Finnish farmer tests climate-smart crops as report urges shift from livestock

A central Finland farmer is trialling rapeseed cultivation in a bid to cut agricultural emissions, as a new report by the Finnish Climate Panel calls for a major shift toward plant-based food production and reduced livestock farming.

Jarkko Nurminen, a farmer in Putkilahti, is growing rapeseed—a crop rarely seen this far north—as part of a pilot project under Pro Agria’s Preparing Farmers initiative. “Someone has to be bold enough to try new things,” he said, noting that climate change is already bringing challenges like increased pest pressure.

The Finnish Climate Panel’s latest report outlines seven key recommendations to slash food production emissions, including transitioning diets toward plant-based proteins, expanding oilseed and legume cultivation, and phasing out peatland farming. The panel stresses that livestock production still has a role in sustainable agriculture but that reducing meat consumption by 30–40% could significantly cut emissions.

For farmers like Nurminen, profitability remains critical. “We have ways to reduce our carbon footprint, but if the farmer is the only one paying for it, the money runs out,” he said. The report echoes this, calling for reformed agricultural subsidies, stronger incentives, and closer collaboration across the food supply chain to make climate-smart farming viable.

Finland currently imports most of its oilseed and protein feed, but boosting domestic production could improve self-sufficiency while lowering emissions. Nurminen’s rapeseed trial, enabled by longer growing seasons due to climate change, will yield results this autumn.