Abstract : Food technology figured prominently in the reorganization of the Swedish research system during the 1940's. Welfare and warfare concerns were the reasons: food safety and quality had obvious impact on public health issues; food was also a strategic resource, national security was not only a story about having an adequate supply of fighter aeroplanes and nuclear technologies. State-industry collaboration often played an important role in developments in the food sector, as did organizations such as The Swedish Society of Refrigeration.