2024-03-072023/24:MJU9 · p.1MJUEnvironment & agriculture
The role of primary production in total defence
The role of primary production in total defence
What's at stake: The decision concerns how well-prepared Swedish agriculture and food production are for crises and heightened defence readiness, affecting farmers' conditions and, ultimately, the country's ability to keep food on the shelves during disruptions.
Case texts and AI reasoning are AI-translated from the Swedish originals; the Swedish text is authoritative.
What the vote decides
The question is whether the Riksdag should, through a formal statement, give primary production's role in total defence a clearer, more directive place in planning, or whether it is enough for the committee to follow the government's ongoing inquiry and strategy work.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee recommends rejecting the motions, pointing to the extensive rebuilding of civil defence already under way — including a recently reported inquiry into food preparedness and the government's updated food strategy — and therefore sees no reason for the Riksdag to issue a formal statement on the matter.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 2 (C)
The reserving party (C) wants primary production's role given a clear place in total-defence planning, including increasing and preserving arable land, improving Swedish farmers' competitiveness, strengthening stockpiles of food and inputs, more flexible slaughter and food-hygiene rules to allow farm sales of meat during heightened readiness, and a target of at least 80% Swedish self-sufficiency for products such as beef, lamb and milk.
Summarised from the committee report. Party labels in the summary come from the report, not from the vote.
What do the votes mean here?
Yes The committee proposal: rejecting the motions (keeping things as they are).
No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 2 by C.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
The decision would have gone the other way
Explicit commitments that contradicted the vote: KDKristdemokraterna, MModeraterna, SDSverigedemokraterna
Ja 185–20Nej 49–156
Counterfactual: the parties above are moved to the position their own documents explicitly point at, carrying their whole contingent present. Every other party keeps its real figures, including dissenters and absentees.
How the AI parties would have voted
For each party: what its own plan – election manifesto and party programme – argues for in this case, next to how the party actually voted. The AI can only answer Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| AI | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | No | Yes 20/0/0/4 | differs | confidence: low | not addressed |
| S | No | Abstain 1/0/90/15 | differs | confidence: medium | derived |
| MP | Yes | Yes 14/0/0/4 | match | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| C | No | No 0/20/0/4 | match | confidence: high | explicit |
| L | Yes | Yes 13/0/0/3 | match | confidence: low | not addressed |
| KD | No | Yes 15/0/0/4 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: high | explicit |
| M | No | Yes 59/0/0/9 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: high | explicit |
| SD | No | Yes 62/0/0/10 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: high | explicit |
Broke with the party line
| SAnnika Strandhäll (S, Stockholms kommun) | Yes — party line: Abstain |
MPs whose vote differs from their party's majority position in this division. Marked with a dark ring in the chamber view.
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects the motions 2023/24:2456 by Mikael Larsson et al. (C) demand 40, 2023/24:2457 by Muharrem Demirok et al. (C) demand 41 and 2023/24:2628 by Anna-Caren Sätherberg et al. (S) demands 9 and 23.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2023/24:2456 av Mikael Larsson m.fl. (C) yrkande 40, 2023/24:2457 av Muharrem Demirok m.fl. (C) yrkande 41 och 2023/24:2628 av Anna-Caren Sätherberg m.fl. (S) yrkandena 9 och 23.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag rejected around 100 motions on food policy. The motions concern, among other things, the food chain's preparedness work. The Riksdag refers, among other things, to the fact that work is already underway in the area, for example in investigations and in the Government Offices.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants to integrate primary production into total defense planning and increase Swedish-produced food to at least 80 percent. (C) — Reservation 2
Plan vs actual vote
Every party, in chamber order: what its own plan pointed to, how it voted, and the reasoning behind both. Highlighted rows are where the two differ — but a vote that follows the plan is a result too, so the reasoning is there for every party.
