--- title: "Why food companies shouldn’t press pause on climate work – even in uncertain times" date: 2026-06-03 author: "Sanni Jussila" featured_image: "https://www.valio.fi/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto/https://cdn-wp.valio.fi/valio-wp-network/2026/06/lehmatlaitumella-1660_3000x2000px-min.jpg" --- # Why food companies shouldn’t press pause on climate work – even in uncertain times # **Why food companies shouldn’t press pause on climate work – even in uncertain times** ![](https://www.valio.fi/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto/https://cdn-wp.valio.fi/valio-wp-network/2026/06/lehmatlaitumella-1660_3000x2000px-min.jpg) Reducing emissions in food production is no longer something companies can ignore – but it’s impossible to do it alone. We sat down with Juha Nousiainen, Senior Vice President of Valio’s carbon neutral milk chain, to discuss how collaboration across the value chain turns concrete climate actions into measurable business impact. **Hi Juha – with everything going on in the world right now, from geopolitical tensions to rising costs and uncertainty, many companies are focusing on short-term priorities instead of climate and environmental ambitions. You argue the opposite, however: now is the time *not* to slow down with climate action. Why?** Even though the business environment has become more challenging, climate change hasn’t paused – quite the opposite. Companies now face a choice: act early or wait until regulation forces change. Acting early allows companies to build solutions gradually and cost-efficiently, whereas waiting makes the transition more abrupt and more expensive. From our perspective, actions to reduce emissions in food production cannot be postponed but need to be built into every food manufacturer’s business now. It is a business-savvy move. **Valio has created the Carbo™ partnership programme designed to support food companies in achieving their ambitious environmental and climate goals. What makes the programme impactful in practice?** Valio is committed to achieving a carbon-neutral milk value chain by 2035 as part of our mission to build a future-proof food system through concrete actions outlined in our [climate programme](https://www.valio.com/sustainability/climate-programme/). Around 95 % of emissions in milk production comes from the beginning of the value chain – from the farms. This means food companies cannot reach their climate targets alone, but real impact requires collaboration with producers at the farm level. We created the Carbo™ partnership programme for industrial and retail customers to help them reduce the climate impact of their own chain and their scope 3 emissions. For example, farms participating in the programme can adopt carbon farming practices, introduce feed solutions that reduce methane emissions, improve peatland management and participate in manure-based biogas production. When the clients involved in the programme receive ingredients produced using these methods, they simultaneously reduce the Scope 3 emissions associated with the dairy ingredients they source Several customers have already joined the programme, and we are happy to welcome more – so get in touch if we’ve piqued your interest! **As we know, the global food system is under increasing pressure from climate change, resource constraints, and rising demand. In your opinion, what is the biggest misconception in the public debate about transforming the food system?** A common misconception is that one part of the food system could simply replace another – making everything plant- or cell-based for example. In reality, the food system is built on interconnected value chains, where side streams from one process often become inputs for another. Without these integrations, the system can’t be resource efficient. That’s why we focus on making the existing systems as sustainable and balanced as possible rather than replacing entire value chains. We need all of these three value chains to create a resource-efficient system. **Valio acts as a steering company in the Food 2.0 initiative, which aims to transform the food system. What makes the programme pioneering, and what key lessons have been learned now that it has been running for several years?** Food 2.0 is extensive research programme that aims to create a Finnish food system that aims to improve resource efficiency, reduce emissions and strengthen biodiversity through research and innovation. It brings together companies, researchers and other partners to work on shared challenges. The programme kicked off in 2024 and it is funded by Business Finland – and Valio was chosen as the leading company for the entire ecosystem. One key lesson from the programme so far is that collaboration significantly accelerates progress. Especially in a sector like food, where R&D resources are limited, working together allows us to achieve much more than acting alone. The ecosystem helps turn ideas into concrete projects. **Regions like Northern Europe are emerging as future hubs of food production. What gives the Nordic food system a competitive advantage and why is Finland’s expertise in food production growing international interest?** Climate change is reshaping global food production. Many food producing regions are facing increasing challenges such as drought and extreme weather. Northern Europe has relatively stable water availability and strong potential to maintain soil fertility. Finland’s strength lies in combining this with expertise in lower-emission food production, resource-efficient farming practices and food technology, and turning that into products and solutions for global markets. ![Juha Nousiainen](https://www.valio.fi/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto/https://cdn-wp.valio.fi/valio-wp-network/2023/09/BrandPhoto_Valio_PREMIUM_3589_Juha_Nousiainen_crop2.jpg) *Juha Nousiainen is Senior Vice President of Valio’s carbon neutral milk chain. Through Valio’s* [*Climate Programme*](https://www.valio.com/sustainability/climate-programme/)*, we are working towards a carbon-neutral milk value chain by 2035 through measures such as carbon farming, methane reduction, peatland emission reductions and manure-based biogas production.* ## Further reading [![](https://www.valio.fi/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto/https://cdn-wp.valio.fi/valio-wp-network/2026/06/lehmatlaitumella-1660_3000x2000px-min-400x267.jpg) Article ##### Why food companies shouldn’t press pause on climate work – e… 3. June 2026 ](https://www.valio.com/articles/why-food-companies-shouldnt-press-pause-on-climate-work-even-in-uncertain-times/) [![](https://www.valio.fi/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto/https://cdn-wp.valio.fi/valio-wp-network/2023/04/Valio_Virrat_2024_KIVIRANTA-40-400x267.jpg) Article ##### Valio’s sustainability report 2024 published 24. April 2025 ](https://www.valio.com/articles/valios-sustainability-report-2024-published/) [![Two cows.](https://www.valio.fi/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto/https://cdn-wp.valio.fi/valio-wp-network/2025/01/VALIO_20170816_CARD_01_132-400x267.jpg) Article ##### Valio’s Whole Milk Powder for sensitive nutrition 31. January 2025 ](https://www.valio.com/articles/valios-whole-milk-powder-for-sensitive-nutrition/)