The conference venue will be locatedat at Hotel Hafnia on the top floor Panorama

The conference will embrace 3 days of indoor meetings, workshops and  field excursions. The conference language will be English.

About the conference: 

The North Atlantic Native Sheep and Wool Conference has been held 10 times in the North Atlantic countries. This will be the 11th conference, and the second time on the Faroe Islands. The focus is on native sheep breeds and wool production in the North Atlantic region. This conference brings together farmers, researchers, artisans, and enthusiasts who share an interest in the conservation and promotion of native sheep breeds and their wool.

Key Aspects of the Conference:
Native Sheep Breeds: The conference emphasizes the importance of preserving native sheep breeds, which are often well-adapted to the local climate and landscapes of the North Atlantic region. These breeds include those from Iceland, The Faroe Islands, Greenland, Norway, Shetland, Orkneys, Outer Hebrides and Isle of Man.

The project is based on the: «Heritage after the VIKINGS»

The Vikings brought their sheep around the North Atlantic Sea. Each place has developed their own sheep based on the sheep and the cultural heritage we have together around the North Atlantic area in: Norway, Shetland, Orkney, Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, Outer Hebrides and Isle of Man. It is about the Native Short tail Sheep, their Wool, the coastal landscape and small-scale business regarding sheep and wool around the North Atlantic.

The project consists of 2 parts, conference and exhibition.

Part I: The conference. it travels around the North Atlantic Sea. Each place has an opportunityto set focus on their sheep and wool. Speakers from around North Atlantic and other places

speaks about their business and subject who have an interest regarding district development for sheep and wool people in the world.

Part II: The exhibition «Wool around the North Atlantic Sea» It is the information part to the public regarding wool, sheep, products, techniques, countries and small-scale businesses around the North Atlantic Sea. The exhibition is wandering in Norway. It also contains speaks, craft marked, and marketing of all countries who is a part of this project and who arranges the Conference in the North Atlantic Sea.

There are still a lot to do and set focus on regarding Native Sheep and their wool. North Atlantic Native Sheep and Wool is a very good example that it works to take an initiative if something needs to be done.Now we can see results from the project. There is established a big network around the world who have an interest of sheep and wool and people are more interest in using wool.

The history behind NANSW and conference:

The NANSW was founded by Karin Flatøy Svarstad in 2010.

 Why did Karin start this project, North Atlantic native Sheep and Wool?

She has been travelling around the North Atlantic Sea for many years and done a lot of teaching and met many farmers and craft people. Karin had seen a lot of wool from the Native Sheep been as well as other breeds been thrown away, farmers have not been paid much for this quality of wool. The wool for them was a problem and they did not get paid for it.

 KARIN HAD SEEN TOO MUCH OF NICE WOOL BEEN TROWN AWAY,

THIS WAS TOO MUCH FOR HER, SHE FELT VERY STRONGELY

THAT SHE HAD TO SOMETHING!

 Karin wanted to do something with this and when she was invited to the island North Ronaldsay in Orkney to come and teach she saw the opportunity to get something done. This was the very first start of this project. The first conference and building up network around the North Atlantic Sea started on this island I 2011 organized by Helga Tullock Scott and people on the island. The project and conference have traveled around the North Atlantic Sea since.

 The North Atlantic Native Sheep and Wool Conference is an important gathering for those interested in the sustainable development of the sheep and wool industry, with a particular focus on native breeds that have a rich cultural and environmental heritage.