An egg shortage that could last until Easter has caused omelette-loving Norwegians to tremble. Now Nortura, which is responsible for the egg market in Norway, is taking several steps to solve the crisis: They are bringing back producers who have been put on hold They are asking the government to introduce lower customs rates They are encouraging more farmers to come on board In sum, they hope that the measure will ensure more eggs on shop shelves from the end of February. Egg shortage is not a new phenomenon. In 2004, it was cheerful during question time at the Storting when Lars Sponheim answered what he would do to avoid a serious shortage of eggs at Easter. – Every man says hen, he signed off. Nortura has sent a letter to the Ministry of Agriculture, where they ask for lower duty rates on whole eggs. Photo: AFP Bringing back producers Since May last year, Norwegians have experienced empty and half-empty egg shelves in the shops. The background is a weak krone and high demand in Europe due to disease outbreaks. The sum means that several Norwegian eggs have ended up on the continent. But a few months ago, the situation was completely different. Then overproduction of eggs meant that Nortura “bought out” 13 producers. Nortura has chosen to bring back egg producers that were bought out last year. Photo: Arne Sørenes / news Egg producer Bjørn Petter Rygg believes that Nortura should bring more of the “suffering” farmers back into production. – They should get them back on track, says the producer from Hyen. And Nortura no has listened to that. – We have brought most of them back into production, but it will take some time before we see the effect of that. The hens need some time before they start laying, says executive director Kjell S. Rakkenes at Nortura. Kjell S. Rakkenes has initiated several measures to end the egg crisis in Norway. Photo: Alexander Nordby / news Want lower customs duties At the top, Nortura has sent a letter to the Ministry of Agriculture this week, asking for lower customs duties on whole eggs. – We hope that this will make it easier for the industry to import this input factor itself, says Rakkenes. Agriculture Minister Geir Pollestad (Sp) is clear that Nortura must prioritize Norwegian eggs in the shops. – We will assess the letter and quickly give an answer. The industry will take the eggs that are imported, says Pollestad. With the help of a weak krone, Europe has largely supplied itself with Norwegian eggs. Photo: Øystein Otterdal / news – We may need more farmers It is not only in Europe that there is a clamor for eggs, Norwegians have also become more interested in eating eggs here at home. Critics point to the cholesterol values, while supporters believe that eggs provide all the important nutrients apart from vitamin C. In later years, research has shown that eggs are not so bad for cholesterol after all. – Overall, the participants who ate three whole eggs every day got more vitamins, minerals and other important nutrients than the other participants, says a large study in the USA. In Norway, demand increased by 2 per cent last year. – Continue the increase, and we will need more farmers in Norway. Something that is positive for agriculture, says the CEO of Nortura. The egg producer in Hyen understands the frustration of customers who come to empty shelves. – I think it is awkward and sad both for the industry and for the customers, he says. Photo: Asgeir Heimdal Reksnes / news
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This is how they want to solve the egg crisis in Norway – news Vestland
