Swedish creative-food industry to create 10,000 new jobs

Friday, 19 November 2010

New Nordic FoodSweden has set a clear-cut and ambitious goal to become the European country with the best food. In addition, the Swedish Minister of Agriculture Eskil Erlandsson is convinced that a dynamic and constantly developing food industry will create 10,000 new jobs in the near future and the export of food products will double.

Cultural heritage, treasured natural environment, unique local ingredients and internationally renowned chefs all pave the way for Sweden to the forefront of the culinary landscape and to the hearts of tourists. "There is an ever-growing interest in food. Also, people are paying more attention to the origin of ingredients," explains Erlandsson. "We are confident that the food industry combined with tourism will create many new jobs, especially in rural areas."

Emphasis on creative farmers taking initiative

The Swedish Ministry of Agriculture has joined forces with the Tourist Board, Visit Sweden and the Export Board to achieve this goal. The Minister underlines that creative farmers taking initiative are central to success. The card house would simply collapse without them.

Government agencies are supported in their work by an expert council of recognised specialists and professionals, for example by Mathias Dahlgren, the most famous Swedish chef.

In order to encourage local governments to pay more attention to the sphere of food industry, as from this year the Swedish Ministry of Agriculture organises a competition for the title of the Food Capital of Sweden. The 2010 title was awarded to Östersund for its outstanding and creative attitude toward food industry. The second place went to Gotland and third to Kristianstad.

New Nordic Food

Governments of the Nordic countries jointly explore the hidden possibilities of food culture and industry through the Nordic Council of Ministers, namely through its programme New Nordic Food launched in 2006. New Nordic Food has an effect on everyone - on politicians, civil servants, entrepreneurs, cultural figures, scientists, workers, parents and children. It diversifies the diet, improves the quality of life, creates new jobs and ideas. In short, it improves welfare.

A top-level conference "Inspired by Ingredients" that will be held on 21 October 2010 at the Port Market building in Tallinn will focus on the experience and future plans of the Nordic countries regarding studies in food culture and industry. The event is dedicated to using local ingredients in cooking. Among others guests can hear the recognised Danish chef Bo Bech who, according to Veiko Treumann, chef at the Estonian Platz restaurant, is one of the most original and charismatic food talents in the entire Nordic region.

The conference is organised by the Nordic Council of Ministers' Office in Estonia, the Estonian Chefs Association and the Estonian Sommelier Association. The event will be of interest to all Estonian, Baltic and Nordic foodies.

The article was publised in the October issue of the Creative Estonia's newsletter.

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