Dairy and beef industries in Finland: Progressing pathways to carbon-neutrality by 2035

The project is part of Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry's Hiilestä kiinni research and innovation program. 

We need to redesign our food systems which today account for nearly one-third of global GHG emissions, consume large amounts of natural resources, result in biodiversity loss and negative health impacts (due to both under- and overnutrition) and do not allow fair economic returns and livelihoods for all actors, in particular for primary producers. Putting our food systems on a sustainable path also brings new opportunities for operators in the food value chain. New technologies and scientific discoveries, combined with increasing public awareness and demand for sustainable food, will benefit all stakeholders.

In view of the changing climate, milk and meat production in Finland will experience unforeseen challenges. For s sustainable milk and meat industry, there is an urgent need to understand whether grasslands grown on mineral and organic soils are able to sequester carbon. In addition to carbon, the focus in this innovative project will be on reduction of nitrous oxide emissions from the managed grasslands. These emissions account for nearly 40% of the carbon footprint in Finland.