Denmark abolishes the Ministry of Agriculture

The Danish government has approved a reform to reorganize the country’s Ministry of Agriculture. According to the government decree, the agency will be renamed the Ministry of Nature and Animal Welfare, with production functions being consolidated into five different departments, Agrarheute reports.

The decision is part of a major cabinet reorganization announced on June 3, 2026, by Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs will be responsible for food safety, sanitary standards, and procurement. The Ministry of the Environment will be tasked with overseeing fisheries. The Ministry of Justice will oversee compliance with animal welfare laws. The Ministry of Transport will assume its share of responsibilities.

The reorganization is a step in a larger environmental program aimed at redesignating 30% of the country’s land as protected nature areas. This year alone, 390,000 hectares of land are planned to be restored to a pristine state or converted into forests and wetlands.

Farmers are calling the decision a “disaster,” while critics warn that dividing power into five ministries will lead to confusion and irresponsibility.

Tags: Denmark, agricultural sector