ORGANIC FOOD AND FARMING IN FINLAND
Organic Agriculture
The foundation of all organic food is organic agriculture.
What is Organic Agriculture?
Organic agriculture is an agricultural system that promotes environmentally, socially and economically sound production of food, fiber, timber etc. In this system soil fertility is seen as the key to successful production. Working with the natural properties of plants, animals and the landscape, organic farmers aim to optimize quality in all aspects of agriculture and the environment.
Organic agriculture significantly reduces external inputs by avoiding the use of chemo-synthetic fertilizers, pesticides and pharmaceuticals. Instead it works with nature to increase both agricultural yields and disease resistance.
Organic agriculture also includes social considerations in its holistic approach recognizing that people are as important as the organic system
Why Organics?
The organic agriculture movements began in the early 20th century in several countries almost simultaneously as a reaction to the industrialization and chemicalization of agriculture.
Today organic farming and consumption of organic food is most widespread in Europe and North America. Japan is the biggest market for organic food outside those regions.
Consumers buy organic food for several reasons:
1. For many consumers it is important that chemical fertilizers and pesticides have not been used on organic food; they feel that organic food is healthier and safer. Now also organic food being the gmo-free alternative is becoming more and more important.
2. The environmental consciousness of consumers has been on the rise for years; organic farming is an environmentally sound production method.
3. Also ethical issues are gaining importance in consumers' minds: organic farming and fair trade with developing countries are closely linked together and animal welfare is a priority in organic farming.
Organic Farming in Finland
Finland is the northern-most country in the world to be self-sufficient in basic foodstuffs. Finland was largely an agrarian society up to the 1970's. Finnish food production is still based on relatively small family-run farms, although the number of farms has been rapidly decreasing and farm size respectively increasing during the last decades.
Organic farming started in Finland as early as the 1930's, but organic acreage was very small until the early 1990's when the Ministry of Agriculture first started subsidizing farmers for conversion to organic farming. Today 7,5% of the Finnish field area is certified organic totaling 166.000 ha. It is noteworthy that this is all arable land and almost 40% is cereals. This results in a relatively high production of organic cereals in Finland, most notably oats. Finland is the largest source of organic oats in Europe.
The organic food market is relatively well developed representing a Western European average level with the market share of organic food estimated to be approximately 1,5%. Most organic food is sold through mainstream supermarkets.
Organic Standards and Certifications
Organic standards define what organic farming is and how organic food can be produced. The IFOAM Basic Standard is the most comprehensive international organic standard.
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