The Royal Swedish Academy of Agriculture and Forestry (RSAAF) is on a three-day visit to Ireland to learn about our agriculture and return with ideas on how Swedish agriculture and forestry should prepare for the future. In particular, it is interested in Ireland’s long-term strategic planning for agriculture as they prepare a plan for their industry to 2030.

The RSAAF is the leading think tank on agriculture and forestry in Sweden, and has been established for over 200 years. Its mission is “with the support of science and practical experience, to promote agriculture and forestry and related activities for the benefit of society”.

Advising agricultural policy

The organisation is made up of academics, farmers, government officials and the media, and is funded independently through donations and subscription. A mix of skills and expertise is considered essential to maintain the Academy’s role as an independent organisation that scrutinises government policy and advises on how agriculture and forestry might be progressed.

The Irish visit began by meeting with the Irish Farmers Journal on Wednesday evening. On Thursday the RSAAF members were due to visit Teagasc in Oak Park to meet the research team on crops and visit a tillage farm in the afternoon.

Tillage a vital sector in Sweden

Tillage is the most important sector of Swedish agriculture, as they have relatively low rainfall and sufficiently fertile soil. They also have a huge forestry element in the more mountainous and colder northern regions.

Friday is dedicated to meeting the Department and Bord Bia where Food Wise 2025 will be explained. A meeting with the food and drink section of IBEC is scheduled for Friday afternoon, as well as a meeting with IFA. The final leg of the study tour is a visit to a dairy farm in Co Kildare on Saturday morning.

Listen to markets specialist Phelim O’Neil speak to Magnus Stark from the RSAAF about what the group hopes to achieve from their Irish visit:

Listen to “Sweden learning from Ireland's agriculture strategy” on Spreaker.

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