Do you have to give up beef to save the planet?

We meet the entrepreneur, farmer, and restaurateur up by the Wagyu barn. Since taking over Røysland Gaard in the early 2000s, Ueland has become a prominent figure in the region.

– We received support for building the farm restaurant and renovating the house from Innovation Norway, so that's where it started. Since then, it has just snowballed, says Ueland.

Røysland Gaard is a large farm in Bjerkreim municipality. Bjerkreim has a strong position in agriculture and food production, with significant livestock and efficient use of agricultural land. According to an article published by Bjerkreim municipality in May 2024, the total agricultural area in the municipality is 62,753 decares, of which only 829 decares are not in operation. During the grazing season, there are approximately 47,000 sheep, lambs, and goats, as well as around 5,300 cattle grazing in the municipality. (Bjerkreim municipality website)

- We have Wagyu cattle, and in the spring, the free-range pigs will return, says Ueland, who also has a 1,000 square meter slaughterhouse to the delight of many farmers in the village.

Here, cows and pigs can come for slaughter, transported short distances on trailers behind their own farmer's tractor. Today, the slaughterhouse produces a total of 200 different products. Products that go to restaurants and delicatessens all over Norway. The slaughterhouse has become a medium-sized business, greatly benefiting the farmers in the area.

Here the slaughter comes in after a short trip from neighboring farms to a high-tech, newly built factory facility of over 1,000 square meters. The entire facility is operated with local green energy and sustainability, via thermal, solar cells, wind, and hydropower.

Ueland points out over the other side of the water below the farm and up the other hillside. There we find the area where the free-range pigs roam. Gentle slopes and no noise. Nor are the wind turbines surrounding the back of the farm a nuisance. These are wind turbines that Ueland and Statskog have had installed. Ueland cannot praise Statskog enough:

– Great cooperation there too, and now we have also managed to change the area so that I can build a bio barn on the other side here. It will also be the basis for obtaining energy from manure and waste from livestock. A biogas plant is planned here.

In the HarvREST project, Ueland, together with us at NORCE, focuses on strengthening the use of renewable energy technologies (RES) along with sustainable agricultural methods. The goal of the EU project is to help the agricultural and food industry achieve additional benefits through the integration of RES and smart management of their energy systems, as well as increased energy independence and security to have energy sources available.

At the same time, carbon emissions from food production are reduced. The solutions developed in the HarvREST project are now being adapted to different conditions and different types of farms through pilot projects in Italy, Denmark, Spain, and Norway. NORCE is working on the development of the Norwegian pilot in collaboration with Ueland and Grønn Gårdsenergi AS (GGE), a company owned by Susanne and Kjell Ivar Ueland.

– GGE and NORCE will jointly develop and expand a smart energy system with integrated local renewable energy sources that support the complete decarbonization process at Røysland Gaard. A thorough investigation will be conducted on how centralized and optimized management of the farm's energy resources can be utilized, says project manager at NORCE Peter Breuhaus.

The Norwegian pilot will also handle the interaction between the energy storage system and the various renewable energy sources. Furthermore, studies will be conducted to coordinate the farm's activities to . And how the ideas are tested and realized through collaboration with various stakeholders, and in accordance with existing laws and regulations, will also be followed through the project. This follow-up research work is led by Kristiane Marie Lindland, NORCE.

Although much has been done at Ueland, there are many things waiting and many plans that are still only on the drawing board. Among other things, the construction of a new operational building in solid wood remains. However, the timber has been cut and dried at Riska Sag. Just waiting for financing and completion of plans.