Finnish Perspectives for

Climate Friendly Food

Production and Consumption

Nordic Agriculture Facing Climate

Change, 28th June, 2016

2

There are no benefits of climate change −

risks are too big

Weather risks

and market risks

Source: WakefieldSource: YLE

EU and international context

• Paris Climate Agreement

– High ambition to reach 1,5 - 2 °C degree

– Sinks are more and more important

– French 4/1000 -initiative

• EU 2030 energy & climate –package

– Food security, potential to reduce emissions is

relatively small (stated in European Council

conclusions), though improvements in sustainability

must be done

3

How to produce more sustainably?

• How to reduce ghg-emissions per litre or per kg?

• How to improve self-sufficiency in energy and

nutrients?

• How to optimize use of resources?

• How to adapt to climate change?

4

What are the most cost-effective, acceptable,

profitable, incentivizing measures in

agriculture? And easiest to implement? In what

way consumers are nudged towards

sustainable consumption?

Sustainable production must also be

profitable

5

Climate Programme for Finnish Agriculture

− Steps towards Climate Friendly Food

• Latest research of mitigation and adaptation

• 76 different measures

• Significant number of measures are implemented under Rural

Development Programme

• Wholefarm approach, not only gases from agriculture sector

(also energy, soil CO2)

• Adaptation a necessary element of sustainability

• The whole food system – both production and consumption

• Aims to integrate different policies

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Main measures in production

1. Carbon sequestration into soil

2. Measures relating to the use of peatlands

3. Plant breeding

4. Plant and animal health and preventing the spread of

invasive alien species

5. Handling and treatment of manure and more

accurate nitrogen fertilization

6. Energy efficiency and production and consumption of

renewable energy7

28.6.2016

Source: MTT

Source: Maaseudun tulevaisuus

Source. Kotiliesi

Source: Carbon to Soil

Source: Maaseudun tulevaisuus

Source: Luke

28.6.2016 9

Main measures in consumption

7. Reducing food loss and waste all through the

food system

8. Changes towards a more plant-based diet

Government programme:

Recycling of nutrients

• Objective of the Government Programme:

The recovery of nutrients will be increased especially in areas that

are sensitive with regard to the Baltic Sea and other waters so that

at least 50 percent of the manure and community wastewater

sludge will be covered by advanced processes by 2025.

– New funding for experimentation (12,5 million €), the call is

now opened (http://bit.ly/28MEMR9)

• The renewal of EU´s legislation for fertilizers

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Government Programme:

Report on Food Policy

Vision: ”In 2030 the Finnish consumers eat tasty, wholesome,

sustainably produced and safe food. Consumers have the ability to

make informed choices. A transparent, highly skilled, flexible and

internationally competitive food and service system responds to the

demand. The growth and advancement of the sector find support in

well-coordinated, high-level research and development.”

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• Energy efficiency: Farm audits (Rural Development

Programme), investment aid

• Now under preparation: National strategy for Energy

and Climate and Medium-term Plan for Climate

Change (according to National Climate Change Act)

– Decentralized (small scale) energy production and

consumption will be included

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Also now implemented or under

preparation

28.6.2016 13

Links:

• Klimatprogrammet för lantbruk ”Steg mot klimatvänligare mat”

http://bit.ly/28OmRNa

• Anpassning till klimatförändringen http://mmm.fi/sv/natur-och-

klimat/anpassning-till-klimatforandringen

• Ansökan om medel från försöksprogrammet för återvinning av

näringsämnen http://bit.ly/28MEMR9 , http://bit.ly/28RVGim

Thank you for your attention!

hanna.mattila@mmm.fi

@hsmattila