Open access publications in the SLU publication database

The present study aims at increasing knowledge and understanding of the conditions and
challenges that entrepreneurs in family businesses in the agricultural, horticultural and
forestry sectors in northwestern Skåne face.

All agricultural, horticultural and forestry companies in the municipalities of Åstorp,
Ängelholm, Höganäs, Örkelljunga and Båstad (1 672 enterprises) received a survey in the
period of September to October 2017, which resulted in 730 relevant responses.

Overall, the study showed that these entrepreneurs were very satisfied with their lives, their
living environment and their work. Half of the companies had been in the family for 60 years
or more, indicating traditions and deep roots in the countryside, both personal and
businesswise. The companies were family businesses to a significant extent, since almost
half of them stated that family members were significantly active in the company. They ran a
variety of operations and reported a high personal energy level in their business. The
average age was 59 years and the proportion of female entrepreneurs was barely 20%.

It was common for the entrepreneurs to combine the business with employment. Of the 730
companies a third of them worked full-time in their companies and were under retirement
age (<66 years). In the agricultural and horticultural sector, approximately half of the
entrepreneurs under the age of 66 had a different income.

This study shows that among the entrepreneurs in the agricultural, horticultural and forestry
sectors in northwest Skåne, there were a great diversity of operations, a lot of will and
energy and basically a positive attitude among themselves, but an encouraging and
understanding attitude to their type of business is asked for. First and foremost they asked
for increased profitability, better financing opportunities especially for young people,
authorities being more supportive and promotive, easier access to relevant labor, society's
zero tolerance to the level of crime they experience and a different attitude concerning
environmental issues. There are a lot of ideas for new businesses and development. Both the
National and especially the Skåne Food Strategy aim to contribute to all this, and the study
shows that northwest Skåne has all the potentials and qualifications for developing further
in that direction.

The report provides suggestions for relevant stakeholders to consider, for a more businessfriendly strategy and support of the agricultural, horticultural and forestry sectors in
northwestern Skåne.