NIBIO: Avocados are now being grown in Jæren!
They couldn't believe their eyes, because it's a long way from a winter-golden Særheim in Klepp municipality to the warm, subtropical climate where the avocado comes from. But NIBIO researcher Carolina and her colleagues have managed to cultivate one of the most important ingredients for a proper Friday taco!
NIBIO Særheim:
The state research station at Forus was established in 1912 and the activity was moved to Særheim, in Klepp municipality, in 1965. The research station is part of the Rogaland Agricultural Park, which includes 11 organizations and companies related to agriculture.
NIBIO has stations at 15 locations throughout Norway to conduct research covering climate, land use, agriculture, forestry, food production, marine environments and bioeconomy across geographical and environmental boundaries. Særheim primarily conducts research on plant cultivation (vegetables in greenhouses, berries in tunnels), feed, livestock, green environment and green roofs.
- The avocado is a very good example of what we do. Research is about going into the unknown, and testing out different theories to see if we get it right. And we certainly managed to grow avocados in a Norwegian greenhouse, which we think is a great story! Remember that carrots were once a wild crop, says Ståle Undheim, head of NIBIO at Særheim.
Take the war in Ukraine, the tariff war between the US and the rest of the world, and major security policy uncertainty throughout the world on the one hand. Then take increased focus on Norway's defense capability and food security on the other. Where does our food actually come from? Do we have enough food? Can we manage on our own, or are we completely dependent on an increasingly uncertain world?
Image: Ståle Undheim in the greenhouse at Klepp.
Changed focus on food production
This was barely a discussion a few years ago, but the focus has changed dramatically in recent years.
- Norwegian authorities have a clear goal of increasing self-sufficiency in feed for animals and food for humans. That's why our research is even more important than before, Undheim continues.
The department he manages at Særheim is one of 15 research stations that NIBIO has in Norway. Research at Klepp is primarily focused on plant cultivation, such as vegetables in greenhouses, berries in tunnels and the like, as well as research on feed, livestock and the green environment, but there is also a growing focus on the circular economy. One example is the use of residual products from biogas production as growth media to grow more Norwegian food.
And this is where the avocado comes in.
Did you know that Norwegians eat 2.6 kilos of avocados each year? According to the Norwegian Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, 14,000-15,000 tons of avocados are sold in Norway every year, which is equivalent to 13 avocados per person.
Surplus heat
In 2024, Norway imported fruit, berries and vegetables for approximately NOK 11 billion. We need to produce more ourselves.
- Is it profitable to grow avocados in greenhouses? Is it possible to use surplus heat from industry and data centers to grow avocados, for example? "We're proud that we've managed to grow the fruit, and now we're continuing our research on avocados, but also on other exotic fruits such as passion fruit, explains Ståle Undheim.
The team at Særheim believes that surplus heat from industry can help to grow more local food. "It's all about strengthening and extending the growing seasons in the high, cold north. With surplus heat, we can produce food for longer parts of the year, whether you have underfloor heating outside or heated greenhouses inside.
Image: Avocado jungle at Klepp.
Professional research partner
- NIBIO is our most important research partner in the Agritech cluster. NIBIO plays a key role in the development of regional agricultural projects and is the research hub of Rogaland. The center is trusted in a number of areas, including soil health and feed production, says Gunnar Crawford, head of the Agritech cluster in Nordic Edge.
- In short, it's about developing sustainable agricultural products, whether it's avocados, a more nutritious feed for cows, or whatever. "We need to continue researching so that we can become more self-sufficient and make even better use of the resources we have. At the same time, it's important that we achieve a combination of research and development on the one hand, and commercialization on the other. We've come a long way in Rogaland, and we have big ambitions for the road ahead, Crawford replies.
Thank you for your cooperation, NIBIO, we look forward to the future!
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