UPERNAVIARSUK

Upernaviarsuk is an experimental agricultural research and training center (a school with 3 to 7 students per year). Subsidized by the government, experiments are carried out here in an attempt to develop new ranges of fruit and vegetables. While global warming is certainly helping to raise temperatures, hot spells are still too irregular, as are frequent climatic disturbances (scattered rains, violent winds, droughts, etc.), to allow us to imagine a new model of agriculture based exclusively on plantations. A report is published every year on the new seeds and varieties tested, to encourage local farmers to find out what vegetables they can plant, and thus diversify (apart from cattle rearing, the farmers' main source of income). In addition, the fertile soil and clean, relatively dry air make for generally good growing conditions. What's more, pests hardly affect the plants, so no pesticides are used. Upernaviarsuk grows a number of fruits and vegetables (potatoes, turnips, iceberg lettuce, cabbage, tomatoes, strawberries, berries, carrots, cucumbers, etc.), as well as trees and bushes specially adapted to the Arctic climate, both outdoors and in greenhouses. Most farmers also have their own kitchen gardens for personal use. Vegetables can be bought in supermarkets throughout the country, but also directly on site!