Preliminary work on the Establishment of a Dairy and Meat Production Expertise Network in Northern Finland - Erkki

The feasibility study for establishing a Northern Finland Dairy and Beef Production Competence Network is being carried out by the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke). The project is implemented as an interregional initiative across the regions of North Ostrobothnia, Central Ostrobothnia, Kainuu, and Lapland from 1 October 2024 to 30 June 2026. Its primary target groups and direct beneficiaries are cattle farmers in Northern Finland (milk and beef producers), as well as stakeholders involved in the sector, including research and educational organizations, advisory services, producer organizations, the dairy and beef processing industries, public authorities, and policymakers. The work undertaken to promote grassland-based dairy and beef production also indirectly benefits society as a whole through its positive impacts on climate sustainability and animal welfare.

The first objective of the project is to create a shared vision among stakeholders involved in dairy and beef production in Northern Finland, providing a basis for jointly seeking funding to establish a Northern Finland Dairy and Beef Production Competence Network. The second objective is to explore the opportunities for establishing a Nordic cooperation network, the Northern AgroForum. Both the Northern Finland competence network and the Northern AgroForum would support and strengthen dairy and beef production in Northern Finland and help ensure its long-term continuity.

The competence network will bring together stakeholders working to advance agriculture across the four northern regions of Finland, enabling development activities to be carried out collaboratively and with shared goals. Through these networks, farmers would have access to the best available expertise and knowledge to support agricultural production, while also helping to ensure the attractiveness and future viability of the sector.

Through the competence network, the aim is to maintain active collaboration across different agricultural sectors and between regions, ensuring that best practices, experiences, and innovations are effectively disseminated among stakeholders throughout Northern Finland.