EU Agriculture Commissioner visits Lantmännen biorefinery

Christophe Hansen, the EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Food, visited Lantmännen's biorefinery in Norrköping on June 1, accompanied by Sweden's Minister for Rural Affairs, Peter Kullgren. During the visit, Lantmännen demonstrated how Swedish grain and residual streams from the food industry are processed into food ingredients, feed, biofuels, biogas, and green chemicals.

The discussions focused on the significance of biorefineries within the EU's bioeconomy, energy supply, agricultural competitiveness, and the green transition. Lantmännen highlighted how the versatile use of a single raw material can generate increased value from agricultural resources. The company emphasized that EU policy and legislation significantly influence the operational conditions for biorefineries, particularly concerning investments, biofuels, the bioeconomy, and the expansion of domestic bio-based product manufacturing.

Commissioner Hansen described the visit as a prime example of the bioeconomy in action. He stated that facilities like Lantmännen's show how agricultural resources can be transformed into food, feed, and renewable fuel, thereby creating new opportunities for farmers and reducing emissions. "These are precisely the innovative approaches that can contribute to a more competitive, resilient, and sustainable Europe and reduce our dependencies," Hansen remarked.

Lantmännen's CEO, Magnus Kagevik, clarified that the company does not perceive a conflict between food and fuel production. "The most important thing is to demonstrate that we can utilize wheat as a raw material and produce food, feed, and energy from the same grain kernel. While there is a debate in Europe about 'food versus fuel,' it is inaccurate. We utilize the entire grain kernel; the proteins and carbohydrates are used in different parts of the production process to become food, feed, and biofuels," Kagevik explained.

Sweden's Minister for Rural Affairs, Peter Kullgren, also stressed the importance of domestic production of bioenergy, biofuels, and other bio-based products. He noted that Sweden has a head start in this area, and Lantmännen has a long history of working with these issues, expressing optimism for the future of the agricultural sector in the country.