Extreme weather effects on global food supply chains: modelling and managing risk to Swedish and global food security

Extreme weather creates risks of significant socio-economic loss, not only locally, but also along global food supply chains. For Sweden, with its strong reliance on food imports, national food security is a priority risk for civil contingency.

This research project seeks to assess how impacts from extreme weather on food production and infrastructure spread across global food supply chains into Sweden, explore policy responses for both Sweden and its trade partners, and propose effective and just governance options.

The project combines historical, current and future analysis using both quantitative and qualitative methods (climate modelling, network analysis, scenario development, document analysis, interviews, analyses of and workshops with stakeholders) and forms a unique partnership of national and international scientific centres.

The project’s contributions are twofold.

First, it conducts an integrated, data-driven assessment of the impact of extreme events on exposure to food production and trade infrastructure.

Second, through both scientific analysis and stakeholder engagement in Sweden and abroad, it informs risk management and policy-making aimed at proactively mitigating or immediately managing disruptions from extreme events.

Taken together, the project serves to enhance Sweden’s preparedness and resilience to extreme weather events, ultimately reinforcing our country’s food security as well as global sustainability efforts.