Norway has a total area of 385,207 square kilometres and a population of 5,312,300 . The country shares a long eastern border with Sweden, by Finland and Russia to the north-east, and the Skagerrak strait to the south, with Denmark on the other side. Norway has an extensive coastline, facing the North Atlantic Ocean and the Barents Sea. The maritime influence also dominates Norway’s climate with mild lowland temperatures on the sea coasts, whereas the interior, while colder, is also a lot milder than areas elsewhere in the world on such northerly latitudes. Even during polar night in the north, temperatures above freezing are commonplace on the coastline. The maritime influence brings high rainfall and snowfall to some areas of the country.

Norway maintains the Nordic welfare model with universal health care and a comprehensive social security system, and its values are rooted in egalitarian ideals.

The Norwegian state has large ownership positions in key industrial sectors, having extensive reserves of petroleum, natural gas, minerals, lumber, seafood, and fresh water. The petroleum industry accounts for around a quarter of the country’s gross domestic product. On a per-capita basis, Norway is the world’s largest producer of oil and natural gas outside of the Middle East.

The country has the fourth-highest per-capita income in the world on the World Bank and IMF lists. On the CIA’s GDP (PPP) per capita list (2015 estimate) which includes autonomous territories and regions, Norway ranks as number eleven.

It is said that topography, geology and biology make out the foundation for plant production, whereas climate and geography determine crop types accordaing to location, along with expected yields.

Grass-based livestock production is therefore the backbone of Norwegian agriculture. A substantial part of the country’s home-grown grain is used as fodder due to crop quality.

One of the advantages of the cool climate is that it limits the spread of plant diseases and pests.

These climatic and geographical conditions frame Norwegian agriculture. Soil, latitude and climate – they are all interconnected.

Farm sizes are expanding, and in 2018 this average is 24.9 ha.

Today, the average Norwegian drinks 89 litres of milk each year and consume 18 kilograms of cheese, and 67 kg meat.

The total organically farmed area is decreasing, whereas the demand for organic produce and other foods is steadily increasin