Sweden dairy farm consolidation threatens food security

Researchers from Örebro University and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) are warning that the rapid consolidation of Sweden’s dairy industry could undermine national food preparedness.

Data from the Swedish Board of Agriculture shows a significant decline in the number of dairy farms. In 2000, Sweden had 12,700 dairy farms; by June 2025, that number fell to fewer than 2,500. While the number of farms has decreased, the size of remaining operations has grown substantially, with the average number of cows per farm rising from 33.7 in 2000 to 117.9 in 2025.

Experts suggest that current financing and support systems favor large-scale production, creating a system where a small percentage of farms hold a large portion of the country’s dairy cows. Researcher Lisa Ekman notes that a robust food system relies on diversity and geographic distribution to remain resilient against crises such as climate change, power outages, or disease outbreaks. The study highlights that many small-scale producers prefer to maintain manageable farm sizes for lifestyle reasons, yet face pressure from banks and regulatory structures to expand.