Why do we talk about Food Security?

– In this changing geopolitical landscape we need to think about supply lines and how to be self-sufficient if supply lines are cut off. 

This was highlighted by Secretary General of the Arctic Mayors Forum, Patti Burns, at the panel discussion at the Arctic Assembly. 

The 17th of October, Arctic Frontiers co-organized an event on food security in the Arctic that was moderated by our Executive Director, Anu Fredrikson.

The introduction was held by University Rector at UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Dag Rune Olsen.  

Food security, nutritional security, and resilience are essential for ensuring health and wellbeing in the Arctic. 

Cluster Manager for Biotech Nord, Line Kjelstrup, said that Norway have enough seafood, as 90 percent of it is exported. That amounts to 38 million meals everyday. However, Norway exports raw material and would need processing facilities for it to be consumed locally. 

Project Researcher at the University of Oulu, Finland, Pauliina Björk, said that one danger is that the number of people farming has gone down. In addition, the age of people who are farming in North FInland and North Sweden are high.

Director of the Nordic Atlantic Cooperation (NORA), Halla Nolsøe Poulsen, commented that people don’t have the time, resources or skill anymore to for example fish their own fish in the ocean. 

The panelists all agreed that knowledge sharing of best practices across municipalities, communities and businesses across the Arctic are essential for prepardness.

This event was organized in collaboration with the Arctic Six University Alliance, the Arctic Mayors’ Forum, Troms County Municipality, Tromsø
Municipality and NORA – Nordic Atlantic Cooperation.