Business Development Award in Agriculture 2022

The award ceremony took place at the Norwegian Embassy in Berlin, where Minister of Agriculture and Food Sandra Borch and our CEO, Håkon Haugli, presented the awards.

The award ceremony takes place in connection with the Grüne Woche food fair, which begins in Berlin on Friday 20 January.

'I am truly impressed by the strong and profitable entrepreneurship demonstrated by the agricultural sector – as reflected by the winners and nominees for the Agricultural Business Development Award since 1997. Although I have only been a government minister for just over a year, I can certainly say that I have met many highly skilled farmers and producers of agriculture-related products and services,' said Minister of Agriculture and Food Sandra Borch before opening the envelope and revealing the winner.

The nominees were Fæby Bryggeri from Trøndelag, Ystepikene from Rogaland and Den Sorte Havre from Viken. The latter was very grateful to receive the award. The farm is run by Ingunn and Johan Anstensrud.

Through their long-term, professional and innovative approach, the couple behind Den Sorte Havre have successfully harnessed the resources of their farm and the agricultural sector in an exciting and profitable way, creating something uniquely their own from farm to table.

'This is wonderful recognition of the work we have put into raising awareness of this healthy ingredient and establishing it in the market. When we started seven years ago, we never imagined that Den Sorte Havre would become an award-winning company,' says Ingunn Anstensrud of Den Sorte Havre.

Tveter Gård has built a profitable business and a strong brand, securing shelf space with major grocery retailers for its rolled oats, mueslis, range of organic baking mixes, oat flour and even oat rice, a product designed for evening meals. The company has also gained visibility in both the Norwegian and international markets. High-quality everyday food in stylish packaging has become a 'high-end' product that offers customers a healthy everyday indulgence.

'Congratulations to Tveter Gård and Den Sorte Havre. They have successfully created an innovative product from an ancient ingredient and built a thriving business that creates jobs and embraces sustainability at every stage. They truly deserve to win the Business Development Award for Agriculture,' says Håkon Haugli, our CEO.

The ancient grain black oats has been grown in Norway since before the Viking Age. When the owners of Tveter farm in Våler, Østfold, heard about the grain, they founded Den Sorte Havre. Their goal was to grow exceptional oats from this ancient grain, develop innovative, high-quality products and bring their nutritious products to people around the world.

This ancient Norwegian grain has enjoyed a revival thanks to its nutritional value. Black oats are particularly rich in unsaturated fats and are also gluten-free.

'At Den Sorte Havre, we strive to grow the world's healthiest oats sustainably and entirely without pesticides, and to develop delicious products that showcase the unique qualities of the ancient black oat variety,' says Anstensrud.

Growing and processing healthy ancient grains dating back to the Viking Age provides the foundation for a compelling story of growth, agricultural exports and collaboration between farmers. Demand for raw materials has increased significantly since the company was founded in 2014, and the winner now works with 20 farmers who grow ancient grains under contract. The crops are grown without chemical inputs, and solar energy is used to dry the grain.

'This money will be a great help as we continue to develop products using this fantastic raw material. And who knows, perhaps we can expand further internationally,' says Johan Anstensrud.

The candidates for this year's award were assessed against the criteria of economic, social and environmental sustainability and innovation.

According to the jury's statement, the company is financially sound, has successfully developed innovative products based on an 'age-old' raw material, creates significant ripple effects and delivers strong environmental results in terms of both biodiversity and environmentally friendly energy supplies.

'Through active promotion and a strong public presence, the winner plays an important role in enhancing the reputation of both traditional farming and supplementary farm-based businesses, creating pride and jobs far beyond the farm itself,' says Håkon Haugli.

Agder: Stauslandstunet Farm, Søgne – producing potatoes, strawberries and grain

Innlandet: Brimi Gard & Sæter, Garmo - mountain farm operations and culinary experiences

Møre og Romsdal: Skarbø Gard, Stranda - production and sale of cheese and cider

Nordland: Kvitnes Drift, Hadsel - accommodation and culinary experiences

Oslo: Indre Oslo Matforedling, central Oslo - meat processing company

Rogaland: Ystepikene, Jæren - cheese production

Troms and Finnmark: Kvænangen Gårdsprodukter, food production using meat from wild sheep

Trøndelag: Fæby Bryggeri, Verdal – local food producer and eatery

Vestfold and Telemark: Telemarklam, Fyresdal – lamb, cured lamb ribs and cured leg of lamb

Vestland: Sølvane Gard, Gloppen – culture-based tourism and local food concept

Viken: Tveter Gård Foredling, Våler – growing and processing the heritage grain black oats