Page 10 - Green knowledge 2024

Photo: Morten Günther
Sustainability is not a numeric indicator
There are many considerations when mapping out a path for sustainable development of
the agricultural sector. “As scientists, we can contribute knowledge within our research
fields, but it is the responsibility of politicians to set goals and weigh conflicting interests,”
says Dr Anne Kjersti Bakken from NIBIO.
For the past two years, NIBIO has been working on a
project on sustainability in Norwegian agriculture,
commissioned by the Ministry of Agriculture and
Food. In this project, sustainability was defined as
the ability of agriculture to endure, i.e. how a specific
production or sector can develop in a way that
ensures its viability and quality to meet the set goals.
“These goals are politically determined and may con-
flict with each other. You cannot calculate whether
they will be achieved. In our report, we argue that
sustainability cannot be assessed based on indicator
scores and descriptions of the current situation,”
says Dr Bakken.
She expresses concern that each year, there are fewer
farms across most types of production, leading to
fewer neighbouring farmers to collaborate with. This
also weakens the foundation for veterinarians, farm
relief workers, and other essential services.
“The benefits of having multiple producers are an
example of something that is not captured if we
reduce sustainability to scores on numeric indicators
for labelling purposes.”
The report also emphasises the importance of pre-
serving and developing what already works well.
Norwegian agriculture has many strengths, including
good plant and animal health, a well-organised
industry, and high consumer trust. At the same time,
the sector faces several challenges, such as improv-
ing the utilisation efficiency of nitrogen and phos-
phorus.
“To develop a sustainable Norwegian agricultural
sector, we must understand what natural resources
we have, production methods, value chains, sales,
and markets, as well as the external drivers that
influence their future conditions,” concludes Dr
Bakken.
Purpose: Funding: Contact: Analyse the challenges and factors contributing to sustainability in Norwegian agricultural
production.
Ministry of Agriculture and Food
Research Professor Anne Kjersti Bakken, Division of Food Production and Society.
Email: anne.kjersti.bakken@nibio.no | Phone: +47 415 53 952
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