At the prize ceremony in Stockholm (from left to right): Stefan Jansson, Carl Jan Granqvist (award presenter and board member, Måltidsakademien), Emil Åreng (winner of Best book, all categories) and Roland von Bothmer (editor and main author).
The book “Framtidens Matförsörjning” has been recognised as Swedish food literature (Svensk Måltidslitteratur) of 2025 in the category Essays. It explores how to secure sufficient and sustainable food for a growing global population and highlights the importance of scientific integrity. Co-author Stefan Jansson from Umeå University contributed expertise on the opportunities offered by modern genetics.
The idea for the book was born at a 250th anniversary symposium of the Royal Physiographic Society of Lund in 2022, organised in collaboration with the Royal Swedish Academy of Agriculture and Forestry (KSLA), the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences (KVA) and the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA). Three years later, “Framtidens Matförsörjning – genetik, växtförädling och jordbruk” was published and received on November 20 an award from Måltidsakademiens biblioteksstiftelse, a Swedish foundation dedicated to promoting research and education in the food and meal culture.
The book examines the historical development of the food value chain, from farm to table, and the major challenges it faces today, including geopolitics, climate change and biodiversity loss. It also discusses how rapid advances in plant breeding, genetic engineering, and artificial intelligence are creating new opportunities for sustainable food production. Initiated by the Royal Swedish Academy of Agriculture and Forestry and the Royal Physiographic Society, the book aims to encourage informed dialogue and support the positive development of primary industries.
“It was a huge surprise that our book was awarded. Since 2023, one of the three Prioritized research areas of Umeå University is Northfood – Plant Science for Change. I act as its coordinator and it is nice not only to develop research on the subject but also to contribute to the popularization of it”, said co-author Stefan Jansson who joined the award ceremony in Stockholm.
More about “Årets Svenska Måltidslitteratur” (in Swedish)
More about Northfood – Plant Science for Change
For questions please contact:
Stefan Jansson, Umeå Plant Science Centre, Department of Plant Physiology, Umeå University
Email:
https://www.upsc.se/stefan_jansson