Grand hotel
Reykjavik, Iceland
November 16-17th, 2009

Food industry is of high economic importance in the Nordic countries. In the last years, emphasis has been put on safety, sustainability, purity, health and traceability of food produced in the region.

The conference will focus on these key elements in an era of expanding global trade in raw materials and food products. The connection of food products to origin, culture and gastronomy in the region will also be discussed.

The conference theme is divided into:
• Safety of food in a globalized world
• Interplay between animal welfare, health og identity of food on the market
• Innovation in the food sector
• Nordic culture and identity vs. food innovation
• The status of the Nordic food industry and possibilities on the global market

The goal is to provide a comprehensive overview of the status of the food industry within the Nordic countries in regard to safety and innovation from global perspective. At the same time attempt will be made on identifying future opportunities and challenges of Nordic food.

Is the emphasis authorities give on sustainability, quality, purity, health and traceability shared by the industry and consumers? Which issues are most important? How do consumers perceive safety related message? How can the Nordic countries contribute in future global resource management? Where is the development of global standards heading and how can the industry and policy makers influence them? Are governments and private companies in the Nordic countries creating technical barriers to trade with their emphasis on values such as safety, purity, health, sustainability and traceability? What future opportunities and challenges face Nordic food?

Representatives of diverse stakeholders will discuss these issues from their point of view. 

The conference is aimed for the food industry, scientists, consumer bodies, policy makers and authorities.

Results of the conference will be communicated through the conference webpage, http://www.yourho http://www.yourhost.is/titlar-atburda/nordic-values-2009.html st.is/titlar-atburda/nordic-values-2009.html.

Organized by:
The Nordic Council of Ministers www.norden.org 
The Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture Iceland www.sjavarutvegsraduneyti.is 
Matís ohf www.matis.is
The Icelandic food and veterinary authority www.mast.is 
The Federation of Icelandic Industries www.si.is

Organizing committee:
Kristinn Hugason, chairman kristinn.hugason(at)slr.stjr.is
Grímur Ólafsson matur(at)heilbrigdiseftirlit.is
Oddur M. Gunnarsson oddur.m.gunnarsson(at)matis.is
Ólafur Jónsson Olafur.Jonsson(at)mast.is
Ragnheiður Héðinsdóttir ragnheidur(at)si.is
Sigurður Hansson sigurdur.hansson(at)mast.is
Sveinn Margeirsson sveinn.margeirsson(at)matis.is
Þóra Valsdóttir thora.valsdottir(at)matis.is