By: Oforiwa Darko
It is being said that transitioning to a green economy through sustainable food system is more important than ever. In this regard, efforts made decades ago by the public and private sectors of Denmark’s economy have brought so much success to the Danish Food Industry. Currently, the sector is already well advanced and has one of the most climate-friendly productions in the world.
One may ask, what makes the Danish agriculture among the most efficient and knowledge based agricultural sectors in the world.
Some African Journalists who are being trained on Climate reporting, a new learning programme put together by the Danida Fellowship Centre, had the opportunity to visit a non-profit public-private partnership agency in Denmark, called Food Nation to receive insights into the Danish food cluster.
The Danish Food Cluster works to maximize innovation within the Danish food industry by building a world-class community of knowledge providers, talent, investors and companies.
DENMARK’S VISION TO BE CLIMATE NEUTRAL
Food Nation, for some years now, has served as the gateway to information about the Danish agriculture and food sector and know-how that can accelerate the growth of international business through better solutions, innovative products and trusting cooperation.
With focus on how Africa can learn from the Danish success story, there were knowledge-sharing activities and topical among them were discussions on a collective approach between Government, researchers and public and private organizations, solving challenges from environmentally-friendly agricultural production to the reduction of food loss and waste.
Other highlights also included reducing greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural productions, implementation of regenerative practices and nature-based solutions, training and education across the food value chain, and most importantly assisting farmers to test new technologies on their farms.
THE WAY FORWARD
The Chief Executive of Food Nation, Lise Christiansen Walbom, elaborated on the Danish food sector’s climate target for a climate neutral food sector by 2050 and how the Danish food cluster can achieve the target. She was optimistic that in accordance with UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, Denmark will take the lead in producing more with less.
“Food Nation would not relent on its efforts to collaborate across national borders to bring about a reduction in carbon emissions. Global collaboration on carbon reduction will also ensure a more sustainable and more competitive future for the global food industry”.
In making some recommendations to Ghana’s Food and Agriculture sector, she emphasized the need for the agrifood industry to work together in diverse networks and partnerships, sharing ideas expertise and perspective, to a green transition to sustainable agriculture.
Despite the diversity of solutions, it is clear that all actors in the food value chain need to work together towards the common goal of accelerating the transition to sustainable agriculture, She further noted.
PROJECTIONS AND UN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
The Danish food industry is expected to become carbon neutral by 2050 and serve as a model for the rest of the world. In accordance with UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, Denmark will take the lead in producing more with less. The industry is already well advanced and has one of the most climate-friendly productions in the world. For example, Danish milk production has the lowest greenhouse-gas emission per liter of milk produced in Europe, and the second-lowest emission when it comes to beef production.
The plan highlights a range of options, including changing livestock diets, reducing nitrogen application through precision farming, and international conservation efforts in feed-producing countries that would help Denmark maintain its share of global food production while cutting 80 percent of the farm sector’s greenhouse gas emissions.
The remaining 20 percent of these emissions would be offset by restoring forests and peatlands.