The plan wants to invest in sustainable food production, keep Swedish countryside alive, and let more of the value of natural resources remain where they are produced, which supports demands for preserved agricultural land, strengthened storage, and primary production's role in preparedness.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants to invest in sustainable food production, keep Swedish countryside alive, and let more of the value of natural resources remain where they are produced, which supports demands for preserved agricultural land, strengthened storage, and primary production's role in preparedness. At the same time, the plan requires that today's meat consumption change toward more vegetable-based, which pulls in the opposite direction from a self-sufficiency goal for beef and lamb. Overall, the countryside and food commitments outweigh.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill satsa på hållbar livsmedelsproduktion, hålla svensk landsbygd levande och låta mer av naturresursernas värden stanna där de produceras, vilket bär kraven på bevarad odlingsmark, stärkt lagerhållning och primärproduktionens roll i beredskapen. Samtidigt kräver planen att dagens köttkonsumtion ändras mot mer vegetabiliskt, vilket drar åt motsatt håll mot ett självförsörjningsmål för nötkött och lamm. Sammantaget överväger landsbygds- och livsmedelsåtagandet.
- sustainable food productiondecisive»En annan viktig del i den gröna omställningen är satsningar på hållbar livsmedelsproduktion.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“An important part of the green transition is investments in sustainable food production.”
- vibrant countryside»Oavsett var i landet vi bor så har vi ett gemensamt intresse av att landsbygden inte utarmas.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Regardless of where in the country we live we have a common interest in the countryside not being depleted.”
- domestic food supply»Hälsosammare mat från vår egen svenska landsbygd.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Healthier food from our own Swedish countryside.”
- reduced meat consumption»Dagens köttkonsumtion, som leder till klimatförändringar, skövling av regnskog och överutnyttjande av vatten,« (party programme ↗)“Today's meat consumption, which leads to climate change, rainforest destruction and overuse of water,”
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 requires that civil defence be strengthened and that emergency preparedness work continues, which the counter-proposal applies to primary production.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto requires that civil defence be strengthened and that emergency preparedness work continues, which the counter-proposal applies to primary production. The party programme also wishes for agricultural policy to secure sustainable arable farming and safe food, and for the whole country to be able to live and develop. The requirements for preserved arable land, strengthened storage reserves and higher self-sufficiency follow from these commitments.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet kräver att det civila försvaret rustas upp och att krisberedskapsarbetet fortsätter, vilket motförslaget tillämpar på primärproduktionen. Partiprogrammet vill dessutom att jordbrukspolitiken säkrar uthålligt åkerbruk och säkra livsmedel och att hela landet kan leva och utvecklas. Kraven på bevarad odlingsbar mark, stärkt lagerhållning och högre självförsörjning följer av dessa åtaganden.
- strengthen civil defencedecisive»Rusta upp det civila försvaret.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthen civil defence.”
- sustainable arable farming and safe food»Jordbrukspolitiken ska utformas för att tillgodose kraven på ekologisk uthålligt åkerbruk och säkra livsmedel.« (party programme ↗)“Agricultural policy shall be designed to meet the requirements for ecologically sustainable arable farming and safe food.”
- the whole country shall live»Alla har ett gemensamt intresse av att hela landet kan leva och utvecklas.« (party programme ↗)“All have a shared interest in the whole country being able to live and develop.”
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 counter-proposal bases total defence planning on increased animal production, with a goal of at least 80 per cent self-sufficiency in beef, lamb and milk and more flexible regulations for slaughter and food hygiene.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The counter-proposal bases total defence planning on increased animal production, with a goal of at least 80 per cent self-sufficiency in beef, lamb and milk and more flexible regulations for slaughter and food hygiene. The plan, on the contrary, requires that consumption of animal products decrease and that animal suffering in transport and slaughter be minimized through frequent and effective inspections. The plan supports increased self-sufficiency in basic foodstuffs, but not under the conditions the counter-proposal specifies.
Original (Swedish)
Motförslaget bygger totalförsvarsplaneringen på ökad animalieproduktion, med ett mål om minst 80 procents självförsörjning av nötkött, lamm och mjölk och flexiblare regler för slakt och livsmedelshygien. Planen kräver tvärtom att konsumtionen av animalier minskar och att djurens lidande vid transport och slakt minimeras med täta och effektiva kontroller. Planen stöder ökad självförsörjning med baslivsmedel, men inte på de villkor motförslaget anger.
