Norway

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is one of the most important food crops in Norwegian agriculture, alongside cereals. Norway’s long north–south geography creates a wide range of potato growing environments, from the coastal and agricultural areas of southern Norway to the cooler conditions of northern Norway. Commercial production occurs from around Kristiansand in the south to Alta in the north, with potatoes cultivated under particularly distinctive conditions above the Arctic Circle, where very long summer daylight can influence variety development and crop growth. In 2023, potatoes were grown on approximately 11,895 hectares in Norway.

Norwegian potato production is concentrated in areas with suitable soils, temperatures and growing seasons, with Innlandet accounting for about half of national production. The country produces both early and maincrop potatoes, with the first early potatoes reaching the market from June. Average yields are around 31 tonnes per hectare, although production conditions vary considerably between regions. In northern Norway, varieties must cope with short growing seasons, cool temperatures and exceptionally long daylength, making adaptation to local conditions an important consideration in variety selection and breeding.

Norway also has a notable heritage of traditional and locally adapted potato varieties. NIBIO and other Norwegian organizations maintain collections of old cultivars and landraces, preserving genetic diversity developed through more than two centuries of cultivation. Disease resistance, especially resistance to potato wart and late blight, has been an important objective of Norwegian potato breeding. Modern production includes varieties for fresh consumption, processing and early markets, while historical varieties such as Tromoypotet, Red Kaefjord and Abundance remain important for genetic conservation and Norwegian food heritage.

Potato cultivation in Norway began around the mid-18^th century. NIBIO records that the first known written evidence of potatoes being grown for food dates to 31 May 1757, when customs official Niels Aalholm recorded observing potatoes growing on Tromøya near Arendal. The crop gradually spread through the country, initially along the southern and western coasts and later into the major agricultural areas of eastern Norway and Trondelag. By the early 19^th century, potatoes had become increasingly important as population growth placed pressure on food supplies and they became an important complement to grain and other staple foods.

The development of organized Norwegian potato breeding began in 1920 at the Norwegian Agricultural College at Ås. The resulting Åspotet, approved in 1932, was the first formally developed Norwegian potato variety and became particularly important during the Second World War and the following decades. Norwegian breeding subsequently focused strongly on varieties adapted to local growing conditions and resistant to important diseases. According to Graminor, 26 Norwegian developed potato varieties had been approved during the first century of organized breeding through 2020, with the breeding programme eventually becoming part of Graminor. Today, conservation programmes at NIBIO, NordGen and other organizations help preserve Norway’s historic potato diversity while breeding continues to address the challenges of northern climates, disease resistance, quality and sustainable production.