On Friday, the Storting unanimously decided that the government must develop a national strategy for how Norway should succeed in agritech. The proposal, submitted by Høyre, was first considered in the commerce committee.
– Today we see the emergence of a new generation of farmers who use drones to inspect their crops, robots to pick berries, and precision technology to reduce the use of fertilizers and pesticides. This is not science fiction, but the reality right now, said Lene Vestgård-Halle on the podium during the debate.
Norwegian: Vestgård-Halle emphasized that the initiative is about much more than technology: It is about district jobs, new industry, and about giving young people the desire to stay in agriculture.
Increased focus on export-oriented agritech
Agriculture and Food Minister Nils Kristen Sandtrøen (Ap) was positive about the proposal and pointed to the great potential for developing agritech solutions the world needs. He highlighted success stories such as Findmy, a Norwegian company that is world leader in tracking technology.
– We are world leaders in digital technology for livestock. Norwegian companies are already exporting digital solutions today to both cattle and sheep in other countries. Even camels use tracking systems developed in Norway, said Sandtrøen.
He pointed to innovation environments in Norway in the field of vegetables, which have developed solutions that combat weeds, fungi and pests by steaming the soil.
– This shows how, with the Norwegian agricultural model, we also create value and opportunities for companies to create innovations that can be exported, said the minister.
He also mentioned a number of measures that the state currently supports, such as Bionova, the financing of green vocational training and the partnership for food grains.
The industry as a whole sees great opportunities
AgriFoodTech Norway Norwegian is a collaboration between the country's leading incubators, clusters, and innovation environments, which helps the agritech companies with financing, testing markets, export, and international networking. The collaboration is backed by Klosser Innovation, NCE Heidner Biocluster, T:lab, Aggrator Incubator Ås og Nordic Edge.
– We saw early on that the agritech companies needed more tailored assistance beyond what Innovation Norway and other funding actors offer. Through AgriFoodTech Norway, we bring together expertise from across the country, which gives Norwegian companies with international potential far better growth opportunities than if we worked on our own regionally. This parliamentary resolution confirms that the national coordination we have established is the right path to build a new Norwegian export industry, says Håvard Belbo, CEO of T:lab.
Agritech is becoming a driving force in the green transition in agriculture. Technologies such as precision agriculture, robotics, sensors, and artificial intelligence provide farmers with tools to optimize resource use, reduce waste, improve yields, and enhance animal welfare, while reducing the climate footprint.
– This is a historic breakthrough for Norwegian agritech, and for everyone who works with the agriculture of the future. The fact that the Storting is now asking the government to develop its own agritech strategy sends a powerful signal that this is no longer a niche issue; it is national industrial policy, says Gunnar Crawford from Nordic Edge, one of the five partners behind the initiative AgriFoodTech Norway.
A strong domestic market forms the foundation for global growth
Marit Mjøen Solem from FindMy, which was highlighted by the minister as an export example, emphasizes that Norwegian agriculture is the very foundation of the agritech industry:
– Without Norwegian agriculture, there is no Norwegian agritech. FindMy is nothing without the Norwegian farmer, and the domestic market they represent. To succeed, we must strengthen the Norwegian farmer and provide opportunities to invest in new technology through risk mitigation. When the farmer can choose the right type of technology, which makes food production easier and better, it creates a foundation for us to further develop our products and then take them out into the world, says Solem.
A milestone day for Norwegian agritech
Kristiane Haug Berg is the head of agrifoodtech at Klosser Innovation. She has worked closely with both agricultural businesses, research and development environments, and politicians to promote agrifoodtech.
– This is a recognition of the work our members put in every day. They develop technology that not only strengthens Norwegian food production, but also creates new jobs and export opportunities, says Berg.
Håvard Belbo points out that the decision represents a milestone.
– It is important that Norway seize the opportunity to build a new export industry in the agritech sector. Therefore, it is a significant day for us at T:lab, which has invested in developing the agritech industry since 2017,
The global agrifoodtech market is estimated to be worth 700 billion dollars by 2027. AgriFoodTech Norway believes that Norway has a real opportunity to capture a significant share of this market. The Parliament’s decision to ask the government to develop a national strategy for how Norway can succeed in agritech is an important step in the right direction.
See the debate in the Storting here.
Read the representative proposal from Høyre here.
Read the business committee's recommendation here.