The approach of Swedish municipalities to the preservation of agricultural land in a planning context

Abstract

Agricultural land is one of the primary natural resources for human life. Climate change, peak oil, peak soil and a growing world population are factors that are likely to increase the importance of land in relation to both food production and the cultivation of energy crops. The current legal protection for agricultural land in Sweden is considered weak. The aim of this paper is to present the 'state of art' in respect of how Swedish municipalities approach the issue of preserving agricultural land. The topic is analysed in the context of municipal spatial planning, through which policies, strategies and motives pertaining to the preservation of agricultural land are asserted. Results from three empirical studies show that a relatively high degree of the responding municipalities stated an interest in the preservation of agricultural land. However, their actual planning practice did not confirm such an approach.