This project is financed by Innovation Norway. The event was a kick-off for the innovation project. It was an interactive event aimed at bringing together professionals from diverse fields to explore new approaches to addressing chemical soil contamination resulting from explosive ordinance in conflict-affected areas worldwide.
Description
This project is financed by Innovation Norway. The event is a kick-off for the innovation project. Join us for an interactive event aimed at bringing together professionals from diverse fields to explore new approaches to addressing chemical soil contamination resulting from explosive ordinance in conflict-affected areas worldwide.
This session will incorporate lightning talks and panel discussion, providing a platform for engaging industry experts, solution providers, and researchers to explore feasible, scalable, and innovative approaches to remediation.
We hope that Norwegian People’s Aid will find a good partnership with the attendees.
Rather than presenting fixed solutions, we will create a space for dialogue, brainstorming, and collective problem-solving. The panel discussion will allow stakeholders to exchange insights on technological advancements, market-ready solutions, and gaps that require further innovation. Participants will be encouraged to share their insights, propose innovative approaches, and learn from others’ experiences.
Why This Event Matters
Land contaminated by explosive residues, such as landmines, poses long-term threats to health, agriculture, and ecosystems. Current remediation methods are often costly, time-consuming, or difficult to scale, particularly in a post-conflict setting and in rural communities. By integrating panel discussion and lightning talks this event will help bridge the gap between theoretical approaches and practical market solutions. Through structured discussions with market actors, research institutions, and practitioners, we aim to identify viable technologies and strategies that can be tested and implemented in real-world contexts.
Agenda
11:30 – 12:00: Arrival and Mingling (Light refreshments)
12:00 – 12:15: Welcome from Innovation Norway and Opening Remarks
12:15 – 12:35: Keynote Presentation: The Challenge of Soil Contamination in Post-Conflict Zones
12:35 – 13:15: Lightning talks: Engaging Industry Experts and Solution Providers
– Bioremediation and biochar. Possible solutions to war poisoning – Erik Joner, Research Manager from NIBIO
– Hege Vågen, Senior Advisor Environment from Sweco
– Marion O’Farrell, Research Manager, Smart Sensors and Microsystems, SINTEF
13:15 – 13:45: Panel Discussion with COWI, SINTEF, NIBIO, Sweco and Forsvarsbygg
13:45 – 14:00: Closing Remarks from Norwegian People’s Aid
Key Discussion Points
• How can we help identify commercially viable solutions for rapid soil testing?
• What are the primary types of chemical contaminants found in soil after the detonation or presence of explosive ordnance and unexploded ordnance?
• How can rapid testing methods be improved or adapted to identify chemical contamination efficiently on-site?
• What indicators should be prioritized when testing for soil toxicity to ensure safety for agriculture and human health?
• How can test results be effectively integrated into land use planning and remediation strategies?
• What role can communities and local stakeholders play in monitoring and managing contaminated sites?
Who Should Attend
We invite professionals from diverse backgrounds, including:
• Environmental scientists and soil specialists.
• Agricultural and land management professionals.
• Researchers, engineers, and technology developers.
• Representatives from NGOs, government agencies, and international organizations.
• Humanitarian mine action experts.
What You Can Expect:
• A platform for sharing knowledge, ideas, and experiences.
• Discussion and opportunities to connect with industry leaders, technology providers, and funding bodies.
• Identification of potential partnerships to co-develop and test new remediation technologies.
• A summary of key takeaways and recommendations to inform future market engagement strategies.
We look forward to your participation and ideas!
For further details or inquiries, please contact Resad in Norwegian People’s Aid: resad@npaid.org
Organized by
• Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) and
• Forum for technology and development (FTU)
• Tekna Biodiversity
• Engineers Without Borders Norway (IUG)
Speakers
Harald Bjørnstad
Seniorrådgiver – Forsvarsbygg
Harald Bjørnstad is a senior advisor at Forsvarsbygg (Norwegian Defence Estaste Agency). He has more than 25 years of experience on investigation and remediaton of polluted ground especially heavy metals and oil pollution in soil and water. At the moment leading group of 12 specialists in external environment, nature management and soil – and water pollution. They are covering military sites in Norway from shooting ranges to the sea. They are also involved in dumped ammunition in lakes.
