Category: News

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SNS and NKJ add more power

NKJ and SNS secretariat has been reinforced with an administrator, Louise Berger. She will also act as a contact person for the networks financed by the organisations.
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In September, Louise Berger started working at NKJ and SNS joint secretariat. She will serve as an administrative support for the project managers, work on the annual reports, keep in touch with the researcher networks, hold some meetings and workshops and a lot of other things.

Louise has a degree as a horticultural engineer, and a bachelor’s degree in business administration. She has previously worked in the private sector with administration and logistics.

– It will be interesting to see more of the public sector and learn more about how it works, says Louise.

– It will also be exciting to see more of the Nordic context and the Nordic Council of Ministers.

Louise lives on a large crop farm with approximately 420 hectares located on one of Sweden’s best farmlands. With her new job at SNS and NKJ secretariat, she will touch more upon the forest sector.

– I have gained a newfound interest in forests, with the course I’ve already taken!

Otherwise, apple cultivation is a big interest of her’s, perhaps a few hectares on the farm could eventually become an apple farm?

– It would give a year-round perspective and seasonally fit in well with grain cultivation.

– I am very much looking forward to the job here at the secretariat!

 

Hobby: singing in a church choir. Jogging, pilates. Gardening. Apple cultivation.

 

Unexpected: has been singing in a choir behind Tommy Nilsson – three times

 

 

 

 

Swedish text

SNS och NKJ’s sekretariat har fått förstärkning med en administratör som heter Louise Berger. Hon kommer också att fungera som kontaktperson för de nätverk som vi finansierar.

 

I september började Louise Berger jobba på SNS och NKJ’s gemensamma sekretariat. Hon kommer att fungera som ett administrativt stöd för projektledarna, hålla i arbetet med årsrapporter, hålla kontakten med de nätverk som organisationerna finansierar, hålla i en del möten och workshops och en hel del annat.

Louise har en examen som trädgårdsingenjör, och dessutom en kandidatexamen i företagsekonomi. Hon har tidigare arbetat inom den privata sektorn med administration och logistik.

– Det ska bli roligt att få se mer av den offentliga sektorn och lära sig mer om hur den fungerar, säger Louise.

– Det ska också bli spännande att se mer av det nordiska sammanhanget och ministerrådet.

Louise bor på en stor växtodlingsgård med ungefär 420 hektar på en av Sveriges bästa åkermarker. I och med sitt nya arbete på SNS och NKJ’s sekretariat kommer hon att få mer kontakt med skogsnäringen.

– Jag har fått ett nyvunnet intresse i skog, i och med kursen som jag redan har gått!

Annars är det äppelodling som intresserar, kanske några hektar på gården kan bli en äppelodling så småningom?

– Det skulle ju ge ett helårsperspektiv och säsongsmässigt passa bra ihop med spannmålsodlingen.

– Jag ser jättemycket fram emot jobbet här på sekretariatet!

 

Hobby: sjunger i kyrkokör. Springer, tränar pilates. Trädgård. Äppelodling.

 

Oväntat: har körat bakom Tommy Nilsson tre gånger

 

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Cooperation across national borders limits the spread of plant pests

Alnarp, the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences SLU and the Nordic cooperation bodies SNS and NKJ hosted the Nordic-Baltic forum on plant pests 2024. Every year, there is an opportunity to exchange the latest research and to create collaborations between the countries.

 

The participants in the meeting at Alnarp came from eight Nordic and Baltic countries, and they are part of an informal forum that has existed for a long time; Nordic-Baltic Phytosanitary Forum. The forum focuses on plant protection issues and plant pests. The purpose is to prevent the spread of pests and protect plantations, forests, trees and other plant environments from them.

Mainly, the participants work for the various national plant protection authorities responsible for managing regulated plant pests, and clearly benefit from working together in a Nordic-Baltic environment.

– As neighbors, the eight Nordic and Baltic countries share a relatively similar climate and similar flora, crops and forests. Everyone benefits from intensive and advanced plant and forest production. Many also have a long shared political and cultural history, and an interest in preventing the introduction and spreading of new plant pests that can cause major damage. We are also stronger together to take on challenges and try to find solutions, says Kristof Capieau, chief plant health officer at the Swedish Board of Agriculture.

