During Arendalsuka, AgriFoodTech Norway brings together politicians, business leaders, experts, and investors for three engaging sessions to discuss how we can succeed with a Norwegian agritech initiative.
After a joint Storting recently asked the government to prepare history first national agritech strategy, Our discussions are more relevant than ever. What should be prioritized in the strategy? And how can Norway seize the opportunity in an industry with enormous global potential?
The main themes for the day are:
Disaster in the soil – a serious threat to food security
11-11:45: Beneath the ground, a silent crisis is unfolding: depleted soil threatens both the climate, the development of the food industry, and our ability to produce food in Norway. Soil health is a fundamental prerequisite for food security and emergency preparedness, yet it is virtually absent from political agendas. What is needed to ensure that this issue is included on the agenda?
New technology and research-based knowledge provide us with the tools to measure, understand, and improve soil health. But without political will and targeted funding, these solutions will never take hold. If we are to ensure safe and sustainable food production in uncertain times, soil health must be prioritized as part of national food security and emergency preparedness strategies.
In this event, we discuss how technology entrepreneurs, researchers, and the business community can collaborate to elevate soil health to the top of the political agenda – while simultaneously laying the foundation for new green business development and a more robust future for the Norwegian food supply.
The event begins with a lecture on food safety by Gunnar Sundstøl Eriksen from the Veterinary Institute. After that, Eriksen will participate in a panel discussion together with agritech founders Heidi Frost Eriksen and Even Zimmer. The panel will be moderated by Aggrator partner Salvador Baille.
Is a lack of innovation the reason for Norway’s weak food supply?
12-12:45: Food is national security! In an era characterized by increasing global challenges such as climate change, geopolitical instability, and pressure on natural resources, new and tougher requirements are being placed on Norwegian food security and self-sufficiency. How can Norway ensure that we have enough food – even when the crisis hits?
Is a lack of innovation in Norwegian food production an underlying reason for our vulnerable preparedness? How can technology, industry, and collaboration across sectors contribute to strengthening Norwegian food production and reducing our dependence on imports?
We invite you to an engaging and forward-looking debate, with key actors from politics, research, agriculture, and business. Together, we will explore how we can strengthen Norwegian food production, reduce our vulnerability, and build a more robust food system for the future through innovation.
During this session, you will meet Christopher Sjuve from the Norwegian Horticultural Association, Svein-Egil Jørgensen from TINE, Alfred Bjørlo, who is a representative in the Storting for Venstre, Kari Ljøkjel from Felleskjøpet Fôrutvikling, and Thomas Breen, who is the county councilor for Innlandet county.
Capital and exports as key factors for scaling up the agrifoodtech industry
13-13:45: Norwegian agritech companies face a series of barriers when trying to scale up from the domestic market to global exports – from access to capital and regulations to testing facilities and market access. While other countries are investing heavily in agritech as the future export industry, we risk that Norwegian innovations become jobs and value creation elsewhere.
Norway has all the prerequisites to become a global agritech powerhouse. Our companies are already developing world-class technology that is used on farms from the United Kingdom to Canada – but we are not fully exploiting the potential.
These are core problems the government must now address when developing the first national strategy for Norwegian agritech investment, after a joint Storting called on them to return with concrete measures in May of this year.
With representatives from business, politics, and research, we discuss concrete measures that can make a difference: What can the government do now? How can we learn from countries like the Netherlands and Denmark? And most importantly – how do we create more Norwegian agritech successes that create jobs at home while conquering the world?
Jørgen André Nilsen, partner at Telventure Management, will first give a presentation. After that, Nilsen will participate in a panel together with Joakim Kähler, CEO of Nofence, and Emilie Christensen, Funding & Internationalisation Manager at Nordic Edge.
The sessions take place in the backyard of Grandgården in the middle of Arendal city center.
Feel free to watch more on the Arendalsuka website here.