New Food from Arctic

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During the previous programming period, the project “Food from sea to sea” was carried out and on the basis of experience it can be noted that many companies in the food industry are struggling with poor profitability. A major global competition on the food side is one of the reasons, making it difficult to compete with quantity and price. Another reason is that in the programme area there are too few products that can compete on a niche market and that raw materials from the area are not sufficiently processed. The program area contains unique nature-based raw materials that can be marketed and sold with obvious brands such as polar night, northern lights and midnight sun. Based on identified opportunities and challenges, there are special needs to promote the innovation climate in small-scale food production. There is also a need to increase knowledge and collaboration about innovation processes in companies and companies’ internationalisation. The project will link some researchers, Group of Excellence, to support companies in their innovation processes. The programme area shares the same opportunities and similar challenges. The Arctic climate offers unique environments for wild-growing berries, herbs, mushrooms, water for fish and rich wildlife supplies. The long summer nights with daylight and cold winters that reduce the use of pesticides contribute to the unique growing climate in the north. There are large reindeer herding areas with a rich supply of reindeer meat. The challenges consist of long distances from markets and in several areas a low entrepreneurial spirit. There are benefits from joining forces and exchanging experiences as there are strengths and knowledge within each country. The project’s objectives will be achieved — measures that increase the degree of processing of goods and services based on the natural and cultural conditions of the area — measures that identify and process new markets — measures that develop exchanges and cooperation across borders between Finland, Sweden and Norway as well as with other regions within the EU with similar conditions and challenges.

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