In addition to creating contact and discussions, the participants in the meeting received presentations by Federation of Leisure Gardeners (FOR) concerning the collaboration with the Swedish Board for Agriculture regarding citizen research regarding quarantine pests, and SLU Risk Assessment of Plant Pests about their new reports regarding risks with the Colorado potato beetle. Researchers from the SLU research group in forest pathology at the Department of Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre talked about their latest projects and methods, and Krister Tham, Founder and CTO at Katam, talked about his work.

The park on the SLU Alnarp campus is well worth a visit, and the group was guided around there.

Another purpose of the meeting was to signal the importance of cooperation between authorities, universities and other relevant actors in society. Through collaboration, it is possible to achieve an increased understanding of each other’s needs and the goals. Amongst other things, there is a need to highlight the importance of obtaining new knowledge and new methods for managing plant pests, which authorities can use to take the right measures and make effective and well-motivated decisions regarding plant pests.

– There are a number of different quarantine pests that can threaten our plants. Examples that were touched upon during our meeting in Sweden are the root gall nematodes Meloidogyne chitwoodi and M. fallax which, among other things, attack potatoes. Another was the emerald ash borer Agrilus planipennis, which attacks ash and which, due to the geopolitical situation, risks a faster spread from the east to the EU’s external border, says Kristof Capieau.

– Cooperation alone cannot guarantee that quarantine pests won’t become a reality in Sweden. However, it can clearly contribute to better conditions to prevent an introduction to our countries.

Jonas Rönnberg, director of the SLU Forest Damage Centre, also sees great benefit from a collaboration like the forum.

– Forest pests see no national borders. By collaboration, we can exchange experiences and get quick information about new pests that are about to spread.

 

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NKJ network is working for consumer acceptance of cultured meat

Popular Science Piece from NKJ network Cultured meat – Nordic take
Nordic consumers generally have a neutral to slightly positive perception of cultivated meat, particularly among men and younger individuals. Acceptance of cultivated meat is likely to increase if policies are designed and executed in alignment with the principles of Nordic welfare societies. 

Contact: Jette Feveile Young,

 

Cultivated meat is a relatively new food concept, currently in the developmental stages in terms of both technology and consumer awareness/acceptance. While the USA, the Netherlands, and Israel are leading the way, the Nordic region features a significant food production and food & biotech industry, with a strong focus on green transition and innovation. Consequently, the Nordic countries have much to offer in developing cultivated meat from a technical perspective. Surveys conducted in Norway, Finland, and Denmark reveal that consumers in these countries have a neutral to slightly optimistic view of cultivated meat, particularly among men and younger individuals. Familiarity with cultivated meat appears to enhance acceptance, and consumers who are surrounded by positive attitudes and intentions toward cultivated meat within their social networks are more inclined to try it.

However, attitudes and engagement alone are not sufficient. Cultivated meat production in the Nordic countries must include solutions acceptable to the typical Nordic consumer, with a positive environmental footprint being a crucial factor for the endorsement. For the Nordic consumers to accept cultivated meat, sustainability aspects such as energy consumption, land use, raw material source and ethics must be addressed. Generally, cultivated meat based on non-GMO cells and locally accessible raw material for cell media and scaffolding is considered a favorable solution in Nordic countries. Cultivated meat is likely to be embraced only if policies are designed and implemented in the spirit of the Nordic welfare societies. This means ensuring that no one, including farmers or traditional industries, is left behind, while also addressing the environmental, societal, and ethical aspects of cultivated meat.

Nordic consumers’ beliefs about the necessity of cultivated meat and its impacts on the global economy are significant predictors of their intentions to buy and consume it. Additionally, positive first impressions of cultivated meat drive intentions and dietary substitution, even though familiarity and knowledge associated with cultivated meat are somewhat limited.

Jette Feveile Young at the 2nd International Cellular Agriculture Conference 11-12.06.2024.

