The Freberg brothers win the National Business Development Award for Agriculture
The company was one of three finalists. The other two finalists were Valdresmeieriet from Valdres and Galåvolden Gård from Røros.
― 'We are incredibly surprised to have won against such strong candidates. This is absolutely fantastic, and it is wonderful to receive recognition for what we do,' says a proud Bernt Freberg.
The Freberg brothers grow green asparagus on a large scale and are also Norway's only producer of white asparagus. They are Norway's largest supplier of Brussels sprouts and also grow parsnips, celeriac and celery.
― 'I am very impressed by this year's winner of the national Business Development Award. Brødrene Freberg not only produces high-quality vegetables, but does so using innovative technology that both ensures good yields and reduces the use of diesel, artificial fertilisers and pesticides. It is a truly inspiring company and a very deserving winner,' says Håkon Haugli.
State Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Hanne-Berit Brekken, agrees:
― The Freberg brothers are worthy winners and excellent representatives of the exciting creativity and innovation taking place within agriculture and related industries.
Technological advances
The award winners from Nøtterøy practise traditional farming, but have recently started using robots to reduce their use of pesticides. This year, they have also invested in a drone that takes images and detects weeds. The drone sends the data to the sprayer, which uses it for precision spraying. The company is the first in Norway to test this technology. The project has received support from Bionova.
― Our plan is to continue what we have started. We will now further develop the projects for which we have received funding from Innovation Norway. These projects focus on drones and reduced tillage in vegetable production, says Edvard Freberg.
― 'We also hope our work can inspire others,' says Anstein Freberg.
The Business Development Award for Agriculture
Each year, we award the Business Development Award in Agriculture on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food. The award recognises those who have built a successful business or industry based on rural and agricultural resources. Each county selects an annual winner, who receives NOK 50,000. The county winners then compete for the national award of NOK 250,000.