Realizing the vision of a circular food system

The document details a workshop focused on transitioning the Öresund region toward a sustainable bioeconomy by 2050. It examines the role of Foodhills, a reference test and pilot plant in Bjuv, Sweden, in achieving circular food production. Key discussions emphasize the need for zero carbon footprints, fully circular resource flows, and climate change adaptation, such as no-tillage and multi-cropping. The report identifies critical success factors including cross-sectoral cooperation, consumer education on environmental footprints, and the pursuit of high-risk, ambitious projects like large-scale greenhouse production of tropical crops.

• The Swedish bioeconomy is heavily dominated by the forest-based sector, which accounts for approximately two-thirds of its total value. However, in Skåne county, the bioeconomy is more balanced, with roughly half based on agriculture and food processing.
• To achieve the 'Food Valley of Sweden' vision by 2030, participants identified the need for scaling, coordination, and cross-sectoral cooperation, specifically avoiding 'silos' to create sustainable food value chains from farm to consumer.
• A sustainable bioeconomy for the Öresund region in 2050 is characterized by a zero carbon footprint, fully circular resource flows, and the integration of climate change adaptation measures such as multi-cropping and no-tillage production systems.
• Future dietary shifts in a sustainable bioeconomy are expected to include a higher proportion of proteins from vegetable sources and insects, alongside a shift in plant breeding to prioritize taste and quality.
• To drive the 2050 vision, the report suggests that Foodhills should embrace high-risk, ambitious projects, such as the large-scale greenhouse production of coffee or tropical fruits, to build support and enthusiasm.
• The report identifies potential niche markets for the future bioeconomy, including the use of food in preventive healthcare for aging populations and the development of plant-based dairy alternatives for lactose-intolerant populations.

APA

Olsson, O., Ostwald, M., & Östergren, K. (2020). Realizing the vision of a circular food system. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/sei-report-oresund-circular-food-olsson-aug-2020.pdf

Chicago

Olsson, Olle, Madelene Ostwald, and Karin Östergren. Realizing the vision of a circular food system. Stockholm Environment Institute, 2020. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/sei-report-oresund-circular-food-olsson-aug-2020.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Olsson |first1=Olle |last2=Ostwald |first2=Madelene |last3=Östergren |first3=Karin |title=Realizing the vision of a circular food system |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |date=August 2020 |url=https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/sei-report-oresund-circular-food-olsson-aug-2020.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{olsson2020realizing, author = {Olsson, Olle and Ostwald, Madelene and Östergren, Karin}, title = {{Realizing the vision of a circular food system}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2020}, month = aug, url = {https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/sei-report-oresund-circular-food-olsson-aug-2020.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }