The overarching goal of this project is to establish a research foundation to strengthen local self-sufficiency and food preparedness based on the production, distribution, and consumption of locally adapted but underutilized species and varieties of grains and vegetables.

The Norwegian food system faces a very different threat landscape now compared to a few years ago: We have experienced that epidemics with lockdowns can have extensive consequences for food production and access; climate change is becoming increasingly evident with the challenges it poses for agriculture; the polarized geopolitical situation affects international trade in food and inputs; and Norway is preparing for the possibility of war. However, our food system was developed before this threat landscape took shape and is not well-equipped for such situations. While longer supply chains and the dismantling of local structures have been implemented to ensure efficiency, it will be important to have a high degree of local preparedness and self-sufficiency in times of crisis. This is a central factor for national food preparedness – and this applies not least to seeds, which are a prerequisite for all food production.

Internationally, there is increasing attention on how so-called neglected and underutilized species and varieties of food plants can contribute positively in light of these challenges and how they can be integrated into food systems. We want to investigate this in a Norwegian context. The main question in this project is therefore: How can locally adapted but underutilized species and varieties of food plants contribute to more climate-adapted food production, increased local self-sufficiency, and improved local food preparedness in Norway?

The project is classified as a preliminary project with Innlandet as a case. We plan to apply for a main project based on the preliminary project, which will cover larger parts of Norway. In the preliminary project, we focus on the experiences of actors in Innlandet with the production, local processing, distribution, sale, marketing, and consumption of underutilized crops and varieties of grains and vegetables, including legumes and potatoes. We examine how the actors themselves perceive their preparedness situation and the main challenges for the production, marketing, and consumption of locally adapted and underutilized species and varieties of grains and vegetables. To this end, we first conduct a comprehensive survey among relevant actors in Innlandet, followed by in-depth interviews with key informants and a seminar with central actors to discuss the findings and ways forward.

The results will be communicated through a short report and popular science articles in relevant newspapers/journals. They will also form the basis for the design of an application for the main project.

The preliminary and main projects will bring new knowledge to Norwegian actors about food plants with potential for production and marketing in Norway, about various forms of organization of local value chains, and about the political, institutional, and legal framework conditions necessary to strengthen such local value chains with a view to increased sustainability, self-sufficiency, and local food preparedness in Norway.