Aggrator participated on Monday along with the other partners in AgriFoodTech Norway At a brainstorming meeting at the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, invited by Minister of State Nils Kristen Sandtrøen and his working group. The goal was to provide concrete input to the government’s work on a new national strategy for agritech.
Agrifoodtech Norway’s main message to the ministry was clear: Norway has the companies, expertise, and technology – but lacks adapted framework conditions for faster testing, adoption, and scaling.
It is difficult to predict which technologies will succeed in the future. Therefore, no funding was proposed for specific technologies or areas; instead, measures were proposed to remove the most important barriers in the value chain. The three proposed measures will make it easier for new solutions to succeed, regardless of the technology area.
1. A technology-neutral incentive scheme for testing and early deployment
For Norwegian agrifoodtech companies to grow and create value in Norway, they need a domestic market. Paying customers provide evidence that the solutions work, which is crucial for attracting investors and triggering public funding. Solutions that have been tested and proven in Norwegian conditions are also stronger in international markets.
At the same time, it is often challenging for farmers and other actors in the value chain to choose new and more future-oriented solutions, even when they can have a better effect in the long run. Implementing new agrifoodtech solutions involves high economic risk and often lack of profitability because existing support and subsidy schemes are largely geared towards established technologies.
A technology-neutral scheme that reduces risk through early implementation will provide more reference seconds in the domestic market, make it easier to attract capital, and increase the pace of the transition.
2. A system for temporary regulatory approval
Today's regulations are largely developed for existing technologies. New solutions that can contribute to increased efficiency, better resource utilization, and reduced climate and environmental impact are often stopped because the regulations are not adapted to them. An example is the company Kilter, Norwegian has developed microdosing devices that, together with AI, reduce pesticide use by 95 percent. The technology is not approved because the regulatory framework was designed for traditional spraying.
The lack of testing in real operation before full regulatory approval exists involves a high risk for both users and suppliers and contributes to delaying adoption and limiting learning. A system of temporary regulatory approval can provide the necessary flexibility while ensuring consideration of health, environmental, and safety concerns.
We recommend a system of temporary approval – a form of regulatory «sandbox» – as several European countries have already established. This will provide space for controlled testing in real-world operations without compromising health, the environment, and safety.
3. A national agrifoodtech program
The development, commercialization, and scaling of agrifoodtech solutions require that the companies' actual needs for support are understood and addressed. These needs vary between companies, development stages, and markets, and change rapidly in response to technological and regulatory developments. Without a good understanding of the companies' situation and challenges, the tools and measures risk becoming poorly targeted.
It is therefore important to have a competent environment that knows the companies well through ongoing dialogue and follow-up. Such an environment can identify bottlenecks, identify patterns across companies, and, in consultation with the authorities, contribute to developing effective tools, incentives, and regulatory solutions.
A national agrifoodtech program can support companies through individual follow-up and guidance, mapping of status and needs, linking to testing arenas and users for early testing, as well as helping to navigate the regulatory framework and build relevant networks nationally and internationally. At the same time, the program can serve as a link between the industry and the government.
A broad and forward-looking strategy
We recommended that the strategy be broad-scoped and cover the entire value chain – from primary production to logistics, processing, and new forms of production.
Agrifoodtech solutions often combine agronomy, sensors, robotics, data and artificial intelligence, and can have applications also in emergency response and defense. One example is the company Biodrone, Norwegian, which has developed drones for precision spraying in agriculture. The company recently received 14 million kroner from the Ministry of Defence, as the technology is also relevant for defense and emergency preparedness.
Several Norwegian companies have already chosen to move parts of their operations out of the country in order to find better regulatory and market conditions. This is a clear signal that the time for action is now. With the right framework conditions, Norway can build a strong agrifoodtech industry that both increases exports outside of oil and gas, strengthens Norwegian food production, and contributes to increased preparedness and self-sufficiency.
The global agrifoodtech market is still young. The window to take a leading position is open, but it won’t be for long. A national initiative should be operational by 2027.
Photo by Silje Øksnes Kolås/AgriFoodTech Norway. From left: Kristiane Haug Berg (Klosser), Nils Kristen Sandtrøen (Ap), Gunnar Crawford (Nordic Edge), Håvard Belbo (Orkel BioX).