Food security, soil, and toxic heritage – the floating symposium (F)jorden visits Bryggens Museum, Norway

After five days of sailing with S/J Mathilde in the Hardangerfjord, Norway, the floating symposium (F)jorden arrived at Bergen harbour. The ship opened to the public and offered sustainable sea food, film, readings, talks, activities, and art on display.

In collaboration with Bryggens Museum, a seminar was arranged on September 23 to shed light on the topic of food security and how global trade, instability in the international market, and climate change with heavy rains and unexpected droughts affect local food supplies. What consequences will this have for Norwegian food production and food supply in the future? The city of Bergen has been an important hub for food trade for centuries. Herring, dry fish, grain, and salmon are well-known and treasured goods. Yet, few of us understand how the raw materials are produced or traded today. But we do notice when the prices of food rise, when shops are unable to get goods, or when newspapers report that food producers cannot afford to produce food because of increased prices for energy and fertilisers.

Janna Holmstedt, Malin Lobell and Karin Wegsjö presented the work “How to Wash an Island” by the art platform (p)Art of the Biomass and Humus economicus. The other participants in the seminar “Food Security Now!?” were Peter Andersen from Bergen University, Christian Anton Smedshaug from Agri Analyse, Håkan Wallander from Lund University, and Anna Milford from NIBIO, Norwegian Institute for Bio Economy.

The fantastic program and the floating symposium (F)jorden has been initiated by the artist group Skifte.Land. Read about our journey here!