The discussion concluded that closer collaboration between academia and industry will be crucial to develop the industry. Also, testbeds and pilot facilities are key to scaling innovation, together with stronger support for innovative companies in later growth phases.  

Awareness of biotechnology’s potential is low across industry, government, and politics, creating risks of misapplied regulations. A clear national strategy is needed to raise knowledge, structure political efforts, and strengthen Sweden’s influence in the EU. Finland and Denmark serve as role models with proactive strategies and stronger political–industrial collaboration.

The group agreed that biotechnology is also critical for preparedness and sustainability, with potential to address challenges in defence, land use, and biodiversity. To compete globally, Sweden must secure better frameworks, increase political engagement at the EU level, and develop a broad, goal-oriented national strategy that covers development, regulation, and application of biotechnology.

The panel participants in the open seminar, sharing their insights in how they believe the Swedish food industry will utilize biotechnology in the future, were:  

• Elin Boll, Health & Nutrition Expert at Arla Foods
• Mats Liedholm, CEO of Fazer Sweden
• Eva Nordberg Karlsson, Professor of Biotechnology and Technical Microbiology at Lund University
• Linda Bell, Head of Division for Primary Industries at Formas
• The conversation was moderated by Louise Pierce, Lund University.

The dialogue brought up dilemmas: Will people embrace food grown in bioreactors instead of fields, or will scepticism slow adoption – and how should governments and agencies ensure safety while fostering innovation?  

What became clear is that biotechnology is not just a technical matter. It is also about culture, politics, and values. The future of food requires balancing innovation with precaution, long-term benefits with present-day concerns, and bold ideas with respect for public trust.

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Watch the full discussion here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3cxz1il4Gs

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