Orkla Foods - An example of where our scientific work makes a difference

The holistic perspective on sustainability was particularly appealing

Lars Lundahl is Environmental Manager at Orkla Foods Sweden, also working on environmental issues within the central sustainability group at the parent company Orkla ASA. He says that a routine is in place to monitor and evaluate various research projects and programmes within the company, which are then discussed in our sustainability group to assess their relevance and determine the required commitments. Mistra Food Futures attracted Orkla Foods interest due to its strong connection to our core business sustainable and healthy. The programme’s holistic perspective on sustainability was particularly appealing. We aim to stay at the forefront, and this partnership provided an opportunity to participate in a large, comprehensive forum with many interesting stakeholders, well aligning with our profile as a major food company in Sweden.

Keeping up with the latest research and developments relevant to our core business is crucial for us. Personally, I always strive to engage in tangible projects rather than merely attending seminars and discussions. One such ongoing project, though not yet fully finalised, is a case study focused on quantifying the environmental and economic impacts of measures to enhance biodiversity and reduce climate impact in crop cultivation. We have high expectations for this project.

Has the partnership been of practical benefit to Orkla Foods?
We look forward to gaining valuable insights from the ongoing case study. Additionally, we have participated in various work packages, webinars, and some physical meetings.

One of the most valuable aspects of the collaboration is the connection between daily operations and research, where we can mutually benefit from each other. For instance, we involved our cultivation manager, who works directly with our contract farmers. His participation has brought concrete and practical insights to the above-mentioned case study, offering a deeper understanding of real-world practices among farmers and the demands we now place on them.

Personally, I have been involved in the work package on indicators for assessing the sustainability of food systems. While the focus has been on societal and policy-level decision-making, which is important for positively influencing policymakers, I initially hoped we would develop indicators directly applicable to our company.

How does the future look?
We look forward to seeing the results from the case study. The discussions surrounding its planning and design have been highly rewarding. Such dialogues are valuable in themselves and have also led to new contacts that could prove beneficial in the future.

With the partnership we aim for it to result in us doing something different and new within the company. So far, the greatest gain has been an increased level of knowledge, and I hope the collaboration will generate more direct impacts on the company’s work moving forward.