Valio has published Ruoan uusi tila (The New State of Food), a vision paper outlining four changes needed to transform Finland’s food system. The future of food production requires more efficient nutrient cycling, a profitable circular economy, the widespread adoption of regenerative primary production practices, and the ability to respond to consumers’ rapidly changing preferences and needs. Ensuring the profitability of primary production remains a priority in transforming the food system.
Download the vision paper in Finnish from the link at the end of this text.
Prepared by Valio’s experts, the Ruoan uusi tila vision paper sets out Valio’s view on how Finland can transform its food system and strengthen its position as an exporter of sustainably produced food and food production expertise. The vision paper is part of Valio’s extensive Food 2.0 research program, funded by Business Finland. The program aims to bring together the entire food sector to build a food system in Finland where competitiveness is based on sustainable production and innovation.
Climate change, biodiversity loss and geopolitical uncertainty are putting food production under pressure. Fluctuations in the prices and availability of energy and fertilisers increase uncertainty for primary food producers, who face profitability challenges both in Finland and worldwide. At the same time, food needs to be produced at affordable prices for consumers and with a lower environmental impact.
“In our view, a truly sustainable food system includes sustainably produced animal- and plant-based products, as well as opportunities offered by new technologies, such as cellular agriculture. These value chains support each other, are increasingly interconnected and are built on the principles of the circular economy. The food system of the future will offer new solutions to make primary production profitable,” says Harri Kallioinen, Valio’s Director of Research and Development, summarising the paper’s core message.
Four changes spanning the journey from farms to consumers’ plates
- More efficient nutrient and energy cycling. Animal and crop production and cellular agriculture must be interconnected so that production side streams are used more effectively. For example, manure can be used to produce biogas and recycled fertilisers, while lactose can be used in protein production.
- Turning the circular economy into profitable business. New solutions require demand, investment and cross-sector collaboration. A predictable policy framework supports the development and adoption of new solutions.
- Widespread adoption of regenerative primary production practices through digitalisation. Reliable and comparable data helps verify the impacts of environmental measures and target efforts where they deliver the greatest benefits. Digital tools must support day-to-day work on farms and take account of their different conditions.
- Tasty products that support consumers’ well-being. Major changes in sustainable production methods take place “under the bonnet”, without changing familiar products. Combining different forms of production brings added value to consumers’ plates: for example, plant fibres and oils can be added to animal-based products. New plant-based ingredients are being introduced. Products can also meet individual nutritional needs more precisely and support, for example, heart, brain and gut health.
Finland has an opportunity to strengthen its food exports
The paper anticipates that food production will shift northwards as the climate warms. Although extreme weather events will also become more frequent in Finland, the relative conditions for food production may improve. This could open up new opportunities for Finland to export food, as well as expertise and innovations in sustainable food production.
Download the Ruoan uusi tila vision paper in Finnish here or copy the following link into your browser’s address bar: https://www.valio.fi/uutiset/suomen-ruokajarjestelman-uudistaminen-vaatii-nelja-suurta-muutosta/