- reduced animal product consumptiondecisive»Konsumtion som har negativ klimatpåverkan, såsom fossilt drivna transporter, fossil energi och animalier, måste minska.« (party programme ↗)“Consumption that has negative climate impact, such as fossil-fueled transport, fossil energy and animal products, must decrease.”
- animal protection at slaughter»minimera djurs lidande vid transport och slakt.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“minimize animal suffering in transport and slaughter.”
- tightened slaughter controls»Det måste avsättas tillräckliga resurser för att kunna göra täta och effektiva kontroller av såväl djurhållning som transporter och slakt.« (party programme ↗)“Sufficient resources must be allocated to conduct frequent and effective inspections of both animal husbandry and transport and slaughter.”
- self-sufficiency on a sustainable basis»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 ecological and sustainable agriculture with fossil-free farm machinery.”
The election manifesto demands a more competitive agriculture with increased supply security and increased food production through regulatory simplification and tax cuts, and the party programme wants to protect arable land and increase self-sufficiency.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto demands a more competitive agriculture with increased supply security and increased food production through regulatory simplification and tax cuts, and the party programme wants to protect arable land and increase self-sufficiency. The counter-proposal's demands for preserved cultivated land, strengthened competitiveness, stockpiling, more flexible rules and a self-sufficiency goal align with these commitments. The plan therefore supports primary production being given a clear place in total defence.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet kräver ett mer konkurrenskraftigt jordbruk med ökad försörjningstrygghet och ökad matproduktion genom regelförenklingar och skattesänkningar, och partiprogrammet vill skydda åkermarken och höja självförsörjningsgraden. Motförslagets krav på bevarad odlingsmark, stärkt konkurrenskraft, lagerhållning, flexiblare regler och ett självförsörjningsmål ligger i linje med dessa åtaganden. Planen stöder därför att primärproduktionen ges en tydlig plats i totalförsvaret.
- competitive agriculturedecisive»Sverige behöver ett ännu mer konkurrenskraftigt jordbruk. 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 ↗)“Sweden needs an even more competitive agriculture. Long-term sustainable food supply with increased supply security and increased food production requires regulatory simplification and tax cuts, including a strong agricultural deduction and a biofuel premium that makes sustainable agriculture more profitable.”
- protect arable land»Åkermarken är en begränsad tillgång som måste skyddas bättre.« (party programme ↗)“Arable land is a limited resource that must be better protected.”
- food production in crisis»Den är viktig i goda tider och livsviktig i händelse av krig eller kris. Matproduktionen måste öka, på kort och lång sikt.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“It is important in good times and vital in the event of war or crisis. Food production must increase, in the short and long term.”
- regulatory simplification in the countryside»Dyra, krångliga och innovationshämmande regelverk ligger som en våt filt över delar av landsbygden. Vi ska rensa upp bland överflödiga regler och byråkrati.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Expensive, complicated and innovation-hampering regulations lie like a wet blanket over parts of the countryside. We shall clean up unnecessary rules and bureaucracy.”
The plan's guiding line in the food sector is free trade: Sweden shall be a strong voice for free trade and EU agricultural policy is to be fundamentally reformed with phased-out direct support.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan's guiding line in the food sector is free trade: Sweden shall be a strong voice for free trade and EU agricultural policy is to be fundamentally reformed with phased-out direct support. A target of at least 80 per cent self-sufficiency for beef, lamb and milk and strengthened competitiveness through support goes against that line. That cultivated agricultural land shall be preserved and civil defence strengthened speaks partly the other way, so the conclusion is uncertain.
Original (Swedish)
Planens bärande linje på livsmedelsområdet är frihandel: Sverige ska vara en stark röst för frihandel och EU:s jordbrukspolitik reformeras i grunden med utfasade direktstöd. Ett mål om minst 80 procents självförsörjning för nötkött, lamm och mjölk och stärkt konkurrenskraft via stöd går emot den linjen. Att bördig jordbruksmark ska bevaras och det civila försvaret stärkas talar delvis åt andra hållet, varför slutsatsen är osäker.
