Mette Gjerskov

Mette Gjerskov (28 July 1966 – 12 June 2023) was a Danish politician, who was a member of the Folketing for the Social Democrats political party. She was elected into parliament at the 2005 Danish general election. She served as minister for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries.^[1]

Mette Gjerskov
Member of the Folketing
In office 8 February 2005 – 12 June 2023
Constituency	Zealand (2007-2023) Roskilde (2005-2007)
Minister for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries
In office 3 October 2011 – 9 August 2013
Prime Minister	Helle Thorning-Schmidt
Preceded by	Henrik Høegh
Succeeded by	Karen Hækkerup
Personal details
Born	(1966-07-28)28 July 1966 Gundsø, Denmark
Died	12 June 2023(2023-06-12) (aged 56)
Political party	Social Democrats
Alma mater	Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University

Background

Gjerskov finished her studies as an agronomist at the Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University in 1993. Before this she studied mathematics, physics and chemistry at an evening school for adults in Ballerup.^[2]

Political career

Gjerskov worked as a civil servant of the minister of Agriculture from 1995 to 2004. She was elected as deputy of Folketing for the 2005 election. After central-left and left won the election on 15 September 2011, she was nominated as the minister of food, agriculture and fisheries in the cabinet of Helle Thorning-Schmidt. Gjerskov lost her ministry to Karen Hækkerup after the cabinet reshuffle of 9 August 2013.^[3][4]

Death

On 12 June 2023, Mette Gjerskov died age 56 from nerve inflammation.^[5] On 7 September that year, the Folketing held a memorial session with a minute's silence in honour of her.^[6][7]