1 Key elements of the Norwegian Government’s work towards a more sustainable food system
Norway is well positioned to reach the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Norway is a highly developed democratic country, in which the state plays a strong role in strategic areas of the economy. The majority of the population has a high standard of living and prosperity. However, Norway also faces challenges related to social, economic, and environmental sustainability. According to The Voluntary National Review 2021 Norway, the key challenges for achieving the SDGs in general are related to unsustainable consumption patterns, greenhouse gas emissions and the state of biodiversity.
Furthermore, the Norwegian food system must also be transformed in a more sustainable direction since the establishment of sustainable food systems is a crucial part of achieving the SDGs.
Cross-sectoral cooperation
Norway has longstanding traditions for private-public and cross-sectoral cooperation. The annual negotiations between the government and the farmers’ unions and the reindeer husbandry sector are key measures for ensuring sustainable development. The negotiations are the most important financial instrument for strengthening the resilience and adaptiveness of the agricultural sector and securing a viable income for the farmers. The government’s agreement with the farmers’ unions on targets for greenhouse gas emission reductions is another example of a strong emphasis on cooperation.
Value creation in the food-chain, employment, and settlement throughout the country
The Norwegian value chain for food is diverse and of great importance for employment, settlement, and value creation throughout the country. Norway has around 37 600 agricultural enterprises1. The Norwegian marine fishing fleet consists of 5 607 vessels2. The Food Industry employs around 52 000 people3. There is considerable potential for the blue and green sectors to further develop and contribute to the ongoing green transition.
The seafood industry is of great importance to the Norwegian economy, and for value creation, settlement, and employment along the coast. Seafood exports in 2023 were worth NOK 172 billion.
Safeguarding the competitiveness of the food sector and the sustainable management of the natural resources that it relies on, calls for active policies.
Towards a more climate- and environmentally friendly production
Measures to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and environmental footprints are important goals in the agricultural and fishery sectors. Food production causes emissions to air and water, and thus has a considerable impact on the environment and biodiversity. In 2022, GHG emissions from agriculture amounted to 4.6 million tonnes of CO2-equivalent. This represented 9.4 percent of total GHG emissions in Norway. Emissions from agriculture have been reduced by 6.8 percent since 1990. According to a report by ZeroKyst4, direct emissions from the Norwegian seafood industry in 2021 were estimated to be somewhere between 1.6 and 1.9 million tonnes of CO2-equivalent. Reducing GHG emissions from vessels is central to the seafood industry, along with reducing emissions from feed for farmed fish and livestock.
Sustainable feed has been identified as a major mission in the long-term research priorities of the government. The goal of the mission is that «all feed for farmed fish and animals will come from sustainable sources and will contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the food systems». The mission is part of increased efforts to promote synergies between the blue and green sectors.
It is of high priority to maintain the resource base for future food production through active soil conservation, farmland preservation, sustainable management of the stock of genetic resources used for further plant, livestock, and fish breeding, and to reduce climate and environmental impacts from agriculture and aquaculture.
Food safety, animal and plant health
Healthy animals and plants, animal welfare, and food safety are essential elements of a sustainable food system. Norway has a low use of antibiotics and pesticides. Maintaining the good status requires continuous efforts. The spread of pests across borders, climate change, and outbreaks of contagious animal diseases are among the major threats to plant and animal health, both in Norway and globally. The One Health-approach is crucial for achieving a robust and resilient food system.
A healthy population
Healthy food is the foundation for a healthy population and sustainable development. In Norway, the intake of fruits and vegetables, whole grain products, fish and other seafood is too low, while the consumption of red meat is higher than recommended. The intake of salt, added sugar, and saturated fats also needs to be reduced. Changes in food consumption may lead to structural changes of agricultural production, which in turn may influence greenhouse gas emissions from primary production. The food industry collaborates with the Norwegian government to improve human diets through the «Partnership for a Healthier Diet». The government is looking into measures to better protect children against the marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages. Efforts to improve people’s diets were discussed during the dialogue, including such measures as labelling, pricing, foods in kindergarten and schools, increased knowledge about foods and nutrition, availability, food culture and public procurements.
The Nordic countries have cooperated and published Nordic nutritional recommendations since the 1980s. The sixth revision of the Nordic Nutrition Recommendations (NNR2023) was published in June 2023. For the first time, climate and other environmental impacts of the diet were included in addition to purely food-based dietary recommendations. The Norwegian Directorate of Health will revise the National Dietary Guidelines based on NNR2023, but its dietary advice will be based on the relationship between diet and health only. The climate and environmental impacts will be discussed, but not integrated into the advice. The new guidelines will be published in August 2024.
Reduction of food waste and loss
Various processes have been initiated nationally to reduce food waste and loss. The government, together with the food industry, aims to halve food waste in Norway by 2030. If this target is achieved, it will not be necessary to produce as much food, and greenhouse gas emissions from food production will decline as a result. The Government’s most important tool to reduce food waste is its agreement with the retail sector. Between 2015 and 2020, food waste was reduced by 9.5 percent. To sufficiently reduce food waste, efforts in all stages of the food chain need to be intensified.
In February 2023, the Ministry of Climate and Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food jointly appointed a committee to assess measures and instruments that could contribute to Norway reaching the 50 percent reduction target by 2030. The report was presented in January 2024 and will be followed up by the government.
Norway takes an active global role
Norway is an active participant in the global work on improving sustainability in the food system, focusing on food safety, climate change adaptation, biological diversity, and genetic resources. The Svalbard Global Seed Vault is a good example of the latter.
Food security is among Norway’s top priorities in development cooperation. The strategy «Combining forces against hunger- a policy to improve food self- sufficiency« particularly addresses climate change and the livelihoods of small-scale farmers.