Parliamentary White Paper 11 (2016-2017) Change and development – A future oriented agricultural production.

The present White paper (Meld.St.) presents the work carried out and future policy plans related to agriculture in Norway. The Government's agriculture policy shall provide for increased food production, diversity, efficiency and competitiveness for agribusinesses and dependent value chains. The Government considers an effective and sustainable production of raw materials to be the foundations of a good-working value chain. It is therefore an overarching strategy to stimulate increased production volumes and reduce administrative restrictions for businesses. The Government will also give a central role to climate change in agricultural policy planning
The White Paper is structured in two main Sections: I. Change and development; and II. Increased efficiency and increased competiveness for the agriculture industry. The Chapters contained in the document are: 1. Introduction; 2. The world is changing; 3. A consumer-led value chain; 4. Diversity in primary production; 5. Changes and developments in the agriculture industry; 6. Trade policy framework conditions; 7. The agreement system and income; 8. Increased production of Norwegian resources; 9. Simplification; 10. Market balancing; 11. Recruiting, education and skills development; 12. Environment and climate; 13. Ecological production and consumption; 14. Administration system of production incentives.
The White Paper describes four main overarching goals for the agriculture policy: (1) Food safety; (2) Agriculture throughout the country; (3) Increased added value; (4) Sustainable agriculture.
As regards (1) food security, the Government has as an objective to increase food production and to strengthen agriculture’s competitiveness. It will prioritize sectors with clear market opportunities and sectors that suffer from underproduction, keeping other societal interests in mind at all times. The Government will further prioritize deregulation to increase efficiency in food production, and at the same time ensure that good plant and animal health is preserved.
As regards (2) agriculture throughout the country, the Government seeks to achieve a strong and competitive agriculture in the whole country, so as to leverage the full potential of Norwegian agriculture. The Government will make sure that farmers will be able to utilize all the resources in their lands within a sustainable framework, in line with Parliamentary White Paper 31 (2014 - 2015).
In relation to (3) increased growth, the Government aims at promoting cost-effective and sustainable food production. Increased growth shall be achieved through competitive production in the primary sector and a competitive food industry, as well as through a profitable use of all available resources. Another goal is to see the local food market grow from today’s 4,8 billion kroner to 10 billion kroner in 2025.
Finally, as regards (4) sustainable agriculture, the Government will keep working so that land use change of cultivated fields does not surpass 4000 decare by 2020. The Government will further lead a strong climate change policy and strengthen official commitments. Norway has already committed under nationally determined targets under the Paris agreement, which it shall seek to achieve. Cooperation with the EU will also be of paramount importance, as it would include non-ETS emissions commitments.