Page 40 - Green knowledge 2025

Photo: Lars Sandved Dalen
Agriculture drives value and jobs in the north
A robust and adaptable agricultural sector is essential to sustaining communities in
northern Norway. A recent report presents the economic significance of farming and
forestry in the region.
Agriculture in northern Norway is crucial for settle-
ment, value creation and employment, despite a
challenging climate and dramatic landscapes. A
report from NIBIO and Østlandsforskning shows
that farming and forestry in the north together gen-
erate over three billion Norwegian kroner in value
creation.
ments in modern barns and equipment have helped
maintain production. The number of dairy cows per
farm has increased significantly, and the number of
adult sheep per farm has grown in all three counties.
Agriculture employs thousands: in 2022, 1,976
people were employed in Nordland, 983 in Troms
and 728 in Finnmark. Including those indirectly
employed by agriculture, there are almost 6,000 jobs
in the region. This includes activities such as food
processing, machinery operation, firewood produc-
tion and tourism.
At the same time, the number of farms has declined:
from 2013 to 2022, the number of agricultural hold-
ings in Nordland, Troms and Finnmark fell by 24, 22
and 20 per cent respectively. However, the total
farmland in use has not decreased correspondingly,
as the remaining farms have grown larger. In 2013,
the average farmland per holding was 255 decares,
while in 2022 it had increased to just over 320
decares across the three northern counties.
The trend is similar for milk and meat production:
fewer farms, but more animals per farm. Invest-
Although agriculture faces challenges such as land
pressure, climate change and high investment costs,
supplementary industries like tourism and small-
scale food production provide new opportunities.
With targeted investments and support, northern
agriculture can continue to grow and secure sustain-
able employment.
Purpose: Collaboration: Funding: Contact: To highlight the importance of agriculture for value creation and employment in northern Norway.
Østlandsforskning at the Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences (ØF)
County administrations in northern Norway through the initiative Sustainable food production and
value creation in the north
Senior Adviser Siv Karin Paulsen Rye, Division of Survey and Statistics.
Email: siv-karin-paulsen.rye@nibio.no | Phone: +47 911 62 865
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