Thursday 6 November

For over a century, Denmark has relied on a tripartite model of negotiation to balance economic growth with social equity - bringing together government, industry and the community to reach consensus on national priorities such as wages, working conditions, and education. In 2024, this model was extended to the Danish decarbonisation targets. Niels Peter Nørring represented Danish farmers in negotiating the landmark Green Tripartite Agreement - a binding collaboration between government, industry including agriculture, and environmental organisations shaping Denmark’s climate transition. Representing the Danish Agriculture & Food Council (DAFC), he sat directly across the table from government to advocate for farm viability and competitiveness, securing phased implementation, tax deductions, and reinvestment mechanisms that would allow producers to remain profitable while contributing to national climate goals. This resulted in a more favourable outcome for the agriculture sector compared to other industries. In his keynote address, Niels will share lessons from the farmer’s side of the table - offering valuable insight into how producers can shape outcomes rather than have them imposed: How farmers can help co-design policy, ensuring practicality and fairness. The safeguards DAFC negotiated to maintain viability, including phased introduction, reinvestment mechanisms, and transition finance. How local, voluntary land-use planning with compensation can build trust and enable change. How Denmark’s co-design institutions and measurement standards underpin innovation and producer-led solutions. Niels’ insights extend far beyond any single policy instrument. They demonstrate how collaboration - rather than confrontation - can deliver credible, climate-smart progress while safeguarding the future of farmers and the agrifood sector alike.