Yara International ASA and three additional Norwegian companies – agricultural cooperative Felleskjøpet, milling group Norgesmøllene, and retailer Reitan Retail (REMA 1000) – have signed a letter of intent aimed at reducing emissions from Norwegian food production, from fertilizer production to finished food products.
To achieve their goals, the companies will use mineral fertilizers produced using electrolysis and renewable energy, adopt better agronomic practices, and leverage precision farming tools. Oats will be the first available product, with a 25-30% lower carbon footprint expected compared to regular oats produced with traditional mineral fertilizers. The intention is to produce an oat-based bread, to be made available in REMA 1000’s stores in 2025.
“Finally, we can bring together the majority of the food value chain to reduce the carbon footprint of food, from farm to fork” said Svein Tore Holsether, Yara President and CEO. “The food system accounts for a third of global emissions, and it is not possible to reach the goals of the Paris Agreement without decarbonizing food production. With a growing population, we need to produce more food in a sustainable way. This collaboration marks an important step in the right direction.”
Yara Germany signed a similar cooperation agreement with German partners aimed at decarbonizing cereal cultivation last year (GM Aug. 11, 2023).