Innovative projects that increase the agricultural potential in the country
Vinnova, Sweden’s Innovation Agency, has put the spotlight on agriculture and its potential for innovation. The public body recently revealed that it has paid out funds of SEK 25 million (2.5 million euros) to 17 local projects that try to expand the possibilities for an ever-increasing demand for plant-based foods.
The country’s authorities are not just shrugging their shoulders at the tide of the local population’s vegetarian and vegan preferences with the tacit assumption that this in itself is reason enough to feel justified as an environmental champion.
“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. ” commented Jesper Orhammar, who is responsible for the Vinnova investments.
Here are 3 of the funded projects
Here is a brief description of three of the beneficiaries’ projects, which shows the diversity of opportunities that even a country like Sweden, which is not blessed with the most ideal climatic conditions for agriculture, can do to reconsider agricultural policy. It can increase the sector’s competitiveness and make plant-based diets truly sustainable – by making them locally produced.
One of the beneficiaries is one study to map skills and resources to take advantage of existing raw materials and cultivation opportunities in northern Sweden. Despite decent cultivation conditions, there is a lower degree of self-sufficiency in plant-based foods compared to the rest of the country.
The long-term purpose is to support small-scale producers in the Norrland food industry to develop and scale up production from an ecologically, economically and socially sustainable perspective. The project is led by Luleå University of Technology.
In the Swedish market today, plant-based products are largely made from imported soy. The fava bean has so far been underused in the food sector, but interest is increasing due to its high protein content and suitability for cultivation in Sweden.
So there is a project that wants produce meat and dairy-like goods that consumers like from locally grown fava beans. The process includes the steps from choosing the type of bean to commercializing the end product. The project is led by Havredals biodevelop AB.
As a mineral source, whole grains have an important and often underestimated place in the transition to a more plant-based diet, but whole grains also contain so-called anti-nutrients that prevent the uptake of essential minerals. The third project aims to solve the problem of the availability of minerals in rye, oats, barley and other grains and thus contribute to optimized nutrition from plant-based foods. This is done through hydrothermal treatment of the grain, which reduces the nutrients by 90%. The project is led by Södertälje municipality.
Source: sn.dk