ERIAFF Conference 2014 Seinäjoki, Finland Asko Peltola, Regional Mayor The Regional Council of South Ostrobothnia "Opening and Welcome"

1. Mr. Asko Peltola, Region Mayor
June 11th, 2014

2. Finland
Population about 5.5 million
(17 persons/km2)
some 30 % live in rural areas
Our GDP is (2012)
EUR 193 billion €
EUR 33,500 € per capita
(EU = EUR 24,400 €)
share of agriculture and
forestry 26 %

3. Finland – the northernmost
agricultural country in the world
(and the most rural country of the EU)
• Growing period 180 - 120 days
• Temperature sum 1 300 - 400
°Cdays
- Germany 2 000-1 600 °Cdays
- Spain 2 800-2 400 °Cdays
• Cold climate and short
summers => low yield levels
(about ½ of Central Europe)
• Despite this, Finland is self
sufficient in main food products
and the quality is high - but the
production costs are high, too

4. Land use (and bio-resources) of Finland
The area of Finnish forests is about the
same size as Great Britain
Total land area 30 million ha (forest 20 million ha)

5. South Ostrobothnia
• 194 000 pers. / 13 400 km² (= 14,4/ km²)
• Share of agriculture and forestry: 12 % =>
Food Province of Finland
• Main economic pillars: Food (agriculture
and processing = 25% of regional GDP) +
Wood + Metal
• Region of entrepreneurship (esp. SMEs)
• Excellence in:
– Sustainable and effective solutions for
food systems and bio-economy
– Intelligent and energy efficient system
innovations
– Renewing production of services and
eventsHelsinki
Seinäjoki

6. Traditionally, the South
Ostrobothnian
character has been
associated with
outspokenness,
diligence, uprightness
and courage.
Region of
fields and
"flat land" –
but some
lakes, too.

7. 18.6.2014
People in SOB are regarded as (?)…
 entrepreneurial (we want to do things in our own way)
 independent (we don't like bosses…)
 straight and honest (promises have to be kept)
 stubborn (never admit if we are wrong…)
 rural ("country boys and girls")
 old-fashioned / conservative / traditional
 we want to do things better than our neighbours
 not very international (so far… but improving!)
=> "Rural Heartland" of Finland? 

8. South Ostrobothnia = Region of Agriculture
= Food Province of Finland
Food
Metal
and
technology
Wood
We do have expertise in…

9. …and we are smartly specializing in …
Agrotechnology RDI in Food Chain
Consumer
preferences
and demand
Food safety,
quality and
traceability
Green Creative Garden = Sustainable and
effective solutions for food systems

10. - is actively working for
sustainable innovations
in agriculture, food and
forestry
- puts emphasis on the
entire agro-food
production chain,
including nutrition and
human well-being as a
whole
Region of South Ostrobothnia

11. Challenges of the future:
 global demand for food is
growing
 climate change
 raising need for efficient
and innovative solutions in
the utilization of our
common bio-resources
 knowledge sharing and
international co-operation
 unhealthy food and dietary
based diseases => demand
for healthier diets and food
product supplies
 profitability of farming
 sustainable land use
 etc…
We need to have a clear
vision…
… and look far enough
in the future!

12. Thank you
for your
attention!
…and welcome!