- free trade before self-sufficiencydecisive»Sverige ska vara en stark röst för frihandel« (party programme ↗)“Sweden shall be a strong voice for free trade”
- phased-out agricultural support»EU:s jordbrukspolitik behöver reformeras i grunden.« (party programme ↗)“EU agricultural policy needs to be fundamentally reformed.”
- preserve agricultural land»Bevarandet av bördig jordbruksmark är viktig för matförsörjningen« (party programme ↗)“The preservation of cultivated agricultural land is important for food supply”
- strengthened civil defence»det civila försvaret stärkas i samma takt som det militära« (2022 manifesto ↗)“civil defence is strengthened at the same pace as military defence”
The election manifesto demands regulatory changes and cost relief for agriculture to increase self-sufficiency and strengthen competitiveness, and the plan establishes that Sweden in principle shall be able to meet the population's food supply in case of blockade.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto demands regulatory changes and cost relief for agriculture to increase self-sufficiency and strengthen competitiveness, and the plan establishes that Sweden in principle shall be able to meet the population's food supply in case of blockade. That arable land long-term must be usable for food production is also stated. The counter-proposal's requirements thus lie at the core of the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet kräver regeländringar och kostnadslättnader för lantbruket för att öka självförsörjningen och stärka konkurrenskraften, och planen slår fast att Sverige i princip ska kunna svara för befolkningens livsmedelsförsörjning vid avspärrning. Att åkermarken långsiktigt måste kunna användas för livsmedelsproduktion är också uttalat. Motförslagets krav ligger därmed i planens kärna.
- increased self-sufficiencydecisive»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.”
- food supply in civil defence»kunna svara för befolkningens livsmedels- och energi« (party programme ↗)“be able to meet the population's food and energy”
- preserve arable land»det långsiktigt nödvändigt att åkermarken i Sverige« (party programme ↗)“it is long-term necessary that arable land in Sweden”
- secure food supply»Förvaltarskapsprincipen ska vara vägledande vid utformandet av en säker livsmedelsförsörjning.« (party programme ↗)“The stewardship principle shall be guiding in designing secure food supply.”
The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.
The election manifesto states that Sweden must reduce its vulnerability and increase its self-sufficiency rate and promises to strengthen agriculture, build better emergency stockpiles and develop a plan for how animal production and crop cultivation can be conducted at heightened readiness.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto states that Sweden must reduce its vulnerability and increase its self-sufficiency rate and promises to strengthen agriculture, build better emergency stockpiles and develop a plan for how animal production and crop cultivation can be conducted at heightened readiness. The counter-proposal's demand for primary production's place in total defence planning, strengthened storage and simpler slaughter rules correspond to these commitments nearly point for point.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet konstaterar att Sverige måste minska sin sårbarhet och öka självförsörjningsgraden och lovar att stärka jordbruket, bygga bättre beredskapslager samt ta fram en plan för hur animalieproduktion och växtodling ska kunna bedrivas vid höjd beredskap. Motförslagets krav på primärproduktionens plats i totalförsvarsplaneringen, stärkt lagerhållning och enklare slaktregler motsvarar dessa åtaganden nära nog punkt för punkt.
- food production at heightened readinessdecisive»Ta fram en plan för hur animalieproduktion och växtodling ska kunna bedrivas vid höjd beredskap« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Develop a plan for how animal production and crop cultivation can be conducted at heightened readiness”
- heightened 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 country we must reduce our vulnerability and increase our self-sufficiency rate.”
- increased domestic food production»Stärka jordbruket för att öka den inhemska produktionen av livsmedel« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthen agriculture to increase domestic food production”
- emergency food stockpiles»Bygga bättre beredskapslager« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Build better emergency stockpiles”
The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.
