Nofence

Lore & Background

Oscar Hovde Berntsen has been working on the idea of virtual fencing since the 1990s. Nofence was incorporated in 2011. In 2016, a pilot project in Norway involved 850 goats. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority approved the use of Nofence for goats in 2017, then for cattle and sheep in 2020. The company was founded in Batnfjordsøra, Norway, and is today based in Molde, Trondheim, and Oslo, with offices in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Spain, and the United States.

Reader's Guide

Nofence's significance lies in providing a practical alternative to fixed electric fencing, especially in environmentally sensitive or remote upland areas where physical fencing is expensive or inappropriate. The solar-powered collars emit an audible tone when an animal approaches a virtual boundary, followed by a small shock if the animal continues, mimicking the effect of a fixed electric fence. Farmers can adjust boundaries and monitor animals via a mobile app, helping to prevent over-grazing. Conservationists and farmers have supported fenceless grazing for its reduced environmental impact. By January 2025, over 150,000 collars were in use worldwide, with more than 8,000 customers. The technology gained broader attention when Nofence appeared on the farming documentary show Clarkson's Farm in May 2025.

Did You Know?

• Nofence was incorporated in 2011, but Oscar Hovde Berntsen had been working on the idea since the 1990s.
• The Norwegian Food Safety Authority approved Nofence for goats in 2017, and for cattle and sheep in 2020.
• In September 2020, trials were being conducted at six sites in the UK, including Epping Forest in Essex.