sufficiency and meet the needs of a population that consumes more and more plant-based products.
Although it is a country with harsh conditions for agriculture, the innovations can lead to increased growth in the sector and less dependence on – often unsustainable – soy production. Such a project is based on the very underutilized fava bean, with an increased interest due to its high protein content and suitability for cultivation in Sweden.
Another project aims to optimize the nutrition of locally grown whole grains for use in plant-based foods through hydrothermal treatment, which reduces anti-nutrients by 90%. Sweden has a thriving plant-based economy, with brands such as Hooked raising millions of euros in the alt seafood segment, and alt dairy companies such as Sproud and Oatly successful around the world.
– We have good opportunities to become self-sufficient in protein-rich crops, but today there is a lack of capacity to take care of, for example, peas and beans on a large scale that are to be used in food, says Jesper Orhammar. from Vinnova told TheMayor.eu