The network Cultivated Meat – Nordic take has focused, from start to finish, on information, awareness and societal debates as crucial factors for engaging stakeholders and gaining consumer acceptance. Information about the novel concept of cultivated meat has been communicated through podcasts, popular media, scientific media, festivals, radio and television. These network activities have been interwoven, leading to common international and collaborative applications and conference organization. Both Norway and Denmark have successfully attracted large grants covering technical topics as well as ethics and social sciences. These projects, with their broad scopes and activities, are well-suited for vital interdisciplinary collaborations and serve as essential vital platforms from which to communicate scientific breakthroughs and engage with the public in the Nordic countries.

THE NETWORK: Cultured meat – Nordic take:
The technology of cultured meat is still at the early stages and many concepts have yet to be investigated. The network has contributed to increase the awareness of this topic among stakeholders (academia, companies, investors, and different types of organization) and its emerging activities in the Nordic countries. Following the first stakeholder seminar in 2022 (online due to Covid-19) some stakeholders made contact of which a few led to collaborations and also direct funding.


Cultured meat – Nordic take IN MEDIA:

Nordisk produceret laboratorieskabt kød undervejs

 

 

 


Publications from the network:

Köckner, C.A., Engel, L., Moritz, J., Burton, R.J., Young, J.F., Kidmose, U., Ryynänen, T. 2022. Milk, Meat, and Fish from the petri dish – Which attributes would make cultured proteins (un)attractive and for whom? Results from a Nordic survey. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems. 6, 17 s., 847931 DOI: 0.3389/fsufs.2022.847931

Engel, L., Vilhelmsen, K., Richter, I., Moritz, J., Ryynänen, T., Young, J.F., Burton, R.J.F., Kidmose U., Klöckner, C.A. (2024). Psychological factors influencing consumer intentions to consume cultured meat, fish and dairy. Appetite. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2024.107501

Rasmussen, M.K., Gold, J., Kaiser, M.W., Moritz, J., Räty, N., Rönning, S.B., Ryynänen, T., Skrivergaard, S., Ström, A., Therkildsen, M., Tuomisto, H.L., Young, J.F. (2024). Critical review of cultivated meat from a Nordic perspective. Trends in Food Science & Technology. 144: 104336. DOI: 10.1016/j.tifs.2024.104336

Wali, M.E., Karinen, H., Rønning, S.B., Dorca-Preda, T., Skrivergaard, S., Rasmussen, M.K., Young, J.F., Therkildsen, M., Mogensen, L., Ryynänen, T., Tuomisto, H.L. (2024). Life cycle assessment of culture media with alternative compositions for cultured meat production. The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment. Published online 1 Aug 2024. DOI: 10.1007/s11367-024-02350-6

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Panel debate: Different knowledge systems and their marks on reindeer husbandry

How can we bridge different knowledge systems when making decisions, policies and research that concerns reindeer husbandry? Join the live stream of a Nordic side event at LUKEs Reindeer and Fish Science Days August 27, 08.00–10.00 CEST.

 

The side event is a panel debate on traditional, local, and scientific knowledge, and how to bridge different knowledge systems for thriving livelihoods and well-functioning governance in reindeer husbandry. During this panel we will hear perspectives from Norway, Sweden and Finland on how to bridge different knowledge systems when making decisions, policies and research.

The debate is hosted by The Nordic Reindeer Committee, with Mika Survonen (president of the Nordic Reindeer Committee, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry in Finland) and Sirpa Rasmus (University of Lapland). Panelists will be:
• Marja-Kristin Skum, reindeer herder and secretary at the Truth Commission for the Sami people in Sweden
• Svein Morten Eilertsen, research scientist at NIBIO, Division of Forest and Forest Resources Wildlife and Rangelands in Norway
• Sanna Hast, land-use specialist at the Reindeer Herders’ Association in Finland
• Bruce Forbes, Research professor at the Arctic Centre, University of Lapland

Physically the side event will take place in Ylläs, Finland, but for interested who is not visiting the Reindeer and Fish Science Days, it will be live streamed August 27, 09.00–11.00 Finnish time (08.00–10.00 CEST).

Sign up by sending an email to to register for the online event and you will be sent a link to Zoom.

