Embla – Nordic Food Awards 2017

Six Nordic agricultural organisations have launched Embla with funding from the Nordic Council of Ministers. The aim is to boost Nordic food culture and generate greater interest in it outside the Region.

The announcement of the first winners marks an important milestone. The publicity will mean that so many more people in the Region will hear about good food and what it can achieve. 

“The first Nordic Food Award marks an important milestone for New Nordic Food. The publicity will mean that so many more people in the Region will hear about good food and what it can achieve. The seven winners continue the Nordic food narrative, each in their own unique way,” says Nina Sundqvist, Managing Director of the Norwegian Food Branding Foundation and chair of the New Nordic Food Steering Group.

Grand Slam for the Faroe Islands

Competition was tough, with up to seven nominations in each category. The big winner was the Faroe Islands with prizes in three categories.

The internationally renowned chef, Leif Sørensen, who was also one of the authors of the New Nordic Food Manifesto in 2004, was awarded the prize for “Nordic Food Artisan 2017”. 

“Three winners in one evening is great. It’s important for Faroese self-confidence, but it also shows that we are capable of special things and are beginning to discover our identity,” Leif says.

 

Children as consumers of the future

Another proud winner is Annika Unt from Sweden, winner of the 2017 “Nordic Food for the Many” prize. Annika stresses the importance of decent school meals:

 “We need to start with children and school meals. Children are the consumers, restaurant goers and growers of the future. I am proud of the visibility the prize brings to public food.

“We need to start with children and school meals. Children are the consumers, restaurant goers and growers of the future. The Embla prize is an acknowledgement of the hard work done on food in the public sector every day. I am proud of the visibility the prize brings to public food." 

Winners from all over the Nordic Region

The seven Embla 2017 winners are:

Nordic Food for Children and Young People 2017: 
Geitmyra Matkultursenter, Norway

 

Nordic Food Artisan 2017: 
Leif Sørensen, Fish Chips, the Faroe Islands

 

Nordic Food for the Many 2017: 
Annika Unt, Sweden

 

Nordic Food Communicator 2017: 
Michael Björklund, Smakbyn, Åland

 

Nordic Food Destination 2017: 
Heimablídni, the Faroe Islands

 

Nordic Food Producer 2017: 
Dímunargardur, the Faroe Islands

 

Nordic Food Entrepreneur 2017: 
Thomas Snellman, REKO, Finland

 

Biennial awards

The Embla prizes will be awarded every two years. The Danish Agriculture & Food Council hosted the first awards ceremony on 24 August 2017 in conjunction with the Ministry of Environment and Food's “Better Food for More People” conference in Copenhagen. Among those awarding the seven prizes were Her Royal Highness Princess Marie of Denmark, the Danish Minister for Environment and Food, Esben Lunde Larsen, and the Faroese Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Poul Michelsen.

National juries in each of the countries submitted nominations in the various categories to a Nordic jury, which made the final decisions on the winners. 

Information about Embla: www.emblafoodaward.com