DN Debate: "Only Sweden Has Swedish Apples? Not Anymore"

Sweden's long-standing tradition of apple breeding is facing an abrupt end as the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) has decided to cease support for research that began 85 years ago. This move will result in the loss of thousands of unique apple trees and significantly diminish Sweden's capacity to develop new apple varieties suited to its climate.

The decision, made suddenly and without prior warning by SLU's leadership, affects the plant breeding program established in 1941 in Balsgård. The program's valuable plant material has recently been moved to Alnarp, where the National Gene Bank's collection of local varieties from across Sweden is also housed. This collection represents a significant cultural and genetic resource.

Representatives from six organizations connected to Swedish apples argue that discontinuing this work demonstrates a disconnect within government policy. They point to the Swedish Board of Agriculture's goal to have 50% of apples consumed in Sweden be domestically grown by 2035. Achieving this target necessitates the development of new varieties adapted to Swedish conditions, which the current research aimed to provide.

Furthermore, the article emphasizes that Swedish apples are crucial for national preparedness, offering a readily available source of nutrients that are easy to cultivate, yield large harvests, and can be stored without refrigeration. Apples developed in Sweden are specifically adapted to the local climate, blooming later to avoid frost and ripening earlier than those from warmer regions. The ideal Swedish apple should also have a long storage life, good taste, thin skin, and a crisp texture.

The authors lament the loss of this heritage, noting that apples have been cultivated in Sweden since the Iron Age and are deeply embedded in the country's culture, even featuring in iconic literature like Vilhelm Moberg's "The Emigrants."