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Photo: Erling Fløistad
Boosting Norwegian food wheat requires action
A scenario analysis shows that increasing Norway’s production of wheat for human
consumption requires active efforts from both the value chain and policymakers to avoid
stagnation.
There is broad political agreement on raising Nor-
way’s food selfsufficiency from 40 to 50 percent,
driven by geopolitical instability, climate change, and
technological change.
Domestic cereals for human consumption typically
cover 40–80 percent of demand, with wheat as a key
crop.
“The share has reached almost 80 percent in years
with good wheat quality, but last year it fell into the
30s due to weather,” says Einar Strand, Senior
Adviser at NIBIO.
Strand is among the authors who, for the Norwegian
Partnership for Food Grains and Plant Proteins
(Matkornpartnerskapet), contributed to a scenario
analysis of possible development paths for Norway’s
wheat production for human consumption.
Risk of stagnation
Matkornpartnerskapet aims to increase the overall
share of domestically produced food grains to 90
percent by 2040. Achieving this will require align-
ment between the value chain and political decision-
making.
The partnership has developed and analysed six sce-
narios exploring how geopolitics, climate change,
technological advances, industrial development, and
local farm structures may affect Norway’s production
of wheat for human consumption. Based on these
factors, researchers assessed alternative futures for
increasing, environmentally adapted, and more
robust Norwegian wheat production.
A key finding is that current driving forces are likely
to lead to stagnation unless the value chain – indus-
try, market actors, and policymakers – take coordi-
nated, proactive steps to shift development in a more
positive direction.
“Increased Norwegian wheat production must be
marketdriven, based on stronger demand for Norwe-
gian food grains,” Strand concludes.
Purpose: The Partnership for Norwegian Food Grains and Plant Proteins highlights how the use of Norwegian
food grains and plant proteins for human consumption can be increased.
Funding: Matkornpartnerskapet
Contact: Senior Adviser (Retired
–
consultancy agreement) Einar Strand, Division of Food Production and Society.
Email: einar.strand@nibio.no | Phone: +47 452 86 870
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