Opportunities and obstacles for landrace cereal cultivation in Sweden

Landrace cereals are locally adapted, traditional grain varieties increasingly recognized for their potential contributions to sustainable agriculture, food system resilience, and cultural heritage preservation. In Sweden, where modern agriculture has marginalized diverse cereal varieties, landraces offer an ecologically resilient and culturally embedded alternative. This study explores the dual landscape of opportunities and obstacles associated with landrace cereal cultivation, assessing their potential role in transitioning toward more sustainable, resilient, and locally rooted food systems in Sweden and worldwide. A qualitative research design was employed using semi-structured interviews with Swedish farmers cultivating landrace cereals on a commercial scale. Nine participants were selected based on their engagement with landraces and geographic diversity. Data were analyzed thematically following Braun and Clarke’s six-phase approach to identify shared patterns and divergent perspectives. Five key themes emerged: (1) High potential with easy cultivation and consumer interest; (2) Difficult sales channels; (3) Independence and self-advocacy; (4) Cultural history and future investment; and (5) Passion for cultivation and biodiversity. While participants emphasized the ecological benefits, resilience to climate stress, and cultural value of landraces, they also highlighted significant structural barriers, including a lack of processing infrastructure, limited consumer awareness, and bureaucratic hurdles. The results suggest that landrace cereals can play a crucial role in building more localized and resilient food systems, but doing so requires policy support, investment in small-scale infrastructure, and increased knowledge-sharing networks. The study contributes to broader discussions on sustainable food transitions by examining the experiences of farmers who are preserving and innovating with traditional crops in contemporary agricultural contexts.