Norwegian Vegetables for Plant-Based Food: Understanding Challenges and Opportunities in the Vegetable Value Chain

Summary

This report outlines key research and actions to increase the use of Norwegian vegetables in plant-based foods by addressing barriers in pre-processing and product development. Limited pre-processing infrastructure, seasonal access and quality variation in Norwegian-based plant-food ingredients, fragmented supply chains, and high costs restrict industrial utilization and market growth. Key recommendations are to: - enhance pre-processing: Invest in facilities to handle, process, and supply vegetables efficiently into ingredients. - drive product innovation: Create consumer-friendly, tasty plant-based products with better shelf-life. - policy and collaboration: Strengthen links across the supply chain and support with targeted regulations. - engaging consumers: Educate on the benefits and uses of plant-rich diets to boost demand. These actions will improve supply chain efficiency, support sustainable consumption, and facilitate Norway's transition to a plant-rich food system.