Biodiversity has a significant impact on the food industry. Identifying the biodiversity impacts of operations and taking action to mitigate them are an important part of companies’ sustainability work. Here are some examples of our member companies work.
Sustainable Future in Harmony with Nature
Jalotofu, a Finnish SME, integrates biodiversity and sustainability into its core operations through organic sourcing, control over raw material origins, efficient use of resources, and circular economy practices. The company uses only European, primarily Austrian, organic soybeans and builds long-term partnerships with suppliers. Organic farming reduces chemical use and supports biodiversity.
In tofu production, water and energy use are optimized: by-products are processed in an on-site biogas plant, and solar panels provide additional energy. Jalotofu offsets its direct and indirect emissions but does not see offsetting as a primary solution. The company collaborates with organizations like WWF and Pro Luomu.
As an SME, Jalotofu emphasizes simple, practical solutions, compliance with regulations, and continuous dialogue with people and nature. According to company’s CEO, responsible choices prevent producing “one-euro tofu” but keep the company on a sustainable growth path.
Regenerative farming at the heart of nature work
Viking Malt is developing solutions that support biodiversity by expanding its product range with new raw materials, such as faba beans, and by promoting regenerative farming practices. The company is building an internationally data-driven system to monitor the environmental impacts of cultivation, including greenhouse gas emissions and crop rotation.
Viking Malt emphasizes the need for uniform, internationally accepted criteria for sustainable farming and emissions accounting, in order to clearly meet the information requirements of farmers and customers. The company aims to bring together industry stakeholders to define common standards for sustainable agriculture.
Nature work guided by Climate & Nature program
At Vaasan Ltd, biodiversity work has emerged strongly alongside climate efforts. The goal of work is to secure the company’s future operating conditions and to meet the growing demands of both retailers and consumers.
The company promotes biodiversity in collaboration with contract farmers participating in Lantmännen’s Climate & Nature program. Measures that support biodiversity are focused on fields, where most of the environmental impacts originate.
The Climate & Nature program includes biodiversity-enhancing actions such as establishing flowering zones for insects and pollinators, protecting bird nesting areas, as well as maintaining undergrowth and year-round vegetation cover on fields.
Vaasan’s goal is for all the rye it uses to be produced according to the principles of the program.
The Climate & Nature program label on Vaasan’s rye bread packages indicates to consumers that important actions are being taken in farming to benefit the climate and nature.
In nature work, every action matters
Arla Suomi engages in voluntary nature conservation efforts together with dairy farms. Biodiversity assessments conducted on the farms help identify actions that support the diversity of nature. Biodiversity can be promoted through even small everyday actions, such as grazing, staggered mowing, or preserving natural areas.
Arla rewards farms by paying a premium for implementing various biodiversity-enhancing measures. This incentive model is in use in all eight countries where Arla has producers. Only in Finland does the incentive also include a biodiversity assessment conducted on the farm.
The decline of swallows in Finland is a concrete sign of the weakening of biodiversity. In the joint project by Arla and BirdLife, producers build nests for swallows and provide them with habitats in response to the species becoming endangered. The project combines nature conservation with the practical work of farmers.
Arla emphasizes that safeguarding biodiversity is essential for the sustainability of the entire business. Small actions and collaboration can have significant impacts.
