Lantmännen is dependent on well-functioning ecosystems that accommodate a variety of species. It is from the arable land on our owners' farms that we get our most important raw material, the grain, on which we build our business. That is why we work actively in different parts of the value chain to reduce the impact of cultivation on the environment and benefit biodiversity. 

Biodiversity or biodiversity describes the variation between and within species found on Earth. Biodiversity loss jeopardises ecosystems' ability to, for example, purify water and air, pollinate crops, create stable populations of bacteria and worms that make the soil fertile and decompose materials.

The planet's biodiversity is threatened in several ways. Changes in land use, overexploitation through, for example, road construction, expansion of properties, unsustainable agricultural practices, logging and unsustainable fishing, as well as the introduction of new species of plants, animals and parasites, have a negative impact on biodiversity. In addition, the effects of climate change await, but also increased pressure to be able to supply a growing population with food and energy.

In Sweden, several of the threats have been averted and reduced, for example, various types of environmental toxins have decreased and problems with acidification have been mitigated. But there are new warning signs, such as reduced abundance of pollinators, which play an important role in agriculture.

Priority issue globally and nationally

Biodiversity is a priority issue both globally and nationally, and is highlighted for example in the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, as one of the UN's sustainability goals according to Agenda 2030 number 15 (which Lantmännen has also identified as business-critical) and in the Swedish environmental quality objectives.

The food and bioenergy supply is based on well-functioning ecosystems and thus biodiversity. In this way, biodiversity is a very important issue for Swedish agriculture. 

The role of agriculture

Despite the good efforts, agriculture has always had an impact on the environment, animals and insect life, and parts of today's cultivation systems mean less space for certain species to thrive. It also has an impact through the use of fertilizers, plant protection products and emissions from other activities to soil, water and air. The production of food, feed and energy leads to greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental impacts. But agriculture also has an important function. Many insects and plants are completely dependent on the landscape being kept open by grazing animals and there can be many species, including several red-listed species, on natural pastures.

The role of Lantmännen

Lantmännen wants to reduce its negative impact in the various parts of the value chain and works to contribute to protecting and strengthening biodiversity in the short and long term .

Lantmännen's operations affect biodiversity in several ways. It is in the cultivation on our owners' land that the dependence and impact is greatest, but Lantmännen also buys other cultivated raw materials and materials.

Lantmännen's properties and new establishments of production facilities also have an impact, but are mainly located in areas that are already used for production and other land use.

What does Lantmännen do?

We work to reduce the negative impact and protect and strengthen biodiversity, including through:

• Develop new methods for plant protection, e.g. chemical-free seed treatment methods, such as Thermoseed and Cedomon/Cerall.

• Precision farming technology in the field to optimize all parts of the cultivation for a maximized outcome with the least possible effort and environmental impact. For example, optimising the amount of seed depending on the soil, the use of plant nutrients and plant protection products, and the use of GPS to avoid overlaps and reduce tractor driving in the field.

• Plant breeding that creates resilient varieties to minimise the need for plant protection products.

• Specific requirements for purchases of high-risk raw materials such as soy and oil palm products.

• Climate work with the goal of reducing greenhouse gases.

Lantmännen also works to promote and strengthen biodiversity. The work is mainly done through the development of cultivation concepts that include measures for biodiversity.

• Develop the cultivation program Climate and Nature with added values based on biodiversity, e.g. lark plots in cultivation that benefit the skylark and insects.

• In the Climate & Nature cultivation programme, biodiversity is promoted through several different criteria. In total, the area for biodiversity amounts to 568 hectares, excluding the area for catch and intermediate crops. The criterion nesting sites for birds is measured in number of sites and amounts to 226 for 2024. The area for larch plots has decreased in 2024. However, additional criteria for birds have been introduced, which makes the decline expected. In general, the measures have increased as the programme has grown compared to 2023. In 2024, catch crops and cover an area of 3 674 hectares.