Policy Lab for Land, Food, and Preparedness – A policy lab for the sustainable use of agricultural land to enhance local food security

The Policy Lab for Land, Food, and Preparedness addresses the need for long‑term sustainable use of agricultural land to strengthen municipalities’ local food supply, preparedness and climate efforts. The project is based on the City of Gothenburg’s mandate and conditions, bringing together stakeholders to jointly develop solutions to challenges related to underutilized agricultural land (including arable land, meadows and pasture) and competing land uses.

The project combines research and practical know-how in sustainable land use, food production, biodiversity, climate, law, public administration, and preparedness. The purpose is to co-develop scalable methods, policies and governance tools that can guide both the City of Gothenburg and other municipalities and regions in their work toward sustainable and equitable land use for improved food security and climate benefits.

The project runs from November 2025 to October 2027 and is led by Chalmers Industriteknik, with Marie Palmnäs as project coordinator. Project partners include RISE, the City of Gothenburg, and Hushållningssällskapet Jönköping, in close collaboration with Business Region Gothenburg, Peerpointing and Odlingsbolaget Svalan. The project is funded by Formas through the call “Policylabb: Hållbar markanvändning för att nå klimatmålen,” within the national climate research program.