Development of Organic Food Production in Finland Finnish

Development of Organic Food Production in Finland Finnish Organic Research Institute, FORI Pirjo Siiskonen, professor, director of FORI WBREN –conference in Novi Sad 25 th November 2013

Some features of Finnish Food Chain 1 • Ordinary way of production is dominating (9% of the field area in organic) • Agricultural production is highly specialized geographically • Food processing is highly developed and concentrated • Retail is concentrated; S and K -chains and supermarkets are dominating • Both collecting raw materials and delivering food products have high transport and environmental costs • A lot of food is imported and local and rural economies grow weaker

Some features of Finnish Food Chain 2 • Higly processed food is popular • Consumers believe in the safety of ordinary food in general However: • Interest in organic food is increasing among consumers • There is not enough national organic food production • Import of organic food is increasing • There is discussion on local and organic food and the future of rural economies

Discussion on local and organic food Local food: • Locally produced, local raw materials, local employment and local food culture • Way of production either ordinary or organic • No control system Organic food: • Environmentally friendly and ethically high level production • No chemicals or pesticides, no GMO, no irradiation, no additives • Controlled production

Generality of organic field production in European countries, some figures in 2011 • • Austria Sweden Estonia Switzerland Czeck Republic Latvia Finland 19, 7 % of the field area 15, 4 14, 8 11, 7 10, 8 10, 4 8, 2

Some figures on organic production in Finland 2012 • 9% of field area (205 000 ha) in organic production, increase 2011 -2012 was 11% • 4 300 farms in organic production (59 000 farms in all), • 760 animal farms in organic production • The medium size of organic farms 46, 4 ha (39, 5 in ordinary) • Enterprices processing organic food: 2008: 401, 2012: 624 • Share of food markets only 1, 6%; increase 2011 -2012 however 24% • Share of import 40% • Official targets: 20% of the field area in organic in 2020 and 20% of public food services in 2020 • Local and organic food program was accepted 2013 • Organic food promotion by the government since 2012

Some figures on organic production in Finland 2012 • 9% of field area (205 000 ha) in organic production; increase 2011 -2012 was 11% • 4 300 farms in organic production (59 000 farms in all), • 760 animal farms in organic production • The medium size of organic farms 46, 4 ha (39, 5 in ordinary) • Enterprices processing organic food: 2008: 401 but 2012: 624 • Share of food markets only 1, 6%; increase 2011 -2012 however 24% • Share of import 40%

Official targets Governmental target accepted in 2013: 20% of the field area in organic production in 2020 20% of public food services organic in 2020 National program on the promotion of local and organic food was accepted 2013 • Organic food promotion by the government since 2012 • •

Main actors in the field • • • Government and the Ministry of Agriculture Union of Organic Farmers´ Union Pro Luomu Pro Agria FORI (Finnish Organic Research Institute)

The institute was founded by University of Helsinki and Agrifood Research Center MTT in November 2012. The institute started 1. 1. 2013 and its coordination unit is located in Mikkeli.

MTT HY + Ruralia

The main idea of the institute is to support the whole food chain and promote organic food production in Finland by research, science communication, education and development projects

Finnish Organic Research Institute – research-based information about organic food and food chain

The values of the institute: Research-based activities Openness in distributing information Co-operation and networking Effectiveness

The activities of the institute Research Communication Entrepreneurship Internationality Effectiveness Development Education

Main fields of research Agricultural production • food sciences • nutrition Organic food production • field production • animal husbandry Organic • environmental farming effects and • sustainability environment Organic food chain and society • institutions • politics • consumers, markets

Strategic objectives 2013 -2016: 1. Reseach on organic food chain and the research funding will be doubled 2. Research is followed by business concepts 3. Funding from the Academy of Sciences for research on organic food chain 4. Participation in EU Horizon 2020 -project funding 5. Increase in the amount of doctoral students

Reseach program 2014 -2018 • National program • Background in the needs of the food chain and the food economy • Preparing process has been participatory (all stakeholders included) • Multidisciplinary (agriculture, biology and environment, food science, medicine, social and economical sciences) • Guide for funding

Pietari

Research Directors Agricultural production • Dr. Sc. Agr. , Dipl. Ing. Agr. , docent Winfried Schäfer, Agrifood Research Finland Environment • Dr. , senior researcher Helena Kahiluoto, • Agri. Food Research Finland Food Sciences • Dr. , docent Carina Tikkanen-Kaukanen, UH Social and Political Sciences • Dr, post doc researcher Minna Mikkola, UH

Steering Committee • Research director Anu Harkki, MTT, chair • Research director (environment) Jyrki Aakkula, MTT • Professor, vice dean Juha Helenius, HY • Director Sami Kurki, HY • Professor Johanna Mäkelä, HY • Professor Raija Tahvonen, MTT

Coordination unit in Mikkeli • Pirjo Siiskonen director, professor • Jaakko Nuutila research coordinator, M. Sc • Anne Hytönen communication planner, M. Sc

Main drivers of organic food production in Finland • • • Official objectives accepted by all actors Governmental support Role of research is accepted (FORI) Multi- and interdisciplinarity Co-operation and Networking of all main actors

Finnish Organic Resarch Institute www. luomuinstituutti. fi www. luomu. fi