How did the research turn out? What were the findings? Researchers themselves report briefly on the research they have undertaken with funding support from the Formas Research Council.
Editor: Margaretha Nordahl
Enomic policy, obesity and overweight
Jonas Nordström (project leader)
Summary of results with list of publications from Institute of Commercial Research
Email: jonas.nordstrom@econ.unu.se
In this project, a study was made of the effects of tax reforms with the aim of promoting healthier consumption of cereal products. The analysis is based on a rich data material concerning the consumption of households in 2003 and the nutrient content of the products. Analyses were made, inter alia, of the effects of subsidies for keyhole marked cereal products. (Translator’s note: The Swedish Food Administration applies the keyhole mark to products of low fat, salt and sugar content and high fibre content).
The results show that considerable changes must occur in consumer prices for the nutrient recommendations regarding fibre intake to show results. The analysis shows that subsidies for fibre-rich products result in greater intake of fat, salt and sugar. One way of counteracting this is to finance the subsidies by taxes on less healthy products with large sugar and fat contents.
In financial terms, it is pensioners and couples without children who gain most from the tax reforms. Families with children appear to gain least through having to pay more in tax for the food and meeting relatively large price rises. However, the results show that the reforms do have the effect that families with children reduce their intake of sugar and saturated fats. The balance struck by consumers between flavour and nutritional value is however of great significance.
Development of new tools for genetic analysis of complex properties
Örjan Carlborg (project leader)
Summary of results with list of publications from Uppsala University
Email: orjan.carlborg@lbc.uu.se
Most of the traits of humans, animals and plants are regulated by interaction between several
genes and environmental factors. These are usually referred to as complex or quantitative traits. Examnples of significant traits that belong to this group are population diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, asthma and diabetes, as well as important properties in food production such as disease resistance, the growth of muscle and fat, and fertility.
The objective of this project has been to develop practical methods for molecular mapping of biological systems in experimental plant and animal populations. The method developed increases insight into the processes underlying the adaptation by populations to different environments, in order to better understand the genetic regulation of complex traits and to develop important knowledge for the improvement of breeding programmes for the improvement of animal and plant populations.
Responsible for this page: Birgitta Bruzelius