From Ferguson to Green Transition: Lecture with Historian Esben Bøgh Sørensen

Agricultural historian Esben Bøgh Sørensen examines the major transformations in Danish agriculture from the 1950s to today - from the breakthrough of the Ferguson tractor and the advance of mechanization to today's climate demands, environmental concerns, and green transition. Along the way, he tells how approximately 200,000 diverse farms became fewer than 6,000 highly specialized businesses.

The lecture addresses mechanization, specialization, and large-scale farming, but also questions about future food production, nature management, and animal welfare that shaped the parliamentary election in spring 2026. Drawing on current debates about the green transition and the conversion of agricultural land, the lecture provides a historical perspective on an industry in constant change.

Esben Bøgh Sørensen is a historian specializing in agricultural history, intellectual history, and social development. He has researched the development of Danish agriculture, the cooperative movement, and structural changes from the 19th century to today, and is affiliated with the Green Museum - a knowledge center for agriculture, hunting, forestry, and food.