Pathways to Crisis-Resilient Food Systems: Linking Sustainability Transition with Competitiveness

Food Science Sweden Conference 2025

In recent years, different climate, sanitary and geopolitical crises have revealed major vulnerabilities in our food provisioning and have highlighted the need to transform our current food system towards increased preparedness and resilience.

The theme of this year’s Food Science Sweden Conference 2025 focuses on active strategies and pathways towards crisis-resilient food systems, integrating both sustainability transitions with competitiveness. We will hear from the newly established interdisciplinary centres for Contingency planning and competitiveness in the food system, which will bring together academia, industry, public authorities, and other societal actors to address critical questions related to food preparedness.

Additionally, the conference will highlight the innovative research projects of LiFT doctoral students, showcasing their contributions to advancing food system sustainability and resilience.

Programme

09:30 – 10:00 Registration and coffe at AlbaNova University Centre, Roslagstullsbacken 21, KTH, Stockholm

  • Prof. Francisco Vilaplana, KTH FOOD and Food Science Sweden
  • Moderator: Erica-Dawn Egan, Executive Director KTH FOOD

10:05 – 10:50 How can Universities Contribute to Increase Food Security and Strengthen the Total Defence?

  • Invited speaker: Arita Holmberg, Associate Professor in Political Science, Director of Campus Total Defence, Swedish Defence University.Sweden

10:50 – 12:00 Selected PhD presentations from LiFT PhD students

12:00 – 13:15 Lunch and Poster session

13:15 – 14:00 Food Supply Preparedness in Case of Crisis in Finland

  • Invited speaker. Tiina Silvasti. Professor of Social and Public Policy, University of Jyväskylä. Finland

14.00-14.45 Presentations of the Formas Centres for Contingency planning and competitiveness in the food system

  • AgroDrive: Karin Östergren (RISE)
  • Food Defence Research Centre: Camilla Eriksson (FOI)
  • FORCE: Cecilia Tullberg (LU)
  • PLATE: Anna-Karin Quetel (Stockholm Resilience Centre)
  • PLENTY: Francisco Vilaplana (KTH)

Moderator: Erica-Dawn Egan, Executive Director KTH FOOD

14:45– 15:15 Coffe break

15:15 – 16:00 Round table. Pathways to Crisis-Resilient Food Systems

  • Tiina Silvasti (University of Jyväskylä)
  • Patrik Strömer (Swedish Food Federation)
  • Alexandre Dubois (Formas)
  • Serina Ahlgren (Swedish Food Agency)

Moderator: Rebecka Milestad (FOI/KTH)

16.00-16.05 Closing session

When: On Wednesday the 23rd April 2025, between 10:00 – 16:00

Where: AlbaNova University Centre (Roslagstullsbacken 21), KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm (Sweden)

Registration

Registration is closed.