Livestock production and grazing have had a significant effect on ecosystems in the Nordic countries

Such impacts span from shaping valuable cultural landscapes to irreversible plant and soil losses. Changes primarily in agriculture, but also societal changes reflected in land use have resulted in a dramatic decline in grazing during the past decades in certain regions of the Nordic countries, while other regions face severe land degradation due to unsustainable grazing practices.

In contrast to the above described trends, there currently is a renewed focus on the potential and need for sustainable utilisation of areas suitable for grazing. This growing interest is a result of the realization that agriculture has to take into account aspects others than production volume and efficiency, such as mitigation of and adaptation to climate change, protection of endangered and restoration of damaged ecosystems, maintenance of biotopes high in biodiversity, and enhancement of food security.

Agricultural production in the Nordic region is unique in the sense that there are no other regions at similar latitudes with significant agricultural production. This implies that the Nordic region has a specific need to address challenges posed by a changing climate and increasing population sizes.