RootResilience aims to strengthen local self-sufficiency and food security in Troms and Finnmark through a systematic mapping and analysis of the production, distribution, and use of potatoes and other root crops in the region.
The northern areas face a challenging landscape for food production: short growing seasons, cold winters, and increasing climate change pressures demand new approaches to climate adaptation and resilient value chains. At the same time, shifts in temperature and precipitation create opportunities for local adaptation and increased production, provided that appropriate cultivars and practices are employed.
The degree of self-sufficiency for key food crops such as potatoes and root vegetables remains low in Norway in general, and particularly in Troms and Finnmark, rendering the region vulnerable to international supply disruptions. Root crops have traditionally been an important component of food security in the north, offering good storage potential, nutritional value, and resilience to harsh climatic conditions. Despite this, there is limited knowledge regarding how farmers assess climate risks, make cultivar choices, utilize available plant genetic resources, and how food culture and market dynamics influence production and preparedness.
The RootResilience project is therefore designed as a preliminary study focusing on Troms and Finnmark. It will examine how the production and use of potatoes and other root crops can enhance local food security through climate-adapted cultivation, cultivar diversity, and improved linkages between farmers, market actors, and institutions. Research questions include how the production and utilization of potatoes and root crops in Troms and Finnmark can strengthen local food security and resilience, and which factors influence farmers’ and markets’ choices of cultivars and practices.
Based on literature reviews, surveys, in-depth interviews, and dialogue with regional stakeholders, the project will provide a systematic overview of challenges and opportunities related to the production, storage, and distribution of root crops in the region. It will offer insights into how cultivar diversity, climate adaptation, and food cultural factors affect decision-making and practices among farmers and market actors, as well as propose concrete measures and linkages between farmers, markets, and institutions to enhance local food security. Results will be disseminated through a report highlighting key findings and recommendations for farmers, advisors, and policymakers, as well as through popular science articles and other relevant channels.
The project will also establish a research foundation for a potential larger main project that could encompass additional northern regions and a broader range of relevant crops. Simultaneously, RootResilience will provide immediate practical value for stakeholders in Troms and Finnmark by strengthening local knowledge of production, cultivar diversity, climate adaptation, and market conditions, thereby contributing to increased self-sufficiency and local food security in the region.
Project period: January 2026-March 2027
