Transnational cooperation to develop local barley to beer value chains

Transnational cooperation is a common strategy for addressing research and development (R&D) issues resulting from similar challenges that cut across administrative borders. Value chains for food and drinks are complex, and transdisciplinary work is recognised as a method for solving complex issues. The Northern Cereals project ran from 2015 to 2018, and its goal was to increase cereal production and the value of grain products in four regions in the Northern Periphery programme area. The project included both R&D, but the main emphasis was on development, and was carried out by transdisciplinary cooperation between R&D partners and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). By reviewing the project’s methods, outcomes and composition, we discuss if a framework of transnational and transdisciplinary cooperation can help to develop the value chain from local barley to beer. We found that transnational cooperation was achieved successfully, that stakeholder involvement was crucial, but that academic disciplines such as marketing and innovation could have been included. In addition, we recognised that much work remains to further increase cereal production and the use of local grain in the Northern Periphery region, but believe that this project has laid a good foundation for further progress.publishedVersio

Transnational cooperation to develop local barley to beer value chains

Transnational cooperation is a common strategy for addressing research and development (R&D) issues resulting from similar challenges that cut across administrative borders. Value chains for food and drinks are complex, and transdisciplinary work is recognised as a method for solving complex issues. The Northern Cereals project ran from 2015 to 2018, and its goal was to increase cereal production and the value of grain products in four regions in the Northern Periphery programme area. The project included both R&D, but the main emphasis was on development, and was carried out by transdisciplinary cooperation between R&D partners and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). By reviewing the project’s methods, outcomes and composition, we discuss if a framework of transnational and transdisciplinary cooperation can help to develop the value chain from local barley to beer. We found that transnational cooperation was achieved successfully, that stakeholder involvement was crucial, but that academic disciplines such as marketing and innovation could have been included. In addition, we recognised that much work remains to further increase cereal production and the use of local grain in the Northern Periphery region, but believe that this project has laid a good foundation for further progress

Transnational cooperation to develop local barley to beer value chains

Transnational cooperation is a common strategy for addressing research and development (R&D) issues resulting from similar challenges that cut across administrative borders. Value chains for food and drinks are complex, and transdisciplinary work is recognised as a method for solving complex issues. The Northern Cereals project ran from 2015 to 2018, and its goal was to increase cereal production and the value of grain products in four regions in the Northern Periphery programme area. The project included both R&D, but the main emphasis was on development, and was carried out by transdisciplinary cooperation between R&D partners and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). By reviewing the project’s methods, outcomes and composition, we discuss if a framework of transnational and transdisciplinary cooperation can help to develop the value chain from local barley to beer. We found that transnational cooperation was achieved successfully, that stakeholder involvement was crucial, but that academic disciplines such as marketing and innovation could have been included. In addition, we recognised that much work remains to further increase cereal production and the use of local grain in the Northern Periphery region, but believe that this project has laid a good foundation for further progress

Climatic adaptation of species and varieties of grass and clover in the West Nordic countries and Sweden

Rit LbhÍ nr. 50Eight experiments with monoculture of 24 varieties of grass and clover species and one mixture of two grass species and two clover species were established in the Faroe Islands (Kollafjørður), Greenland (Upernaviarsuk and Qassiarsuk), Iceland (Korpa and Möðruvellir), Norway (Fureneset and Holt) and Sweden (Lännäs). The main goal of this project was to evaluate important forage species and varieties, in terms of yield, persistence and adaptation to variable climate in the West Nordic countries. Timothy had on average the highest cover after three years in the experiments (63%) together with Knut, a smooth meadow grass variety (67%). Perennial ryegrass had the lowest cover after three years, or 28%. Meadow fescue had a similar cover as timothy in Iceland and Sweden and cocksfoot a similar cover as timothy in Iceland, Sweden and Fureneset. On average cocksfoot (Laban) and timothy varieties related to Grindstad gave the highest yield, 8.85 and 8.71 t/ha, respectively. These species were followed by tall fescue (Swaj), festulolium, perennial ryegrass, northerly timothy varieties and meadow fescue, yielding 8.51, 8.47, 8.23, 8.18 and 7.98 t/ha, respectively. Smooth meadow grass and common bent grass had lower yields, 7.52 and 7.30 t/ha, respectively. The results from these experiments show that we have a wide range of species and varieties usable in the West Nordic areas. We can meet an increase in temperature to a certain level by moving the more southern species and varieties farther north but this can be limited because of factors such as day length requirements or tolerance to diseases. Our most winter hardy varieties are still important to maintain. If the climate changes in the opposite direction these winter hardy varieties could be valuable for other areas as well.Nordic Atlantic Cooperatio

Future Opportunities for Bioeconomy : Focus on the West Nordic Region

This final report provides an overview of bioresources in the West Nordic region focusing on Iceland, the Faroe Islands and Greenland, their utilisation and future opportunities based on green growth. The report provides good basis for strategic identification of beneficial projects in the region. Based on the results, a specific action plan has been formed consisting of four main actions; 1. Create a West Nordic Bioeconomy panel, 2. Establish an interdisciplinary Centre of Excellence (CoE) for the West Nordic region, 3. Arctic bioeconomy II – Project focusing on opportunities in biotechnology and 4. Program focusing on “The Blue Bioeconomy”