Norway

The Living Lab

In Norway, even though the interest in becoming entrepreneurs or innovators is more or less the same among women and men, only 30 percent of people becoming innovators are women, and the women’s share is steadily reduced in the direction toward “lasting business going well and in growth”.

Women (rural, farming and fishing) have played leading roles in local food innovation in Norway and the Trøndelag region, by selling produce and innovative products at small-scale outlets such as farmers’ markets. With shifting supply chains requiring larger producers to supply supermarkets, women’s role in the region seems to have become less prominent. This Lab looks at the innovation-related needs of rural women, to strengthen their role in local food innovation, as this is a field of innovation that has shown to be of high interest to women in rural areas.

The ‘Local Food Innovations’ Living Lab is based on the different experiences and accumulated knowledge among active women innovators of different ages, roles and stages of enterprise and will strengthen the innovation processes of women within local food innovation and more generally, through addressing and developing measures to overcome various challenges and barriers to be identified by the Living Lab members themselves. In addition, stakeholders supporting sustainable women innovation in rural areas will be involved in the Living Lab processes.

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Living Lab Co-leads

News

Meet our women innovators

Kari Øye

Marine Health Products Business Owner

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Kari Øye
Marine Health Products Business Owner

Kari is the general manager of Havfruene (‘The Mermaids’). Havfruene produces high-quality health products from fresh, Norwegian and marine ingredients. The mermaids’ all-Norwegian cod liver oil is pure, completely fresh and does not taste like fish. It stands out from others due to the quality of the raw material.

Marthe Kilen

Pastry Chef

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Marthe Kilen
Pastry Chef

Fru Nelik offers handmade goodies (confectionery, caramels, meringue, chocolate and cakes) made by Marthe Kilen from Fosen. Marthe has a professional certificate as a chef and a journeyman’s certificate as a pastry chef. She started on her own in 2013 and opened the doors for the first time in January 2014 at the local town hall, where her treats and cakes are produced. She has learned from the best hotels in Trondheim, and since 2020, she has been a performer on the Norwegian National Baker and Pastry Team. 

Turid Mjønesaune

Sheep Farmer

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Turid Mjønesaune
Sheep Farmer

Åstfjordlam can be found in Snillfjord at the Mjønesaune farm. Here, Turid runs a farm with white späelsau and “gammelnorsk sheep”, perhaps better known as wild sheep. The sheep thrive at Mjønesaune – which gives great sheepskins and good meat. The supply of lamb meat is seasonal.

Anita Galåen

Farm CEO

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Anita Galåen
Farm CEO

Anita is the CEO of Galåvolden Gård. The farm is the leading supplier of fresh farm eggs in the region, and they produce a variety of egg and milk-based products from the farm: cheese, ice cream, cakes, mayonnaise, meringue, and fresh batter for waffles and pancakes.

Liv Aas Bogen

Craft Brewery Manager

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Liv Aas Bogen
Craft Brewery Manager

Liv is the general manager of Hogna Brygg. They brew beer with brewing equipment using sustainable solutions, often using malts from Trøndelag. Liv is a beer sommelier and also a registered public accountant. She keeps in touch with customers and suppliers, manages the accounts, discusses recipes and plans the production. She sometimes participates in the production too.

Sissel Langørgen

Dairy Farmer

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Sissel Langørgen
Dairy Farmer

Sissel runs the Høstadsand Gård farm, which since 2013 has been certified as a Green Care Farm. They provide pasteurised milk and yoghurt made on the farm. The products may be purchased from their farm shop, where they also sell eggs, honey and potatoes in season. In collaboration with the municipality, Høstadsand provides a learning space for junior secondary students from various schools in Trondheim.

Torunn Bjerkem

Cultural Farm Manager

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Torunn Hernes Bjerkem
Cultural Farm Manager

Bjerkem Farm is an organic farm growing ancient heirloom grains, making healthy food, healthy soils, healthy plants, and healthy environments. The grains are sold to Gullimunn, a local flour mill company that Torunn Hernes Bjerkem was part of founding. At Bjerkem Farm they have a fine dining restaurant called Experience@Bjerkem, serving 7 or 16 courses to visitors and groups. They also have the Bunadburet gallery, showcasing and producing traditional Norwegian folk costumes from the region. They have some limited accommodation and are currently planning to expand this part of the business. Torunn and her husband love to create cultural experiences such as concerts, festivals and storytelling events at the farm and out in the community. Every year in December they organise a Christmas family theatre performance in the Old Barn.

Jenny Domås

Cultural Farm Manager

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Jenny Domås
Cultural Farm Manager

Jørem ved Namsen provides salmon fishing and nature experiences.
At the farm they grow organic ancient heirloom grains and run a small craft brewery and bakery. In the bakery they use flour from their own grain. Jenny also previously created and ran the related business Jenny på Jørem.