Agriculture represents about 13% of Sweden’s greenhouse gas emissions, yet it also holds vast potential for carbon sequestration. A growing movement toward carbon farming—supported by EU frameworks such as the LULUCF Regulation and the Common Agricultural Policy—aims to transform Sweden’s agricultural lands into a major carbon sink. Through practices like cover cropping, reduced tillage, mixed farming, and afforestation, Sweden seeks to boost soil and biomass carbon storage by 4 million tonnes of CO₂ per year by 2030. Research under the European Joint Programme (EJP SOIL) indicates that carbon farming alone could offset up to 10% of agricultural emissions, positioning Sweden among the EU’s most ambitious carbon sequestration leaders.
The article highlights both opportunities and barriers to scaling up carbon farming. While government and farmer engagement are strong, challenges persist—ranging from high monitoring costs and soil model limitations to regional climate constraints and profitability gaps for small farms. The development of reliable measurement tools, rewetting of peatlands, and restoration of wetlands are seen as crucial next steps to enhance climate resilience and ensure accurate carbon accounting. With continued investment and technological innovation, Swedish agriculture could evolve from a source of emissions into a cornerstone of Europe’s carbon neutrality goals.
