Farming is the foundation of our food system. While the prerequisite for farming is a clean environment and a diverse nature, agriculture is currently the cause of major environmental problems, including greenhouse gas and nitrogen emissions. The challenge to protect our environment and feed the world sometimes seem insurmountable, but solutions might be just around the corner. This report describes two food system scenarios for Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden, where the majority of food is produced within the region using organic farming practices and where livestock is mainly fed on grass and by-products not suitable for human consumption. The results show that we could feed the projected Nordic population in 2030 on organic food, mostly grown within the region, while reducing the climate and nitrogen footprints of our food system.

Farming is the foundation of our food system. While the prerequisite for farming is a clean environment and a diverse nature, agriculture is currently the cause of major environmental problems, including greenhouse gas and nitrogen emissions. The challenge to protect our environment and feed the world sometimes seem insurmountable, but solutions might be just around the corner. This policy brief presents two food system scenarios for Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden, where the majority of food is produced within the region using organic farming practices and where livestock is mainly fed on grass and by-products not suitable for human consumption. The results show that we could feed the projected Nordic population in 2030 on organic food, mostly grown within the region, while reducing the climate and nitrogen footprints of our food system.

The Nordic Diet is all about eating locally sourced seasonal ingredients in a balanced diet of protein, carbohydrates, and beneficial fats. The traditional diet of Northern Europe emphasizes quality homemade and homegrown food—with an attempt at moving away from processed foods—and consists of a wide variety of grains, berries, vegetables, fish, poultry, and game meats. Not only is a Nordic diet comparable in terms of nutrition to the celebrated Mediterranean diet, but it also provides an easy plan for eco-friendly eating. This soulful book includes the elements, ingredients, and basic philosophy of eating a Nordic diet with information on the nutritious benefits of each ingredient. It boasts seventy-five delicious and healthy recipes—from breakfast smoothies and cold cucumber soup to venison stew and raspberry lime sorbet—and teaches you how to incorporate the principles of the Nordic diet into your everyday cooking routine.

Air pollution is a global threat that requires international collaboration and coordinated actions for its solution. Several international organisations have highlighted the problem and are taking action. In order to meet future challenges and develop collaboration, an international workshop was held in Göteborg 19-21 March 2018. It was the 6th in the series of the so called “Saltsjöbaden workshops” and was attended by approx. 180 participants and 20 international organisations. It was organised by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency and the IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute with support from the Nordic Council of Ministers and in close collaboration with and support from the UNECE Geneva Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution. The workshop ended in a set of recommendations directed to actors and processes in order to facilitate and intensify future work.