Food and Agriculture
With its widespread research in diet and health relationships, East Sweden acts as a driving force in the food refinement area.
According to the Swedish Institute, “Sweden is one of the largest countries in Europe in terms of area. About half of its land area is covered by forest. More than one third of the country is mountains, lakes and marshes. Less than a tenth of Sweden’s total area– slightly less than 3 million hectares (nearly 7.5 million acres) – is under cultivation. Sweden has relatively favourable climate, considering its northerly location. However, the scale of agriculture varies greatly between the northern and southern parts of the country. The most extensive agricultural activity is found in central and southern Sweden. The growing season in the far south is 240 days per year, while in the far north it is less than 120 days. The climate in central and southern Sweden is temperate. Annual precipitation averages 600 mm (23.6 inches). The food processing industry is found all over Sweden, but is most heavily represented in rich agricultural areas and large population centres” East Sweden is one of those four principal areas.
Fuelling functional food
With its long farming tradition, East Sweden has taken a leading role in the world to study and scientifically examine the physiological effects of food products. The results of this research provides better insight into the more plausible contributions to health via functional foods whose ingredients that may provide a health benefit beyond the traditional nutrients it contains.
According to a study performed by Scottish Enterprise in 2002, Sweden is ranked first globally in functional food, due to its comprehensive research and production capabilities.
Lifestyle and health
Swedish food research efforts are spurred by improved understanding of lifestyle diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes. An essential component in this development is the Sweden's biotech industry which is Europe's fourth-largest biotech industry, and the largest in relation to both population and GDP.
The University Hospital in Linköping (UH) is closely associated with the Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) at Linköping University. UH is a professional seat of knowledge within health and medical care and offers the south east region in Sweden, population approx 1 million (counties of Jönköping, Kalmar and Östergötland), with highly specialised medical services.
Within research and development the UH, besides its work in medical materials and visualization and simulation, is investing in the following areas that are also impacted by studies related to food and quality of life:
• Inflammation, atherosclerosis and ischaemic heart disease
• Prevention of diabetes and its complications
Quality control
Since Sweden uses the least pesticides in food production and has the strictest regulations for livestock in the industrialized world, food control has become a natural area of research. Projects include poultry free of salmonella, disease prevention and sustainable food production.
Among Swedish-owned food processors, the farmer-owned cooperatives are dominant. They account for about 45% of total production in Sweden and are especially prominent in meatpacking (Swedish Meats) and the dairy industry (Arla Foods), both of which have a significant presence in the region and employing over 1000 people.
Swedish Meats is one of the largest food groups in Sweden, responsible for the majority of the total livestock slaughtering in the country. Swedish Meats is also the market leader within cutting and processed meat production. One of their establishments is located in Linköping.
Arla Dairy employs close to 300 in its Linköping facility.
Farlo produces today hamburgers for McDonald’s in Sweden and Finland, aiming to be leading partner in all the Nordic countries.
Cloetta Fazer has five production plants which together produce 63,500 tonnes chocolate and sugar confectionery. Chocolate confectionery is mainly produced in Ljungsbro.
Lactamin is to help achieve a more profitable and animal-friendly production of livestock through the development, manufacture, and marketing of special feeds.