Norwegian food, Norwegian Roots

Sheep are a valuable Norwegian resource raised using local inputs. Each summer, 2.1 million sheep and lambs graze freely in the wilderness, living largely on grass and roughage. By converting inedible natural resources into high-quality products like meat and premium wool, sheep play a key role in sustainable food and textile production.

Nature and Landscape Preservation

The IPCC stresses the importance of using each country's natural resources for food production in ways that suit local conditions—a goal Norway also upholds. With only 3% of land cultivated, and nearly half of the country’s vast uncultivated areas suitable for grazing, livestock like sheep play a vital role. Over 13,000 Norwegian farms keep sheep, supporting vibrant rural communities and preserving cultural landscapes. Grazing helps manage vegetation and is essential for maintaining biodiversity. Without it, large parts of Norway risk becoming overgrown and ecologically imbalanced.

Carbon storage

We recognize that ruminants like sheep and cows contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. However, research shows that well-managed grazing systems can help sequester significant amounts of CO₂ from the atmosphere. Currently, this carbon capture is not factored into climate impact assessments of ruminants, and its full effect is still being studied.

The Green Transition

The world is facing a climate crisis, and Norway has committed to becoming a low-emission country by 2050. This requires a shift toward a society where growth stays within nature’s limits. While it's vital to focus on plant-based food and greener habits, this shouldn't come at the expense of the sheep industry—often unfairly labeled an environmental villain.