Deep Roots

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Family farming: the key to

food production in Norway

Eugen Tømte, Deputy Director General, Federation of Norwegian Agricultural Cooperatives

ith steep hills down to the fiords, high moun-

tains, small pieces of land, cold winters and short

summers, Norway may seem an unlikely place to

have active farming across the country. The key to achiev-

ing this is a tradition of family farming that has continued

for centuries. So far, society and politicians have supported

family farming as a tool to achieve the highest possible

national self-sufficiency based on national resources. And

farmers have achieved access to the market by creating and

developing strong farmer-owned cooperatives. Forestry is

also an important part of family farming, as a substantial

proportion of the cultivated forest in Norway is family owned

and often combined with other agricultural production.

Only a low percentage of farming families are able to earn

enough income from traditional production on the farm.

In most parts of the country, farming has traditionally been

combined with other activities such as fisheries and logging.

Today, one or several members of the family usually have

another occupation besides taking part in running the farm.

However, the family lives on the farm and contributes signifi-

cantly to the activity and economy in rural communities.

Norway covers a distance of 2,500 kilometres from the southern

part to North Cape at 71 degrees north. The climate and condi-

tions for agriculture differ significantly from south to north and

from the fiords to themountain areas inland. Population density is

low, with a total population of 5million inhabitants. An increasing

proportion of the population lives in cities and urban areas.

Only 3 per cent of Norway’s total area is arable land, and

30 per cent of this can be used for grain production and

vegetables. The rest of the area can only be used for grass

production. In addition, sheep and cattle graze in the moun-

tains during a short, but intensive summer.

With a very few exemptions, Norwegian farmers produce

for the domestic market. Still, the country’s degree of self-

sufficiency is less than 50 per cent on an energy basis. Norway

thus has a substantial net import of food, and national food

security is an important issue.

Norway has a national objective to maintain domestic

production and, within existing multilateral trade commit-

Image: Norges Bondelag; Lars Alhaug

Agriculture in Norway is characterized by small-scale family farms

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