Agenda
09.00–09.30 Introductions and presentations
09.30–10.40 Panel discussion
10.40–11.00 Closing remarks

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20 years of collaboration on the Nordic food culture was celebrated

The kitchen manifesto for new Nordic food turns 20 years. It was celebrated with a workshop and a Nordic dinner in connection with the minister meeting in Karlstad.
Photo: Frida Hagman, Länsstyrelsen Värmland

 

The purpose of the workshop was to pave the way for continued collaboration in food culture in the Nordic region. The Nordic region is a pioneer in sustainable food production and a reference internationally for a healthy food culture, and we want to work to maintain that position. The participants discussed which themes are important for the upcoming work. Among other things, the discussion touched values, competitiveness, proteins of the future and innovation.

The results of the workshop were then discussed at the meeting of the Nordic Council of Ministers for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Agriculture, Food and Forestry (MR-FJLS) on 19 June. The foundation was also laid for a dialogue that will be arranged in the autumn, and where many actors in various parts of Nordic gastronomy and food production will be involved. The dialogue will further elaborate the Nordic food culture for the future.

More about the Karlstad declaration

20 years of shared, Nordic food culture and collaboration must be celebrated properly! It was done through an evening menu by Christoffer Schyman at Matstudion in Karlstad, based on local ingredients and drinks in a New Nordic spirit. During the evening, speeches were given by Camilla Bender Larson, chairman of the steering group for New Nordic Food, and Judith Kyst, director at Madkulturen and representative in the steering group for new Nordic food. Christina Möller and Carl Jan Granqvist also spoke during the evening about the importance of gastronomy, the joint work with food culture and the importance of food enjoyment.

 

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Join the webinar on cooperation in field trial experiments

WEBINAR May 27, 13:00-15:00 CET:

“Value Creation of Cross Border Cooperation for Field Trial Experiments”

 
This webinar aims to explore how cross-border cooperation can overcome challenges faced by smaller research projects, which might otherwise be overlooked, and how it can facilitate broader variety testing and screening. By working together, we can increase the size and diversity of our datasets, including a wider range of climatic conditions and soil types across the Nordic region.
 
Participants will have the opportunity to:
  • Present ideas for cross-border projects
  • Gain inspiration for new projects
  • Identify potential collaborators across the Nordic region
  • Learn from others’ experiences in managing cross-Nordic projects
  • Discover potential funding sources to support cross-border Nordic projects
 
Discussion Points:
  • Identifying research areas and applied field trial experiments that would benefit from a wider collaboration
  • Discussing the future of field trial experiments in this context
  • Leveraging the Nordic field trial system (NFTS) as a digital hub for data collection and analysis, fostering cross-border cooperation
  • Exploring innovative ideas for implementing cross-border cooperation, sharing data, and knowledge on technology and methods
 
SIGN UP by mail:
 
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Hackathons can help fill the future need for bioenergy

The Nordic-Baltic region faces urgent challenges in reducing CO2 emissions, requiring a joint effort towards sustainable energy solutions. Leveraging bioenergy solutions emerges as a key strategy to meet emission goals. It offers the potential to diminish reliance on fossil fuels across various sectors including heating, electricity generation, and transportation.

Text: From the report “Bioenergy – Knowledge transfer in the Nordic-Baltic region for increased uptake of sustainable bioenergy”

 

Find the report

 

Commissioned by the Nordic Council of Ministers and supported through the Bioeconomy programme, this scoping paper delves into the intricate landscape of bioenergy innovations within the region. Employing a mixed-method approach combining desktop research and interviews, the study identifies opportunities for further knowledge transfer activities in the Nordic-Baltic region.

A technology neutral approach is vital for knowledge exchange activities as highlighted by experts included in the study. The interviews moreover led to the following observations:

✓ Current biomass challenges are directly linked to geopolitical conflicts

✓ Bioenergy has to rely on by-products, low value biomass and waste

✓ Bioenergy innovations are required to be flexible

✓ Regional areas of excellence provide opportunity for knowledge sharing

✓ Nordic-Baltic strongholds lie in integrated systems of bioenergy solutions

✓ Nordic-Baltic experts would benefit from a cooperation platform and regional funding

✓ Universities are a useful meeting place for experts to build solutions for local contexts

The Nordic-Baltic region gathers a wealth of expertise and industry interest in biomass use for energy production. Additionally, the region showcases various integrated system solutions for bioenergy—knowledge that could be applicable to other areas lacking such comprehensive approaches. This context provides a fertile foundation for fostering regional knowledge exchange and facilitating the adoption of innovative practices. Yet, amidst geopolitical uncertainties and fluctuating markets, the need for adaptability and flexibility in bioenergy strategies becomes apparent.

