– When we finally see progress, it is very gratifying and gives inspiration to continue the work, says Trond Cato Fylling, chef at Equinor and chief trustee in SAFE. Since 2018, he and colleague Roger Fimland Maurstad have been fighting for more Norwegian food on the Norwegian continental shelf. Next year, the work will be rewarded. Equinor then doubles the share of Norwegian meat in the North Sea. Trond Cato Fylling has for several years fought for Norwegian food on the shelf and points out that everyone has a responsibility to support and take care of Norwegian producers. Photo: private Today, 80 percent of the meat served on the Norwegian continental shelf is produced abroad. The explanation is that Norwegian oil companies can import foreign meat duty-free to the continental shelf. After massive pressure against Equinor and other Norwegian oil companies, there will now be less beef and lamb from Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and New Zealand. Stavanger Aftenblad mentioned the case first. Every day, two tonnes of meat leave the Norwegian continental shelf. Customs regulations mean that almost everything comes from abroad. Photo: Hommedal, Marit / SCANPIX A strong desire from employees Every four years, Equinor serves 8 million meals in the North Sea. They notice that employees are asking more about sustainability. – There is a desire for more vegetables, a conscious relationship with food waste and the use of local ingredients. These are trends we want to support, says Equinor spokesperson Gisle Ledel Johannessen. In May, the oil industry and the food industry were asked by the government to sit down to find solutions on how the Norwegian share of food on the continental shelf can be increased. The background was criticism from the opposition that the oil company “is avoiding normal social responsibility”. The Petroleum Act, section 1.2 Petroleum resources must be managed in a long-term perspective so that they benefit the whole of Norwegian society. Under this, resource management shall provide the country with income and contribute to ensuring welfare, employment and a better environment and to strengthen Norwegian business and industrial development, while at the same time taking necessary account of district political interests and other activities. The trade union leader in Industri Energi Equinor called it “a cross of thought” that the oil and food industries have overlapping interests, but that they still cannot find each other. New forecasts show that the Norwegian meat stock will exceed 12,000 tonnes by the end of the year. As an immediate measure, the farmer-owned meat giant Nortura has taken the initiative to slaughter more veal. Vår Energi sent out a press release last year stating that four of their offshore installations set stricter requirements for local subcontractors and short-haul food. Photo: Marit Hommedal / NTB scanpix Has no plans to stop Even though there seems to be an increase of around 100 tonnes of Norwegian meat next year, Fylling has no plans to stop. – The aim is to increase the take-up of Norwegian raw materials, and we are also working towards the Norwegian Armed Forces, says the Equinor chef. Leader of the Trade Union for Employees in the Energy Sector, Hilde-Marit Rysst, believes that more Norwegian-produced food on the continental shelf is a win-win situation. – Long-term agreements with the producers are important for predictability for the farmer and also investments for the industry, says Rysst. In 2019, the national meeting of the trade union Safe ordered that their own union board should work to promote Norwegian meat and raw materials for all actors on the Norwegian continental shelf. Photo: Marit Hommedal / NTB The farmers celebrate – It makes me very happy, says the leader of Vestland farmers’ association, Gry Agjeld. She believes it is a good signal to Norwegian farmers that they are also prioritized on the Norwegian continental shelf. – There are many good arguments for choosing Norwegian-produced meat, especially with the fact that there is little use of antibiotics and a strong focus on animal welfare. Roger Fimland Maurstad is cheering for more Norwegian meat on the shelf. Photo: private
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Now there will be more Norwegian meat in the North Sea – news Vestland
