Agricultural deduction and biomass premium

The plan demands fixed frameworks to take Sweden out of fossil dependence and points to agriculture's long-term sustainability as crucial for both ecosystems and the country's independence. Switching the fossil fuel subsidy for agricultural machinery to a green agriculture deduction and a bio-premium moves the steering instruments from fossil to renewable, in line with the plan's demand for rising emission costs. Investments in sustainable food production are moreover an explicit part of the plan's green transition.

• out of fossil dependencedecisive»Vi vill sätta fasta ramar för att ta Sverige ur fossilberoendet« (party programme ↗)“We want to set fixed frameworks to take Sweden out of fossil dependence”
• sustainable agriculture»Jordbrukets långsiktiga hållbarhet är viktig för både ekosystemen och Sveriges ekonomiska självständighet.« (party programme ↗)“Agriculture's long-term sustainability is important for both ecosystems and Sweden's economic independence.”
• sustainable food production»En annan viktig del i den gröna omställningen är satsningar på hållbar livsmedelsproduktion.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Another important part of the green transition is investments in sustainable food production.”
• rising emission costs»Kostnaderna för utsläpp behöver öka långsiktigt på ett sätt som är tryggt och förutsägbart« (party programme ↗)“Costs for emissions need to increase long-term in a way that is safe and predictable”

The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.

The election manifesto wants to increase Swedish production of renewable fuels so that it becomes easier to refuel fossil-free, and the party programme requires an end to fossil dependence and that the polluter pays in full. The counter-proposal's green agriculture deduction and biofuel premium replace a fossil fuel subsidy and level out the price difference towards renewable, which is precisely such steering. Food production conditions do not speak against it.

• more renewable fuelsdecisive»Vi vill öka den svenska produktionen av förnybara drivmedel, så att det blir lättare att tanka fossilfritt i Sverige.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We want to increase Swedish production of renewable fuels, so that it becomes easier to refuel fossil-free in Sweden.”
• end fossil dependence»Stopp för svenskt beroende av fossila bränslen från andra länder.« (party programme ↗)“Stop Swedish dependence on fossil fuels from other countries.”
• the polluter pays»Principen om att förorenaren betalar tillämpas fullt ut.« (party programme ↗)“The principle that the polluter pays is applied in full.”
• thriving agriculture»Livskraftig svensk livsmedelsproduktion som stärker landets självförsörjningsförmåga.« (party programme ↗)“Thriving Swedish food production that strengthens the country's self-sufficiency.”

The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.

The election manifesto explicitly requires that fossil subsidies be phased out and that agriculture is supported in the transition to fossil-free work machinery. The party programme establishes that agriculture shall be independent of fossil fuels and that public resources shall support farmers in the green transition. The counter-proposal's requirements for immediately replacing the diesel subsidy with a green agricultural deduction and introducing a biofuel premium are therefore precisely what the plan calls for.

• phase out fossil subsidiesdecisive»fasa ut fossila subventioner.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“phase out fossil subsidies.”
• fossil-free work machinery»stärka det svenska jordbruket för ökad självförsörjning med baslivsmedel, och stödja övergången till ett ekologiskt och hållbart jordbruk med fossiloberoende arbetsmaskiner.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“strengthen Swedish agriculture for increased self-sufficiency in basic foodstuffs, and support the transition to an ecological and sustainable agriculture with fossil-free work machinery.”
• fossil-free agriculture»Jordbruket ska vara oberoende av fossila bränslen, kemiska bekämpningsmedel och konstgödsel.« (party programme ↗)“Agriculture shall be independent of fossil fuels, chemical pesticides and synthetic fertilizers.”
• public support for transition»Offentliga resurser ska stödja bönder i den gröna omställningen och stärka jordbrukets klimatresiliens.« (party programme ↗)“Public resources shall support farmers in the green transition and strengthen agriculture's climate resilience.”

The election manifesto explicitly requires a strong agricultural deduction and a biofuel premium that makes sustainable farming more profitable, and that the tax on biofuels be reduced to the maximum. The counter-proposal's demand for a green agricultural deduction linked to income tax and a biofuel premium that equalizes the price difference against fossil diesel is thus the plan's own reform. Green tax shift and many-fold increased biofuel production point in the same direction.

• agricultural deduction and biofuel premiumdecisive»En långsiktigt hållbar livsmedelsförsörjning med ökad försörjningstrygghet och ökad matproduktion kräver regelförenklingar och skattesänkningar, inklusive ett kraftfullt jordbruksavdrag och en biodrivmedelspremie som gör det hållbara lantbruket mer lönsamt.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“A long-term sustainable food supply with increased food security and increased food production requires regulatory simplifications and tax cuts, including a strong agricultural deduction and a biofuel premium that makes sustainable farming more profitable.”
• reduced tax on biofuels»Sänk skatten maximalt på biodrivmedel som blandas in i bensin och diesel.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Reduce the tax to the maximum on biofuels that are blended into petrol and diesel.”
• many-fold increased biofuel production»Sveriges energioberoende måste stärkas, bland annat genom att mångdubbla produktionen av biobränslen och biogas.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden's energy independence must be strengthened, including by many-fold increasing the production of biofuels and biogas.”
• green tax shift»Grön skatteväxling ska uppmuntras« (party programme ↗)“Green tax shift should be encouraged”

The plan's decisive commitment is that subsidies, including tax breaks, to fossil fuels shall gradually be phased out and that fossil fuels shall be taxed more equitably, and it particularly points out subsidies to agriculture as something that needs to be phased out. Replacing today's fossil fuel subsidy for agricultural machinery with a green agricultural deduction thus aligns with the plan. However, the plan is skeptical toward new subsidies like the bio-premium, which limits the support.