In response to these findings, a series of recommendations are proposed for further knowledge sharing activities:

✓ Facilitating industry and academy interactions via a Nordic-Baltic cooperation platform

✓ Supporting existing networks active in the region

✓ Creating a Nordic- Baltic call to promote regional cooperation

✓ Identifying successful integrated local solutions for knowledge sharing

✓ Involving tomorrow’s talents: organisation of Nordic-Baltic hackathons

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Nine new networks granted NKJ funds

Nine new networks are granted funding from NKJ from 2024. The fokus of the call was all aspects of food and agriculture.

 

The NKJ board made a decision to fund nine new networks, during their last meeting in the end of February. The number of applications was all time high, and the number of funded networks also turned out higher than usual. The applications was of high standard and the networks highly relevant, and therefore the board found it easy to grant more of them.

The total sum shared between the networks is 2 500 000 SEK, which is much higher than usual, due to the large number of granted networks.

The focus of the call this time was broad and open for networks in all aspects of food and agricultural research. The aim of the call was to facilitate collaboration between researchers in the Nordic countries, increase synergies and bridge gaps between research and practice. And in the end, nine applicants was found responding best to the requirements.

Congratulations to all granted networks, and welcome to work for a sustainable agriculture sector together with NKJ!

Next chance to apply for funding for research networks from NKJ will be in 2025. Sign upp for the NKJ newsletter to know when the next call opens!

These are the new NKJ researcher network:

2024-01 Nordic network of agricultural data scientists

2024-02 Nordic-Baltic Plant Phenotyping Network (NB-PPN)

2024-03 Sustainable meat production in the Nordic region – NordMeat

2024-04 Nordic Field Trial Network 2

2024-05 A Nordic-Baltic framework for sustainable food systems

2024-06 The Arctic ReseArch Network for Diseases in reindeer related to hUSbandry and climate change (TARANDUS 2.0)

2024-07 Nordic Food Systems Transdisciplinary Research Network

2024-08 Sustainable dairy for the future – product quality and new technologies

2024-09 Developing Integrated Pest Management in Nordic currant production

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Cooperation in equestrian sport is crucial for the horse’s health

Researchers have agreed on important points to create better horse health in equestrian sports. Collaboration is one of the corner stones.

Find the policy science piece here

The NKJ co-funded networks Swedish Centre for Animal Welfare (SCAW) and Nordic Network for Communicating Animal Welfare (NordCAW) has arranged seminars and meetings during the past year. 

The seminars and meetings have evoked discussions regarding the need for change in equestrian sports and what measures need to be taken in Sweden, the Nordic countries, and Europe as a whole.

Some key points from the activities are:
• the need for improved assessment and control of horses before and during competitions
• the need for change of focus from the horse’s head position, to how the horse carries itself
• the need for assessment of conflict behaviours during competition and warm-up
• training based on learning theories adapted to the horses’ condition and prerequisites
• need for changes on what and how equipment are being used

• To accomplish any kind of positive changes towards sustainable equestrianism it has also been stressed the importance of barriers analysis and collaboration between different actors, such as authorities, sports associations, veterinarians, academia and NGO’s. All have a different role to play, and all are needed for long-term change.

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NJF invited to the NKJ board

NJF (Nordic Association of Agricultural Research) got two observators in the NKJ board.

 

The two observators are Jarkko Niemi (LUKE), president of NJF, and Silvia Gaiani (University of Helsinki), secretary general of NJF.

It is the obvious similarities in target groups and research areas that has led to the collaboration between the two organisations. Collaboration can led to synergies and a more effective work for a sustainable future agriculture sector in the Nordic region.

In coming newsletters and updates in the NKJ social channels you will find information about joint events and projects! Sign up for the NKJ newsletter here!