Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries (Denmark)
| Ministeriet for Fødevarer, Landbrug og Fiskeri | |
 Entrance to the ministry | |
| Ministry overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 30 December 1996 |
| Dissolved | June 2026 |
| Headquarters |
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| Employees | 3,000 (2025) |
Minister responsible |
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Ministry executive |
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Child agencies |
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| Website | en |
The Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries (Danish: Ministeriet for Fødevarer, Landbrug og Fiskeri) is a Danish governmental ministry responsible for policy related to food production in Denmark. It oversees matters related to consumer protection, animal welfare, agricultural exportation, and investments in sustainable food production.[1] The ministry is composed of one governing department and three agencies: the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration (Fødevarestyrelsen), The Danish Agricultural Agency (Landbrugsstyrelsen), and The Danish Fisheries Agency (Fiskeristyrelsen).[2]
As of 2025, the ministry employs approximately 3000 people.[1] Its politically appointed head serves as a member of the Cabinet. Since 15 December 2022, Jacob Jensen has served as Minister for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries in the Frederiksen II Cabinet.[3]
History
The ministry was created on 22 May 1896 and originally named the Ministry of Agriculture. Up until that point, agricultural and fishing policy was overseen by the Ministry of the Interior.[4]
In 1929 the Directorate of Fishing was spun off into the separate Ministry of Shipping and Fishing, but was reabsorbed in 1935, and the name of the ministry was changed to Ministry of Agriculture and Fishing. In 1947 the Ministry of Fishing was created again, and the name of the ministry changed back to the Ministry of Agriculture, which lasted until 1994 when it was again folded into the Ministry of Agriculture and Fishing. On 30 December 1996 the name of the ministry was changed to the current Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, often referred to simply as the Ministry of Food.[4]
In 2015, the ministry was merged by the Lars Løkke Rasmussen II Cabinet with the Ministry of Environment to form the Ministry of Environment and Food. This merger was short-lived and the two ministries were again made independent on 19 November 2020.[1]
In 2026, the ministry was dissolved by the Mette Frederiksen III Cabinet. Denmark's agricultural portfolio is set to be overtaken by five other ministries, including the newly-formed Ministry of Nature and Animal Welfare.[5][6]
List of ministers
Food
Agriculture
Fisheries
References
- 1 2 3 "Objects and History". Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries of Denmark. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
- ↑ "The Ministry". Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries of Denmark. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
- ↑ "Jacob Jensen". Folketinget (in Danish). Retrieved 31 August 2025.
- 1 2 "Ministeriets historie". Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries (in Danish). Archived from the original on 7 October 2006.
- ↑ Bergoënd, Alice; Lund Nielsen, Magnus (3 June 2026). "Denmark becomes only EU country without farm minister". Euractiv. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
- ↑ Henley, Jon (6 June 2026). "How campaigners beat industrial farming in Denmark's 'pig election'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
In perhaps the biggest change of all, for the first time in 130 years Denmark will not have an agriculture minister. In their place will be a minister for nature and animal welfare, with the agriculture portfolio split between that department and four others.
