Icelandic AgricultureConditions and Characteristics. Torfi Jóhannesson

Aim• To write an overview of the special

characteristics of Icelandic agriculture in European perspective.

Scope:• Countries vs. territories?• Primary production• Reference based factual review

ICELANDArea: 103 000 km2

Fishing grounds: 760.000 km2

Below 200 m: 25.000 km2

Population: 318.000Pop. density: 3 pers./km2

Distance to Norway: 970 kmDistance to Scotland: 800 km

As an EU MS, Iceland would be:

- The most remote

- The smallest population

- The most sparsely populated

Cyprus is similarily distant from EU and the Outermost

regions are further away.

Regions in N-Scandinavia are on

similar levels of inh./km2

Malta has 410.000 inh.

ClimateClimate

Seismic hazard

Agriculture in Iceland

How big is Icelandic agriculture?

Dairy production

Production and export of meat

Meat consumption

Animal diseases

[ World Organization for Animal Health ]

Day-degrees

Pesticide use (kg/ha UAA)

Fertilizer use

Horticulture

Forestry

Aquaculture

Conclusions• Icelandic agriculture faces many of the same challenges as can

be found in many other less favoured areas in EU.• The country is dependent on import of grain, fruits and

vegetables.• Compared to other EU countries, Iceland has a combination of

many challanges and very few competive advantages:• All of Iceland is:• Northern• Rural• Remote• Cold (short growing season)

• There is still considerable unused production capacity and the agricultural production is environmentally sound.