Fjölrit RALA - 15.12.2000, Page 9

7
INTRODUCTION
Climatic conditions characterized by low summer temperature limit the potential of plant
husbandry in the West Nordic countries (Greenland, Faroe Islands and Iceland). Small
temperature changes can drastically affect the agricultural production. Under these climatic
conditions, agriculture is mainly based on grass for livestock feeding. Limited availability of
land with suitable soil conditions also restricts the potential for plant husbandry in Greenland
and the Faroe Islands.
Agriculture in these countries has in recent years faced competition from imported
products and competition will probably increase in the future years. If agriculture is to survive
the competition, the knowledge basis must be strengthened. Knowledge of plants, livestock
and their interaction with the environment is essential. It is also important that scientists in
these countries work together and exchange results and experience because the experimental
units are small. If reciprocal use of experimental results in these countries is possible or the
use of a common data base, much money can be saved.
In 1994 a working group with one member from each of these countries was founded
to collaborate within the field of plant science, consisting of the following members: Kenneth
Iloegh from Greenland, Peder T. Haahr from the Faroe Islands and Gudni Thorvaldsson ffom
Iceland. The working group organized the project reported here.
The aims of the project were:
1) To test different grass species and varieties under West Nordic conditions and to find
to what extent results from one country can be used in another country.
2) To stimulate teamwork and to exchange results between scientists, advisers and
teachers in the West Nordic countries.
3) To test the feasibility of the use of common calibration data base in NIR (Near
inffared reflectance) analysis for these countries. The NIR method is cheaper, faster
and more environmental friendly than traditional analytical methods.
4) To increase knowledge of plant response to temperature (development, growth rate,
yield and nutritional value).
In this report all results are given in tables, affording the possibility of work with the
data alone or together with other results ffom these countries.