Lantmännen welcomes the Water Commission's report – underscoring the societal need for improved water infrastructure for agriculture
"The report clearly shows that water in the field must be treated as critical infrastructure, just like roads and the power grid. Well-functioning drainage and irrigation are fundamental if Swedish farms are to keep developing and deliver food with the stability society requires. This is a dimension that the business community now expects policymakers to take on board," says Patrik Myrelid, Head of Strategy at Lantmännen and a member of the government’s expert council on climate adaptation.
It is easy to be lulled into a false sense of security after a year of strong harvests and overlook underlying needs, according to Lantmännen. Conditions are changing quickly, and years of extreme rainfall or drought expose how vulnerable the system is. Upgrading water infrastructure is therefore not about saving individual years, but about securing robust food production in a changing climate over the long term.
Investing in agriculture’s water systems is an investment in Sweden’s overall resilience and stable food preparedness over time, according to Lantmännen.
"To deliver real change, we need long-term thinking and stable financing, where the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) also plays a central role. By, for example, steering future CAP initiatives toward clear and predictable investment support, we can speed up climate adaptation and strengthen the resilience of the business sector," says Alarik Sandrup, Head of Industry Policy at Lantmännen.
Facts and more information
– Main conclusion of the report: A well-functioning infrastructure for moving water away and bringing water in is the core prerequisite for robust and productive farming. Water Commission proposes simplified rules, such as notification requirements instead of permits, for irrigation ponds and withdrawals of up to 200,000 cubic meters.
– Investment needs: Agricultural water infrastructure requires investments of more than SEK 50 billion. By comparison, needs in the water and wastewater sector are estimated at around SEK 560 billion through 2040, and the state framework for transport infrastructure 2022–2033 totals SEK 881 billion.
– Preparedness and business: Water management is a central part of Sweden’s National Food Strategy and a prerequisite for Swedish farms to grow and contribute to stronger food preparedness, according to Lantmännen.
– Subsurface drainage: To reach a sustainable level, 20,000–30,000 hectares need subsurface drainage each year over the next 30 years. In 2021–2023, the outcome was only around 2,900–4,700 hectares per year.
– Irrigation: Today, only 2.5 percent of Sweden’s arable land is irrigated—a share that needs to increase tenfold.
For more information, please contact us
Lantmännen's Press Office
Tel: +46 10 556 88 00
E-mail: press@lantmannen.com
