Case Study Site: CSS10 - Denmark
Responsible partner: Aarhus University (AU). Case Study Site leader: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Geographical description
The farms within the Case study area in Denmark are located in North and Central Jutland, in the western part of Denmark (Figure 1). The area of North and Central Jutland is a flat landscape and covers an area of approx. 20,100 km2. The area has a temperate sea climate (Cfb - Köppen climate classification) with a mean annual temperature of 7.5°C and mean annual precipitation of 730 mm. Latitude: 56.452027° N, longitude: 9.396347° E.
Main farming systems
The area has an important agricultural activity as more than 60% of the area in North and Central Denmark is cultivated. The farms have an average size of 77 ha, and more than 20% of the farms exceeds 100 ha of land. Many farms produce crops, but a large proportion have livestock, and especially dairy products, meat and fur are main animal export goods from Danish agriculture. The dominating field crops are cereals, namely barley, wheat, rye and oat. Other important crops are potatoes and rape seed, and in Southern Denmark production of sugar from sugar beets is common.
Danish consumers buy more organic products than any other European countries, and 30% of the Danish dairy consumption is organic. Around 12% of Danish farmland is cultivated organically. In organic production, it is prohibited to use inorganic fertilizers, chemical pesticides and GMO plants and products as for example synthetic amino acids in livestock fodder.
Ongoing research and innovation actions
The Danish food and agricultural sector focuses much on incorporating sustainability into all aspects of production. This means high climatic and environmental awareness and focus on animal welfare and social wellbeing, while at the same time maintaining a productive and efficient sector. Many initiatives have been launched to combat global challenges, guided by the UN sustainability development goals. In a close partnership with the Danish authorities, research institutions, organizations and other stakeholders and in agreement with the UN’s sustainable development goals, Danish agriculture has set a goal of achieving a climate neutral food production by 2050.
Relevant stakeholders
- SEGES (https://www.seges.dk/da-dk/om-seges/organisation)
- Landbrug og Fødevarer F.m.b.A (https://lf.dk/)
- Miljø- og fødevarerministeriet, Landbrugsstyrelsen (https://lbst.dk/)
- Miljøstyrelsen (https://mst.dk/)
- Økologisk landsforening (https://okologi.dk/)
- Bæredygtig landbrug (https://baeredygtigtlandbrug.dk/)
- DM&E, Danske Maskinstationer og Entreprenører (Danish Agricultural Contractors and Entrepreneurs, https://www.dmoge.dk/)
- Cheminova
- BASF (https://www.basf.com/dk/en/who-we-are/BASF-in-Denmark.html)
- BAYER (https://www.bayer.dk/produktomrader/crop-science/)
- Forbrugerrådet Tænk (https://taenk.dk/)
- Danmarks Naturfredningsforening (https://www.dn.dk/)
- Kommunernes landsforening (https://www.kl.dk/)
- Danmarks sportsfiskerforbund (https://www.sportsfiskeren.dk/)
- Dansk biavlerforening (https://biavl.dk/)