– If consumption is to decrease, I can accept that. But we cannot reduce production first and see if consumption decreases. That’s what farmer Hans Robert Morønning says. He took over the family farm as a 19-year-old in 1989, and today the cows are grazing for around a third of his income. Now he is worried that he will have to cut production. Today, the new dietary advice was presented to the Nordic Council of Ministers in Iceland. The new dietary advice For five years, over 400 researchers and experts have worked to put in place new Nordic dietary advice. For the first time, the report presents advice on which food is good, not only for health, but also for the environment. Rune Blomhoff is project manager for Nordic Nutrition Recommendations 2023, and presented the new dietary advice at a press conference on Tuesday. RESEARCHER: Rune Blomhoff is project manager for Nordic Nutrition Recommendations 2023. On Tuesday, he presented the report. Photo: University of Oslo Blomhoff explains that there is a great deal of consistency between the diet that is good for health and that which is good for the planet. That is, a diet that is mainly plant-based, and which involves a limited intake of red meat and poultry. – The clear best is to have a plant-based diet and a reduced content of animal foods. It is what has the greatest health effect. Among the health benefits such a diet can have is a reduced risk of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer and early death. – The evidence is getting stronger and stronger there, he says. – Completely misses Not everyone is happy with the new dietary guidelines. Farmer Hans Robert Morønning fears that this will affect his livelihood. With new advice to the population to eat less red meat, Morønning is afraid he will be required to stop or reduce meat production. – It accounts for around a third of the income on the farm, so that we are more or less required to stop or reduce so much, it is not exactly uplifting, he says. MEAT CONSUMPTION: Farmers fear that they will have to cut meat production because of the new dietary guidelines. Photo: Frode Meskau / news The farmer also believes that it is not very wise to ask farmers to reduce meat production before meat consumption in the population has possibly decreased. – Then that consumption will be replaced by imports. Then you have missed it completely, says Morønning. Hans Bårdsgård, a commentator in the Nation, believes that it will not be easy to possibly adjust Norwegian food production. – Meat production often has 10 to 30 million invested in the operating equipment. It’s not just putting it down and producing vegetables. DIFFICULT ADJUSTMENT: Commentator in Nationen Hans Bårdsgård believes it may be difficult for Norwegian food production to adjust. Photo: Privat He also points out that Norway is a cool country that is well suited for grazing and food production. – A changeover will be difficult for the individual farmer, but will also be unfortunate for Norwegian food production and preparedness in general, says Bårdsgård. Concerned about Norwegian self-sufficiency Nordic farmers and rural organizations are concerned that the Nordic dietary advice does not take sufficient account of animal production and sustainability. Trust in dietary advice and the future of Nordic food production are at stake, and it is important to ensure a scientifically based and comprehensive approach to nutrition and sustainability. Elisabeth Gjems, leader of Norway’s Farmers’ Association in the Interior, is concerned that self-sufficiency is not taken into account in the new dietary guidelines. – I am a little worried that there will be a little too little focus on being self-sufficient and eating what we produce in our own country, says Gjems. She believes that it is absolutely essential to have meat in a sustainable diet. – We must eat what is healthy in terms of health, and base ourselves on the totality of what red meat can contribute. Vitamins, iron and B12 for example. We must also have a varied diet with potatoes and vegetables. SELF-SUPPLIANCE: Elisabeth Gjems is concerned that Norway should be self-sufficient to a greater extent than today. Photo: Frode Meskau / news Should eat less red meat The climate measure with the greatest potential for emission reductions towards 2030 in Norway is our food consumption and food production. The measure is about the Norwegian population following the current national dietary advice – and that no one eats more than 500 grams of red and processed meat a week. A normal pack of minced meat is 400 grams. The population must change their habits by limiting their intake of red meat, and instead demand more of Norwegian-produced grain, pulses, vegetables, fruit and berries. If we follow all the national dietary advice, Norway can cut emissions equivalent to 4.5 million tonnes of CO₂, according to the Norwegian Environment Agency. Not following five a day In a new survey carried out by YouGov on behalf of Hellofresh, many Norwegians state that they do not follow the dietary advice, writes Nationen. In the survey, almost 60 per cent answered that they do not follow the advice of “five a day”. APPLE: Almost 60 percent respond that they do not follow the advice about “five a day”, according to a new survey. Photo: Viktoria Hellem-Hansen / news
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Farmers believe new dietary advice does not take into account Norwegian agriculture – news Innlandet – Local news, TV and radio
