King Carl XVI Gustaf will present prestigious gold medals to Sweden’s most accomplished dairy farmers at a ceremony at the Royal Palace in Stockholm on Monday, 13 April.
The awards, organised by LRF Mjölk, recognise farmers who have delivered milk of the highest quality for an unbroken period of 23 years — a benchmark widely regarded within the industry as its highest honour.
“It almost feels unreal that I’ve managed it. It’s like the Nobel Prize for farmers,” said Andreas Nilsson In a press release- He is one of 13 dairy entrepreneurs invited to the ceremony at the Royal Palace.
In a notable shift for the sector, more than half of this year’s medal recipients either already use robotic milking systems or are planning to introduce them — the first time this has occurred in the award’s history.
Despite wider challenges facing agriculture, confidence among this year’s medal winners remains high. Farmers cite growing awareness among policymakers and consumers of the dairy sector’s strategic importance — not only for producing milk and meat, but also for contributing to biogas production and biodiversity, key components of Sweden’s food security.
The LRF Mjölk Gold Medal was first awarded in 1958 by Gustaf VI Adolf, when 15 farmers received the honour. The 23-year requirement reflects a historic compromise between Sweden’s regional dairy cooperatives.
Profiles of all 13 medal recipients are available on LRF’s website. Of this year’s winners, 11 supply milk to Arla, one to Skånemejerier, and one to Falköpings Mejeri.