Ingrid Gjesteland
Head of discipline – Cowi AS Avd Bergen
Ingrid Gjesteland har en mastergrad fra NTNU i analytisk og miljøkjemi (MSc Analytical and Environmental Science). Ferdig i 2013 Hun har en doktorgrad fra UiB i arbeids- og miljømedisin (Avhandling: Oil spill into seawater – Evaporation and human exposure to benzene). Ferdig i 2018.
Hun har jobbet med kjemikalier og forurenset jord siden 2018. Hovedfokus har vært • å planlegge og gjennomføre undersøkelser av forurenset grunn • å vurdere forurensningsnivå og utarbeide tiltaksplan for håndtering av forurenset grunn • Vurdering av risiko for spredning av forurensning • Følge opp entreprenører i anleggsfase • Generell miljørådgivning knyttet til håndtering av forurenset grunn
De siste to årene har hun også jobbet med å utarbeide matjordplaner ifm større infrastrukturprosjekter. Hovedfokus har vært: • Å ivareta matjord på best mulig måte • Prøveta og vurdere kvalitet på matjord • Prøveta og vurdere håndtering av jord med plantesykdom • Håndtering av matjord som må flyttes • Arealregnskap
Kyaw Lin Htut
Norwegian People’s Aid
Kyaw Lin Htut is NPA’s Mine Action and Disarmament Senior Advisor for Innovation. He has nearly 18 years of experience in the humanitarian sector of which more than 11 years was in conducting and managing explosive ordnance clearance and disposal activities. Htut has worked on operations in conflict/post-conflict settings in Ukraine and various countries throughout the Balkans, Caucasus and Southeast Asia. As Senior Advisor for Innovation, he is currently managing NPA’s projects funded by Innovation Norway.
Erik Jautris Joner
Seniorforsker – NIBIO – Norsk institutt for bioøkonomi
Erik Joner is a soil scientist and department leader working at NIBIO (Norwegian Institute for Bioeconomy Research), specialized in soil biology. His research activities cover soil health, soil pollution, ecotoxicology and remediation. He is currently involved in projects on biochar, recycling of organic waste streams, heavy metal uptake in plants and fate of organic pollutants in agricultural production.
Marion Elaine O´Farrell
Research Manager – SINTEF avd Forskningsveien Oslo
Marion O’Farrell (Research Manager) is a research manager in the Smart Sensors & Microsystems department in SINTEF. For almost 20 years, Marion has worked with the development of optical measurement systems for industrial applications for a variety of industries. Her own specific focus is inline food measurement applications. She has published over 50 articles and has two patents related to measurement of food “Food Monitoring System” (IE20040383) and Measurement of properties of organic material (201580021396). She has contributed to the development of Tomra’s inline NIR spectral imaging system QVision. Marion’s research is focused on measurement system design using a multi-disciplinary approach that is based on first principles. She believes that high quality physical data, from robust sensors, can unlock the true potential for digitalisation in industry.
Kristin Holme Obrestad
Seniorrådgiver – Norwegian People´s Aid
Kristin Holme Obrestad, special advisor on climate and environment in Norwegian People´s Aid.
Hege Kristine Vågen
Miljørådgiver – Sweco Norge AS Hovedkontor
Hege Vågen is a Senior Environmental Geologist specializing in a wide range of contamination and environmental issues across land, sea, and freshwater. Her work involves conducting environmental investigations, including soil, sediment, and water sampling. She collaborates closely with a large team environmental specialists at Sweco, dedicated to helping assist a variety of clients find the best solutions to their environmental and contamination challenges, all while ensuring compliance with relevant legislation.