Valio responds to the transformation of the global food system, which requires collaborative research and cutting-edge innovations to manage
Business Finland challenges global companies to lead ecosystems that consist of companies of different sizes and other players. To this end, Business Finland is organising challenge competitions to encourage companies to significantly increase their R&D and innovation activities in Finland and to create jobs and billion-dollar ecosystems for new business. Business Finland's funding has been up to 20 million euros for a leading company and €50 million for an ecosystem assembled by a leading company.
In early 2024, Business Finland selected four new leading companies: Kempower, Patria and Valio each received 10 million euros in development funding for their projects. Business Finland has also earmarked 20 million in funding for partner companies and research partners associated with each project.
Valio is the first leading company in the food sector. With Business Finland's funding, it will launch the Food 2.0 project to develop the food system of the future and promote the competitiveness of food exports. The aim of the project is to create a food system in Finland where growth and added value are built on the basis of sustainable production. Valio's role is to initiate and lead large-scale cooperation and research and development projects with existing and new partners. During the five-year project, Valio and its network of partners aim to achieve an increase of 100 million euros in research and development activities and an increase of more than 1 billion euros in exports linked to the food system.
"It is important that we reform the food system with all the actors involved, because that is the only way to make change happen. The global transition in food production is an opportunity for Finnish production, as the global demand for food and the importance of the northern production regions grow. The goal is to improve the profitability and international competitiveness of food produced in Finland," says Tuomas Salusjärvi, Valio's Vice President for Growth Business, Research and Development.
The Food 2.0 project focuses on four themes:
Future products
Technology transformation
Regenerative production
Circular economy and resource efficiency
Valio Food 2.0 roadmap.
Find out more about the Valio Food 2.0 roadmap on Valio’s website.
The global food system is facing new challenges and opportunities
Food 2.0 is driven by the transformation of the global food system and the major challenges of the future: the world's population is growing and the demand for food is expected to double by 2050. Global crises such as the pandemic and the war in Ukraine are destabilising food supply chains and security of supply. Climate change is leading to increased droughts, especially in areas where food production is high. Therefore, the importance of northern regions such as Finland for food production will increase in the future.
In the midst of all this, the environmental impact of food production must also be brought under control. As Valio's website states, for example, instead of increasing land use, existing arable land should be used more efficiently. In addition, there should be a shift to more diversified farming and a reduction in the use of fossil fertilisers. In the future, the whole food system will have to follow the principles of circular economy and resource efficiency. For food production, a true circular economy means that nutrients, energy and by-products are recycled and as much of them as possible can be used.
But in the face of challenges, we can also see opportunities to do things in new ways. We need plant-based food, sustainably produced animal-based food and the latest advances in cellular agriculture, for example. We also need new technological innovations in areas such as fermentation, artificial intelligence and biotechnology. We need more research and collaboration between researchers and businesses.
New research and innovation are driving the emergence of new products, some of which have already reached the consumer stage. For example, Oliver Zahn, CEO of Climax, an astrophysicist who has worked for Google and SpaceX, set out to build the food of the future using AI. The models built by Zahn and Climax are already producing impressive outcomes, resulting in their first product: a plant-based cheese that tastes like real cheese.
Research collaboration is needed to stay ahead of the curve and develop successful products for the future. Cooperation with universities is a great way to access and use the latest research knowledge. For example, the University of Oulu conducts research and research cooperation within all the themes of the Food 2.0 project. Read why research cooperation with the University of Oulu is an investment in the future and competitiveness of your company.
How to get involved in Food 2.0?
Valio will start building the ecosystem of companies in the food system immediately. The process will begin by launching already identified research and development projects. Later on, Valio will actively strive to create new development paths with partners related to the ecosystem.
One way to participate in the food system reform is through projects launched by the ecosystem. You can get involved by contacting Valio’s Research Manager Riitta Partanen: riitta.partanen@valio.fi.
If you are interested in collaborative research with the University of Oulu on topics such as Food 2.0, please contact the Innovation Centre's business experts:
Maria Juurikka, Company Specialist, maria.juurikka@oulu.fi, +358294487646
Petri Leukkunen, Customer Manager, petri.leukkunen@oulu.fi, +358294481162
Kaisa Still, Customer Manager, kaisa.still@oulu.fi, +358294488030