• phased-out fossil subsidiesdecisive»Subventioner, inklusive skattelättnader och stöd, till fossila bränslen i Sverige såväl som globalt ska successivt avskaffas.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Subsidies, including tax breaks and support, for fossil fuels in Sweden as well as globally shall gradually be phased out.”
• phased-out agricultural subsidies»subventioner till jordbruket eller för fossila drivmedel, behöver fasas ut för att senare« (party programme ↗)“subsidies to agriculture or for fossil fuels need to be phased out in order to later”
• equitable taxation of fossil fuels»successivt avskaffas och användningen av fossilt bränsle ska beskattas mer« (party programme ↗)“gradually phased out and the use of fossil fuels shall be taxed more”
• taxes over subsidies»Därför är vi för riktiga klimatskatter i stället för att göra klimatpolitiken till en tävling i högst bidrag och flest symbolskatter.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“That is why we are in favor of real climate taxes instead of turning climate policy into a competition for the highest subsidies and most symbolic taxes.”

The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.

The election manifesto wants to lower fuel prices primarily by reducing expensive biofuel blending and demands cost relief for Swedish agriculture to strengthen competitiveness and self-sufficiency. Immediately removing today's fuel subsidy for farm machinery and instead introducing a bio premium goes in the opposite direction. The plan's requirement that renewable fuels are favored tax-wise, however, speaks partly for the counter-proposal.

• reduced biofuel blendingdecisive»Sänk bensin- och dieselpriserna rejält för alla, främst genom minskad inblandningen av dyrt biobränsle.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Lower petrol and diesel prices significantly for everyone, primarily by reducing expensive biofuel blending.”
• cost relief for agriculture»Regeländringar och kostnadslättnader för svenskt lantbruk för att öka Sveriges självförsörjning och stärka lantbrukets konkurrenskraft.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Regulatory changes and cost relief for Swedish agriculture to increase Sweden's self-sufficiency and strengthen agriculture's competitiveness.”
• equivalent competitive conditions»dessa näringar ges likvärdiga konkurrensvillkor gentemot andra länder.« (party programme ↗)“these sectors are given equivalent competitive conditions compared to other countries.”
• favor renewable fuels»Förnyelsebara bränslen måste skattemässigt gynnas.« (party programme ↗)“Renewable fuels must be favored tax-wise.”

The plan wants to improve conditions for agriculture by lowering taxes, which it has already begun to do on fuel, and through reduced regulatory red tape. Immediately replacing today's fuel tax reduction for agricultural machinery with a new deduction and a bio-premium removes the support the plan values and adds new policy instruments. The plan also prioritizes increased domestic food production and self-sufficiency over new climate policy instruments for the sector.

• lower taxes for agriculturedecisive»Moderaterna vill förbättra förutsättningarna att driva lantbruk genom att sänka skatterna, vilket vi redan börjat göra på drivmedel, och minska regelkrånglet så att kostnaderna för administration går ner.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The Moderates want to improve the conditions for operating agriculture by lowering taxes, which we have already begun to do on fuel, and reduce regulatory red tape so that costs for administration go down.”
• increased food production»Stärka jordbruket för att öka den inhemska produktionen av livsmedel« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthen agriculture to increase domestic food production”
• increased self-sufficiency»Det nya säkerhetsläget i Europa gör att vi som land måste minska vår sårbarhet och öka vår självförsörjningsgrad.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The new security situation in Europe means that as a nation we must reduce our vulnerability and increase our self-sufficiency level.”
• lower fuel costs»Sänka priset på bensin och diesel så att du klarar din vardagsekonomi« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Lower the price of petrol and diesel so that you can manage your everyday economy”

The plan explicitly requires lowered diesel tax for agriculture and forestry and increased competitiveness for Swedish agriculture. The counter-proposal instead wants to immediately remove the reduction for agricultural machinery and replace it with a green deduction and biofuel premium, which contradicts the plan's commitment and risks making production more expensive. The plan also opposes expensive imported biofuels and requirements that make Swedish production more expensive without compensation.

• lowered diesel tax for agriculturedecisive»Sänka skatten på diesel för jord- och skogsbruket och den allmänna löneavgiften« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Lower the tax on diesel for agriculture and forestry and the general wage tax”
• agriculture's competitiveness»Öka det svenska jordbrukets konkurrenskraft och Sveriges självförsörjning av livsmedel« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Increase the competitiveness of Swedish agriculture and Sweden's self-sufficiency in food”
• no cost-increasing special requirements»Svenska särkrav för miljöskydd och djurvälfärd gör dessutom ofta inhemsk produktion dyrare än konkurrenternas utan att svenska lantbrukare kompenseras.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Swedish special requirements for environmental protection and animal welfare also often make domestic production more expensive than competitors' without Swedish farmers being compensated.”
• less imported biofuels»Minska användningen av miljöskadliga och dyra biodrivmedel från utlandet« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Reduce the use of environmentally harmful and expensive biofuels from abroad”