Size matters – also in farming 🐣

As spring renews the land, it’s a good moment to pause and reflect on the hands that cultivate it. In this Insight we look at the size distribution of Nordic farms.

In Denmark and Sweden, farms over 100 hectares account for over 60-75% of total farmland. In Finland 43% of the farmland belongs to this category while another 30% hold 50-100 ha. These operations are essential for food production at scale.

Look over to Norway and we see a different picture, where only 14% of the farmland belongs to large farms. The implications: Denmark, Sweden and Finland can ripe the benefits of scale and new technologies whereas Norway looks increasingly stuck in small scale farming that requires constant governmental support and protection.

If we shift our perspective from hectares to holdings, a different story emerges. Small farms still make up the vast majority of agricultural holdings—over 75% across the EU and more than two-thirds in Norway, Sweden, and Finland. These small-scale farms are often family-run, deeply tied to local traditions, landscapes, and biodiversity. They are not major food producers but may still hold a societal value.

Data source: Eurostat, Farm structure survey (2020). Visuals based on the dataset “Legal personality of the holding by size of utilised agricultural area,” available via Eurostat Data Browser.

🌾 So who “owns” the future of farming? What we see is a polarised landscape of large production units on one hand, and small family farms on the other. Be aware of averages – there is no average farm any more.

This Easter, while many of us enjoy eggs, lamb, and good company, let’s also take a moment to appreciate the diversity behind our food systems. Every hectare matters. Every farmer matters.

Wishing you a peaceful and reflective Easter – from our team to yours.

🐑🐣 Warm regards, Torfi & Ulla Nordic Insights