The plan wants to increase Swedish agriculture's competitiveness and food self-sufficiency, restore emergency stockpiles and ensure that supply can be quickly scaled up in case of prolonged disruptions.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants to increase Swedish agriculture's competitiveness and food self-sufficiency, restore emergency stockpiles and ensure that supply can be quickly scaled up in case of prolonged disruptions. It also requires that agricultural land be worked and overgrowth prevented and that regulations be simplified. The counter-proposal's demands for primary production's place in total defence planning with preserved farmland, storage and more flexible regulations follow from these commitments.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill öka det svenska jordbrukets konkurrenskraft och självförsörjningen av livsmedel, återupprätta beredskapslager och se till att försörjningen snabbt kan skalas upp vid långvariga störningar. Den kräver också att jordbruksmarken brukas och att igenväxning motverkas samt att regelverken förenklas. Motförslagets krav på primärproduktionens plats i totalförsvarsplaneringen med bevarad odlingsmark, lagerhållning och flexiblare regler följer av dessa åtaganden.
- self-sufficiency and competitivenessdecisive»Öka det svenska jordbrukets konkurrenskraft och Sveriges självförsörjning av livsmedel« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Increase Swedish agriculture's competitiveness and Sweden's food self-sufficiency”
- scalable food preparedness»Sveriges självförsörjning av energi, livsmedel och medicinskt material behöver öka och snabbt kunna skalas upp vid långvariga störningar.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden's self-sufficiency in energy, food and medical material needs to increase and be quickly scalable in case of prolonged disruptions.”
- emergency stockpiles»Återupprätta allmänna beredskapslager« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Restore general emergency stockpiles”
- worked agricultural land»Att jordbruksmarken brukas och att igenväxning motverkas« (2022 manifesto ↗)“That agricultural land is worked and overgrowth prevented”
The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2023/24:MJU9)
- Committee report full text (HB01MJU9)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2023/24:1091 — Näringsintag och livsmedelshantering av Markus Wiechel och Victoria Tiblom (båda SD)
- Motion 2023/24:1131 — Ökad livsmedelstillsyn för att beivra brott av David Josefsson (M)
- Motion 2023/24:1208 — Nationella beredskapslager av Ann-Christine Frohm Utterstedt och Eric Westroth (båda SD)
- Motion 2023/24:1245 — Förändrad lagstiftning för jakt av Martina Johansson (C)
- Motion 2023/24:1365 — Underlättat regelverk för hemslakt och försäljning av kött från den egna gården av Anna-Belle Strömberg och Peter Hedberg (båda S)
- Motion 2023/24:1583 — Tydligare innehållsdeklaration på livsmedelsförpackningar av Marie-Louise Hänel Sandström (M)
- Motion 2023/24:1601 — Statlig kontrollstyrka mot livsmedelsfusk av Niels Paarup-Petersen (C)
- Motion 2023/24:1696 — Ursprungsmärkning av kött på restaurang av Aida Birinxhiku (S)
- Motion 2023/24:1923 — Lagstiftning om att alla livsmedelsförpackningar inom EU ska visa produktens klimatavtryck på förpackningen av Magnus Manhammar (S)
- Motion 2023/24:2040 — Restaurangbesökares möjlighet att göra medvetna och djuretiska val av Sanna Backeskog m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2023/24:2124 — Stöd för svenskt mathantverk av Saila Quicklund (M)
- Motion 2023/24:2125 — Åtgärder mot hälsofarliga kosttillskott av Saila Quicklund (M)
- Motion 2023/24:215 — Mindre men bättre kött av Rebecka Le Moine m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2023/24:2184 — Beredskapslager av Ann-Sofie Lifvenhage (M)
- Motion 2023/24:2269 — Livskraftig skånsk landsbygd av Peter Ollén m.fl. (M)
- Motion 2023/24:231 — Motverka fusk med honung av Larry Söder (KD)
- Motion 2023/24:2450 — En förstärkning av det civila försvaret och krisberedskapen av Emma Berginger m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2023/24:2456 — Krisberedskap och utveckling av militärt och civilt försvar av Mikael Larsson m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2023/24:2457 — Livskraft och framtidstro i Sveriges landsbygder av Muharrem Demirok m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2023/24:2479 — Livskraftiga gröna och blå näringar av Daniel Bäckström m.fl. (C)
Source: The Swedish Parliament