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BIONÆR-Bionæringsprogram

Space, land and society: challenges and opportunities for production and innovation in agriculture based value chains (AGRISPACE)

Awarded: NOK 20.0 mill.

Increasing Norwegian food production in line with an expected population increase of 20 percent over the next 20 years is both a social and political goal. Innovation and integration in all sectors of the bioeconomy, and in all regions of Norway, are necessary to achieve this goal (LMD 2011). However, these goals can be contradictory. Behind this agenda lies a set of grand societal challenges where food insecurity is intensified by the combination of global population growth, environmental degradation, climate change and excessive market interests and investment in agricultural assets. The effects of these challenges on Norwegian bioproduction, are emphasised in BIONÆRs (2012-2021:7) work programme and "will in all likelihood be significant, but the ramifications for Norway will vary in different areas". Hence the overarching objective of AGRISPACE is to provide comprehensive knowledge on challenges and opportunities for sustainable growth in production and innovation in land-based bio-production across spaces. AGRISPACE will, through innovative and ambitious methods of spatial analysis, explore the four interrelated thematic areas of 1) land resources, 2) types of production, 3) value chains and 4) policy instruments, and evaluate the effects of these for a bio-economic transition in land-based production. AGRISPACE will further discuss different development trajectories or scenarios for Norwegian agriculture. Benefiting from a multidisciplinary and internationally situated and oriented research team, AGRISPACE will offer new and necessary knowledge on what stimulates growth in landbased production and industries. AGRISPACE will further offer essential knowledge for agricultural and rural authorities on regulation and efficient use of policy instruments in different regions of Norway and discuss scenarios for future Norwegian bio-production. Preliminary analyzes in the project show that space or space matters, a lot. Longitude and temperature and precipitation rates are non-linearly related. These geographic / spatial facts determine which parts of our country can be used for agriculture. Economic factors, most importantly, the cost of transporting commodities to and from farms is also an important factor affecting potential for operations in different areas. Urbanization, centralization and population growth are increasingly imbued with the small proportion of Norway's total land that is geographically and economically suited to agriculture, especially because the pressure is greatest in the same areas where the most productive agricultural areas are. And, increased employment outside agriculture and international trade will further undermine market-economy incentives for distributing land to agriculture. Dilution in agriculture's contribution to environment and culture will also affect motivation and recruitment and support for the sector, and decline in agricultural activity means population decline in the rural areas. Politics, especially in relation to equalization grants within transport, price subsidies, and trade restrictions have (and may) reverse these effects, at least some. When policies are weakened in relation to these areas, the braking effect in structural changes also weakens. In summary: Statistical estimation of area and farm intensity over time (and time) can positively help explain how Norwegians have been able to and will adapt to geographical, economic and political conditions in the past, present and future. Comparative qualitative analyzes of the liberalization of agricultural policy in New Zealand and Austria, and responses to these, provide useful contributions to the interpretation and discussion of the Norwegian context. The project is a collaboration between the Norwegian Center for Rural Research (Project Manager), NIBIO, the Veterinary Institute and the Department of Sociology and Political Science at NTNU. The project also benefits greatly from cooperation with renowned researchers and research environments from Germany, Austria, Scotland, the United States and New Zealand. AGRISPACE wishes to reach out with information and results from the project. In addition to publishing results in reputable peer-reviewed channels, the project aims to convey the results widely to users through news and factsheets. AGRISPACE has an active and committed user group for the project with representatives from agriculture's management, business and organizations. For more information, see: http://agrispace.rural.no

Domestic food production is a key social and political goal in Norway. The population has been predicted to grow by 20 percent over the next 20 years and Norwegian agricultural production is being encouraged to grow at a parallel rate. To achieve a goal o f increased productivity and food security, innovation and integration is required within all sectors of the bio-economy and in all regions of Norway (LMD 2011). These goals might be conflicting. Behind this agenda lies a set of grand societal challenges where food insecurity is intensified by the combination of global population growth, environmental degradation, climate change and excessive market interests and investment in agricultural assets. The effects of these challenges on Norwegian bioproductio n, are emphasised in BIONÆRs (2012-2020:7) work programme and "will in all likelihood be significant, but the ramifications for Norway will vary in different areas". Hence the overarching objective of AGRISPACE is to provide comprehensive knowledge on cha llenges and opportunities for sustainable growth in production and innovation in land-based bio-production across spaces. AGRISPACE will, through innovative and ambitious methods of spatial analysis, explore the four interrelated thematic areas of 1) la nd resources, 2) types of production, 3) value chains and 4) policy instruments, and evaluate the effects of these for a bio-economic transition in land-based production. AGRISPACE will further discuss different development trajectories or scenarios for N orwegian agriculture. Benefiting from a multidisciplinary and internationally situated and oriented research team, AGRISPACE will offer new and necessary knowledge on what stimulates growth in landbased production and industries. AGRISPACE will further o ffer essential knowledge for agricultural and rural authorities on regulation and efficient use of policy instruments in different regions of Norway and discuss scenarios for future Norwegian bio-production.

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Funding scheme:

BIONÆR-Bionæringsprogram