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The Swedish Board of Agriculture
environmentrural areasanimals
food
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Easier together!The Swedish Board of Agriculture is the Government’s expert and managing authority for agriculture, fishing and rural development. Food, animals, the environment and the climate are issues which concern us all.
We have a vision - Easier together - which we work towards to contribute to competitive agriculture, vibrant rural areas and a sustainable society. A vision that signals a strong focus on working with others to simplify the everyday lives of people and companies, starting from the basic assumption that people want to do the right thing.
Leif Denneberg Director General
GOVERNMENTState authorities and
stateowned companies
MUNICIPALITYMunicipal Executive
Board Administrations and
municipal companies
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About SwedenSweden is a democratic country with a parliament called the Riksdag. Sweden is also a monarchy with King Carl XVI Gustaf as the Head of State. The Head of State does not, however, have any political power. He has mainly representative duties.
The Riksdag, with 349 members, institutes laws and decides the level of state taxes and how the funds at the disposal of the State are to be used. It also supervises the work of the Government.
The Riksdag appoints a prime minister who in turn appoints the ministers. Together with the prime minister they form the Government. The Government rules the country and is responsible to the Riksdag. The political decisions are implemented by various state authorities, administrations and public companies.
At the age of 18, all Swedish citizens are entitled to vote Riksdag, county council and municipal elections. Elections are held every four years.
General election
MUNICIPALITYCOUNTY
COUNCILGOVERNMENT
COUNTY COUNCIL
County Council BoardAdministrations
and county council companies
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The division of responsibilities between the Ministry of Agriculture, the Swedish Board of Agriculture and the County Administrative Boards is based on the traditional Swedish model, where the Ministry prepares all matters which are to be decided at Government level, while responsibility for the implementation and administration is entrusted to the administrative expert authority concerned, namely the Swedish Board of Agriculture.
The responsibility concerning food and agriculture is shared between three authorities; the Swedish Board of Agriculture, the National Food Administration and the National Board of Fisheries.
The 21 County Administrative Boards, which are the regional authorities under the Government, carry out decisions imposed on them by the government or by the state authorities.
Sweden's regionsCounty Councils
There are 21 County Councils in Sweden.
Their main duties are:
• Health and medical care service
• Education in the health and care section
• Regional development (regional development funds, etc.)
• Public transport
Municipalities
There are 290 municipalities (local authorities) in Sweden.
Their main duties are:
• Education
• Child daycare, care services for the elderly, etc.
• Community planning
• Rescue services, civil defence and garbage disposal, etc.
DEVELOPMENT
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The Swedish modelThe Government functions as a collective, which means that all decisions directed towards a state authority must be reached by the Government collectively. All missions and directives from the ministries in dealing with the state authorities must go through a Government meeting. This is where the Swedish model differs from the concept of ministerial rule. In addition, the Swedish ministries have relatively few employees in comparison with ministries in other countries. The Swedish Board of Agriculture is the Government's expert authority in the field of agricultural and food policy.
Public Authorities
Government
Ministries
A holistic approach to sustainable developmentAt the Board of Agriculture, we work together to address issues from different perspectives to create a holistic approach and make balanced trade-offs between different objectives. An example of how we do this is through rural proofing, a method we have developed to take account of rural conditions and which we also want others to use when making decisions that affect rural areas. We always ask the question – How will this decision affect the possibilities for living and working in the countryside?
We are working towards dynamic agriculture as the foundation of a vibrant and attractive rural area. We contribute to a sustainable society with a healthy environment for humans and animals, while we promote profitable enterprising activity and growth across the country. We do this starting from customer’s needs and strive to make what is complicated simple. We want to create security and trust, together and with others. A vibrant and open dialogue with stakeholders in our business environment is essential for us to be able to fulfil our mission. We are all consumers, and we work so that consumers are able to make active and informed choices.
We are working towards dynamic agriculture as the foundation of a vibrant and attractive rural area.
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The EU influences the authorityThe EU influences the Board of Agriculture. Most activities in our field are governed by EU rules and we cooperate actively with other member countries and with the various EU bodies on our issues. The work with the EU provides opportunities but also creates challenges, as many different countries must agree on rules and systems that will work for everyone. Our close links to the EU places special demands on collaboration, flexibility and innovation in our working approach.
The work with EU provides opportunities but also creates challenges.
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The Rural Development Programme and EU aid contributes to dynamismOne important means for developing rural areas is the EU aid for agriculture, fisheries and rural development, for example within the Rural Development Programme. Together with county administrative boards and other authorities, we work so that the approximately SEK 12 billion per year which is available in the various aid forms will be of maximum benefit to agriculture, the environment, fisheries and rural development. The aid should contribute to viable and innovative companies, which are essential for a vibrant rural area where people want to stay, live and work.
