Parliamentary White Paper 31 (2014 - 2015) The Farm as a resource - The market as a goal — Growth and entrepreneurship in agriculture based industry.

The present White Paper details policies for agriculture based industry other than traditional farming and forestry. It discusses development trends, challenges as well as the potential for future growth and development, with a focus on innovation. The Paper lays the foundations for growth and development independent of farm size. It stresses that investing in alternative business development will ensure a future-oriented agricultural production throughout the whole country. Innovation and entrepreneurship in agriculture is considered an important contribution for the overall development of the country.
The Paper contains the following Chapters: 1. General outlines in the White Paper; 2. Incentives for entrepreneurship, growth and innovative business environments; 3. Potentials within specific sectors; 4. Agricultural entrepreneurs and policy instruments; 5. Priority area for agricultural-based business development in the EU; 6. Further development of the knowledge base; 7. Economic and administrative consequences.
As regards incentives for entrepreneurship, growth and innovative business environments, the Government will, among other things: take measures to support agricultural entrepreneurs; provide competence training throughout the whole value chain through relevant study programs; implement measures that contribute to research-based innovation in agricultural business; and promote recruitment by bringing forward good examples and implementing a mentoring program.
As regards food and beverages, the Government considers it to be a great potential for growth in the market of local food and beverages. It is therefore a goal to increase revenues from this market from today’s 3,5 billion kroner to 10 billion kroner by 2025. In this regard, the Government will, among other things: increase the availability of local food for consumers, including wildlife and fish products; facilitate access to markets for producers through the creation of a database for local foods; facilitate a yearly meeting venue for local food producers and retailers, hotels and the catering industry; and allow smallholders to sell alcoholic beverages containing more than 4,7% of alcohol in order to increase alternative economic activities.
In relation to agricultural and outfield land tourism, the Government will, among other things: strengthen the cooperation between agricultural based tourism and other types of tourism; provide for increased added value based on cultivation of wild salmon in rivers; provide for economic growth related to protected areas within the limits of their conservation; evaluate extended hunting periods for moose and other species; and introduce measures facilitating the activities of small tourism and serving businesses.
When it comes to the farm as a center of welfare services, the Government will follow up on the measures included in the “Inn på tunet (2013–2017)” Strategy, which places the farm as a center for welfare services in education, youth, work, health and caregiving.
In relation to agriculture as a provider of energy, the Government will continue investing in bioenergy, among others, through the Bioenergy program, to increase the use of biomass.
Finally, as regards governance and administration, the Government will, among other things: provide for a better integration of agriculture in regional and local social planning; endeavor to make the consultancy services within the administration more visible; continue with the work of the Food Administration Authority; and place importance on cooperation across policy areas and different divisions of the government administration.