The global shift toward sustainable food production is creating a window of opportunity for Finland to enhance its role in the global food supply chain. Blessed with a conducive climate, abundant water resources, and impeccable production hygiene conditions, Finland is well-positioned for a positive trajectory in food production, further propelled by advanced technologies and high educational standards in the primary sector.
While Finland has a history of pioneering functional foods, particularly in the 1980s with innovations in dairy, sugar, and fat, the last decade has seen a remarkable surge in plant-based foods. Oats, a leading raw material, have been a cornerstone of this growth, with Finland being a major oat exporter for years. Recent developments indicate a shift toward processed milling products and innovative oat-based offerings, driven by extensive research dating back to the 1990s. Research initiatives, backed by public funding, have spurred advancements in oat fractionation, malting, extraction, and processing technologies, resulting in products such as oat-based fiber, protein, oil, and xylitol ingredients.
A notable project, Oathow, showcased the collaboration between research institutes and universities, introducing hyperspectral imaging to predict oat quality parameters. Concurrently, the project explored novel oat processing technologies, focusing on functionalizing oat protein and improving breadmaking processes.
The robust oat expertise in Finland has catalyzed the rapid evolution of plant-based innovations, especially in dairy and meat alternatives. Major players in dairy, meat, and cereal processing have established their plant-based protein lines, fostering a domestic market valued in the tens of millions of euros. Notably, exports of oat drinks and oatgurts have tripled to nearly 24 million euros in two years, and meat alternative exports have surpassed three million euros.
The market potential for plant-based products, centered around oats, continues to grow, prompting substantial investments in milling companies that have doubled oat product exports in five years. An upcoming major investment plans to nearly double Finnish oat milling capacity by 2023, setting the stage for further expansion.
Looking ahead, other raw materials like faba bean, nettle, and hemp are gaining traction in product development. Innovations such as vertical farming and cellular agriculture are expected to unlock new global export avenues for Finland. The country’s prowess in industrial biotech is driving startups to develop single-cell and recombinant protein solutions for food applications. Grass, traditionally used as feed for ruminants, is also under exploration through the Grass-biorefinery initiative, aiming to develop grass-based foods for human consumption.
Amidst the ongoing food crisis in Europe, Finland stands poised to contribute to global stability by increasing food exports, particularly through oat products. Oatmeal, affordable, healthy, and nutritious, emerges as a potential contributor to food aid programs, aligning commercial ambitions with a chance to address pressing global challenges.