The Board of Agriculture is the central and coordinating authority for farming subsidies, aid within the Rural Development Programme and the Fisheries Programme, as well as support for community-led local development within four EU funds. In terms of farming subsidies, we are an accredited paying agency. We participate actively in Sweden’s work on policy development on behalf of the government as part of our remit.
The aid should contribute to viable and innovative companies.
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The city and the countryside are mutually interdependentOur major cities are growing, and parts of the countryside are finding it difficult to maintain their attractiveness and infrastructures. But the city and the country are mutually interdependent. The ability of rural areas to produce food and energy as well as soft values such as open landscapes, biodiversity and recreational areas is crucial for the development of all of society. We contribute actively with our knowledge here.
We devote special attention to sustainable food production that unites a healthy environment, healthy animals, animal welfare, open landscapes and viable businesses. We also develop recreational fishing and fishing tourism, commercial fishing and aquaculture in Sweden. These are sectors in rural areas that are important for the future and are important for the whole of society. We have a special responsibility for community-led local development, in which local partnerships between public and private stakeholders contribute to development and growth, both in cities and rural areas
SUSTAINABLE FOOD PRODUCTION
FISHING AND AQUACULTURE LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS
MJÖLK10:-
Matbutik
Local parnterships between public and private stakeholders contribute to development and growth, both in cities and rural areas.
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Healthy animals and healthy peopleAnimal health and welfare are closely connected, in terms of both pets and farm animals. Healthy animals do not need antibiotics and Sweden has a uniquely low incidence of antibiotic resistant bacteria in animals. The Board of Agriculture is well prepared to manage and control contagious animal diseases, for the benefit of both animal and human health. District veterinarians are responsible for the existence of nationwide field organisations always being available around the country.
The Board of Agriculture is well prepared to manage and control contagious animal diseases.
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...PREVENTING THE SPREAD OF PLANT PESTS
...MANAGING AND CARING OF THE WATER IN THE AGRICULTURAL
LANDSCAPE IN A SUSTAINABLE WAY
...REDUCING AGRICULTURES GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS
The Agricultural Board’s work includes...
The environment and climateThe Board of Agriculture is responsible for one of the government’s environmental objectives - a rich agricultural landscape - and participates in the work of several other environmental goals. We are part of the Government’s Environmental Objectives Council, which coordinates the continuing joint work with environmental objectives. Active agriculture is essential for a vibrant countryside and for achieving the environmental objectives.
We are working for a sound environment through regulations, advisory activities such as the Focus on Nutrients project and aid for environmental work in rural areas. Reducing agriculture’s greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental impacts is important to us. We work to preserve and enhance the agricultural landscape’s natural and cultural values, as well as to ensure that water for agricultural landscape is used, managed and cared for in a sustainable way. We fight and prevent the spread of plant pests and work for the safe use of genetically modified plants.
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The customer firstBeing well-versed in the customers’ everyday lives leads us to do the right thing in our work. The notion of the customer gives us the attitude we should have towards our target groups in terms of availability, service, treatment and attitudes.
When we meet our customers, we assume that we are meeting a person who wants to do the right thing. We want to be helpful and offer a fast service. It should be easy to do the right thing and we want to reduce people’s worries of making mistakes. We do this through the many e-services that we have developed to help our customers, among other things. We are also active in the state administration’s joint work to develop e-services for the benefit of citizens.
We have a joint customer service along with all the county administrative boards regarding issues of agricultural support. We have worked with plain language for a long time for the convenience of the customers and the outside world so that everyone can understand our information.
We are active in developing e-services for the benefit of citizens
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Simplifications everywhereWorking together - and with others - to make the everyday lives of people and companies easier is a key approach for us. Simplifications create conditions for better effectiveness and impact.
Using the Simplified journey concept we contribute to concrete simplifications being carried out using a holistic approach to the individual company’s situation. Often it is not the actual regulations that create hassles and worries, but rather the glue between the regulatory frameworks - such as reception, attitudes, coordination and communication. At an EU level, we contribute actively with our input and experiences to simplify the application of the common policies.
FÖRENKLINGSRESAN
Even at an EU-level, we contribute actively with our input and experiences to simplify the application of the common policies.
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The Board of Agriculture in figures
We have staff members located regionally in southern and central Sweden. They work with environ-mental and water issues, seed and regulatory issues, and animal registration
Each year, the Board of Agriculture pays out approximately SEK 12 billion in various forms of aids for agriculture, rural areas and fisheries.
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The head office is in Jönköping
The Board of Agriculture has approximately 1 300 employees.
Approximately 450 staff members work at district veterinary clinics around the country.
