New report: Danes support the importance of agriculture, but views differ on how the green transition should take place
A new report from Aarhus University shows that people in Denmark broadly recognise the importance of agriculture and food production. However, the report also points to clear differences between urban and rural citizens when it comes to the Green Tripartite Agreement and the future use of agricultural land.
The report, A People’s Perspective on the Green Agriculture and Food Transition and the Green Tripartite Agreement in Denmark, is based on a representative survey of 2,505 citizens living in Denmark, carried out in November 2025.
According to the report, 80% of respondents agree that the agricultural and food sector is important for Denmark. At the same time, many people are not fully aware of how much of Denmark’s land is used for agriculture. Respondents estimated the share at 48% on average, but in reality the actual figure is closer to 60%.
On average, respondents suggested reducing agricultural land use from 60% to 55%.
Green transition is supported, but not without concern
The report shows that people in Denmark are not opposed to the green transition of agriculture. But support depends on what the transition involves, who is affected, and how the consequences are distributed.
Technology is one of the most widely supported solutions. Slightly more than 60% of respondents agree that technological solutions should be used to make agriculture greener and more efficient.
There is also relatively broad support for shifting production towards foods with lower climate and environmental impact. By contrast, reducing agricultural land is more contested, especially among rural respondents. Rural citizens are also more concerned than urban citizens that the Green Tripartite Agreement will place too great a burden on farmers. Urban citizens are more likely to see potential new opportunities.
This highlights a key challenge in implementing the Green Tripartite Agreement: the transition must be seen not only as a matter of regulation, technology, and land use, but also of fairness, local impact and trust.
Pollution, food security and farmers’ role matter to citizens
The survey shows that pollution is one of the environmental issues that people are most concerned about. Chemical pollution and pollution affecting water quality in streams, fjords, and the sea were ranked higher than climate change, biodiversity and nature conservation.
People primarily see farmers as responsible for providing safe, healthy, high-quality and sustainable food, as well as ensuring animal welfare. Protecting the environment and addressing climate change are seen as less central responsibilities. However, Danes see natural resource degradation and extreme weather events as risks to food security. When asked about which actor should be responsible for the natural and farming land in Denmark, respondents did not point to one actor alone. Farmers were assigned the largest share of responsibility at 35%, followed by municipalities at 28%, and the Danish Nature Conservation Association at 24%.
This suggests that people see the green transition as a shared responsibility across farmers, public authorities, municipalities, and civil society.
Early information and local benefits are key
One of the report’s central findings is that people want to be informed early about local projects under the Green Tripartite Agreement. Respondents also prefer that such projects create benefits for the local community.
This is particularly important among rural respondents, who place greater emphasis than urban respondents on fairness in both decision-making processes and the distribution of benefits.
The report also shows that support for policy measures varies significantly. VAT exemption on more sustainable foods, such as fruits and vegetables, receive the highest support. In contrast, green taxes on food purchases have the lowest support and are the only measure where opposition outweighs support.
Overall, the report suggests that public acceptance of the green transition depends on clear communication, early involvement, and a visible link between local changes and broader societal benefits.
About the report
The report A People’s Perspective on the Green Agriculture and Food Transition and the Green Tripartite Agreement in Denmark is part of the Green Transition Index project at Aarhus University.
The study was conducted by the MAPP Centre and Land-CRAFT at Aarhus University.
The survey was carried out in November 2025 by Norstat among 2,505 citizens living in Denmark. The sample was quota-sampled to reflect the Danish population in terms of gender, age and region.
Contact
Jessica Aschemann-Witzel
Professor
Aarhus University
jeaw@mgmt.au.dk
+4593508332