Strategy and Responsibility at Luke

Luke is a research and expert organisation working to advance the sustainable use of natural resources and the bioeconomy. Our research creates value and solutions for our customers, both locally and globally. Our strengths include expertise in the sustainable production and use of natural resources and a deep understanding of raw materials.

We employ approximately 1,300 people, half of whom are researchers, and we operate in 22 locations across Finland.

Our strategy responds to the key challenges facing the natural resources sector. Challenges such as mitigating climate change, halting biodiversity loss and developing sustainable and profitable primary production require more effective solutions.

Our activities are centrally linked to a number of sustainable development challenges and goals. Our strategy comprehensively addresses changes in our operating environment, such as climate change and biodiversity loss, as well as threats to the sustainability of natural resources and the resulting need to promote circular economy approaches.

International cooperation, collaboration with industry and research-based policy support strengthen the impact of our work.

Changing ways of working and digitalisation support our multi-site operating model, and digital solutions will make our services and research more widely available.

Luke’s strategic objectives and priorities are grouped under four research programmes. In addition, Luke has the Statutory and Expert Services and Statistics programmes.

In accordance to our strategy, we create wellbeing and a sustainable future from renewable natural resources. Our research creates value and solutions for our customers and society. We continuously develop our operations and operating models and monitor the quality, sustainability and ethics of our activities.

We act impartially, independently, honestly and responsibly in all our research activities and in our public and statistical roles, and uphold high ethical standards in science. Our activities promote responsibility and a balanced realisation of the various dimensions of sustainability in society.

The President and CEO is responsible for our sustainability work. She is supported by the Sustainability Task Force, led by the Director of Communication and Marketing, and the Director of the Adaptive and Resilient Bioeconomy programme, who is responsible for research contents. Sustainability is also regularly discussed in the Steering Group.

Luke’s Code of Conduct provides the foundation for our sustainability work and outlines the ethical principles by which we operate. In 2022, we produced a series of internal podcasts on the Code of Conduct. We are also committed to following the ethical guidelines of the Finnish National Board on Research Integrity (TENK) in our research.

Effectiveness through networks

Our work is networked and effective, and we proactively support decision-making, business competitiveness and balanced regional development. We are involved in several collaborative networks and participate in the coordination of independent expert panels.

Collaborative networks coordinated by Luke:

• The Finnish Centre for Animal Welfare. An independent national network of experts dedicated to safeguarding and improving animal welfare.
• The Finnish Organic Research Institute. A joint expert network of the University of Helsinki and Luke that supports the strengthening of the role of domestic organic production in the whole food system.
• AgriHubi. An agricultural competence network that brings together different actors to support agricultural and horticultural entrepreneurs.

Finland has several scientific and independent expert bodies that support the design of policy processes and political decision-making. Luke participates in the coordination of the Expert Panel for Sustainable Development and the Finnish Forest Bioeconomy Science Panel. Our experts also participate in other scientific panels.

Tulanet is a cooperative body of government research institutes that represents the collective voice of research institutes in the Finnish research policy discussion and in the development of the research system. Luke is one of Tulanet’s eleven members.

Sustainability Lab deepens understanding of sustainability

Sustainability is a critical goal in the use of natural resources, but it is also a multidimensional and challenging concept and research topic. In 2022, we continued to address sustainability issues through our internal Sustainability Lab network. We brought together Luke researchers to discuss and learn about current research issues and new research methodologies related to sustainability research, and to brainstorm new research projects. We also produced two synthesis reports that provided a comprehensive picture of sustainability issues in different sectors of the bioeconomy. The reports were presented in public webinars, which also served as an opening for a wider social dialogue.

Frameworks for sustainability – The role of natural resource research in the sustainability change

Perspectives on the sustainability debate in the forest sector - A systemic approach

Society’s Commitment to Sustainable Development

In ‘The Finland We Want by 2050 – Society’s Commitment to Sustainable Development’, the public administration, together with other actors, commits to promoting sustainable development in all its work and operations. In addition, operational commitments are made to achieve goals set out in the Commitment. Their focus is on concrete measures, changes in operating procedures and innovative experiments that promote the common goals and that can be implemented in the next few years.

Luke participates in two operational commitments:

• the commitment on sustainable raw materials for the needs of the bioeconomy, and
• the water stewardship commitment.