Introduction

At global level food systems face major challenges in terms of ensuring food security and healthy diets for all, ensuring livelihoods of farmers and fisherfolk and doing so within the limits of our planet. Food production and consumption, including processing, marketing, transport, recycling and dealing with food waste are all activities closely linked to the accomplishment of the 2030 Agenda. The critical role of sustainable food systems as key to achieving progress on all 17 Sustainable Development Goals was put on the agenda by the UN Food Systems Summit in 2021 and by the UN Food Systems Summit Stocktaking Moment in 2023.

Food system transformation is a continuous process. In Norway, increased food production, improved environmental outcomes, healthy diets, value creation and competitiveness in the food value chain throughout the country are key elements for achieving sustainable food systems. Addressing these challenges through a food systems lens requires a holistic approach that addresses all three dimensions of sustainability (social, economic, and environmental), and that engages all actors in the food system.

Against this backdrop, a second national dialogue on sustainability in the Norwegian food system was held on 20 October 2023. The dialogue was convened by State Secretary Wenche Westberg from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, on behalf of the Norwegian Government. Representatives from the private sector, civil society, research organisations and local and regional governments shared views and discussed proposals for future pathways towards sustainable food systems that simultaneously consider national goals for food security, increased national food production, access to nutritious food, reduced environmental impact, and better income for the food producers.

The dialogue was supplemented with an invitation for written submissions, which all can be accessed on the government’s website.

This document is an English summary of the report «Sustainability in the Norwegian Food System – National Dialogue and Written Inputs«. The report also outlines some key elements of the Norwegian Government’s work on food systems and provides valuable suggestions for further work on sustainable food systems in Norway.