Organic North presents Nordic organic production at the BioFach Fair

27.1.2009

PRESS RELEASE


Organic North presents Nordic organic production at the BioFach Fair

Finland and Sweden have joined forces under the theme Organic North at the BioFach World Organic Trade Fair. BioFach will be held on 19-22 February 2009 in Nuremberg, Germany. Organic North presents contemporary Nordic organic production and services. The Finnish Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Mrs. Sirkka-Liisa Anttila will attend the exhibition on 19-20 February 2009 and will open the Finnish joint stand on 19 February at 11.45 a.m.

“I am delighted to have the opportunity to promote Finnish organic production at the BioFach Fair. Finnish organic products are reliable, ethically produced and fully traceable items which are safe to consume. Essential for the future of organic products is the efficiency of the food chain as well as the common goals of sector actors,” says Minister Anttila.

”We need professional and innovative people to produce and develop new products and services in order to constantly improve the renowned quality of the Nordic organic sector. I’m convinced that organic production will be one of the future success stories of the Finnish food industry,” says Anttila.

Organic Action Plan under preparation

An Organic Action Plan is under preparation in Finland and the work has been funded by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. The action plan reflects the rapidly growing importance of organic production and the high public demand for organic products.

Of Finnish farming land, 6.5% is certified organic and 7 million hectares of forest land are certified for the harvesting of organic wild products (mainly berries). The most important sectors are cereals, including rapeseed, together with dairy, meat and bakery products. Wild berries are also increasingly important. Most exports are from the cereal value chain, most notably oats. Finland is renowned for producing the best quality oats in the world. Additionally, potato products and berry-based products are also exported.

Nordic organic production is of high quality

”Our main task has been to increase general knowledge of Nordic organic production and products in Europe. BioFach has grown into an event of huge proportions, and small exhibitors have to use every available means to get the most out of the event. That’s why Nordic cooperation and the benefits it will generate are a natural way to increase the visibility of a single participating company,” says Erkki Pöytäniemi of Organic Food Finland.

Organic Food Finland, implemented in cooperation with Finpro, is an export group specialising in organic products.


Organic North Project Director Arto Varanki from Spokesman Oy is also a strong supporter of Nordic cooperation: “Cooperation with Sweden is a very important step and we are planning and implementing communication measures to attract the maximum amount of visitors to our pavilions. Hopefully this will also encourage the other Nordic countries to join,” says Varanki.

BioFach is the world’s largest organic fair. It is held annually, each February, in the Nuremberg Exhibition Centre in Germany. BioFach has sister events in Japan, China, India, Brazil and the United States. In 2009 BioFach will also feature natural cosmetics, skin care and wellness products, which will be assembled in their own event under the name Vivaness. Besides its traditional offerings, the exhibition will also offer over 100 organic sector events and seminars.

The Friday Night Party will be held on 20 February from 6–8 p.m. at the stand, featuring former ABBA guitarist Janne Schaffer and an assortment of Finnish and Swedish organic delicacies. The Organic North pavilions are situated in Hall 3. The stand numbers are 300 and 400. You are most welcome join us at the party.

For further information, please contact:

Arto Varanki, Spokesman Oy, Tel. +358 40 544 55098, 
arto.varanki@spokesman.fi
- The Nuremberg Fair’s official representative in Finland

Erkki Pöytäniemi, Organic Food Finland, Tel. +358 50 550 5225, 
erkki@organic-finland.com
- Head of the Organic Food Finland export group

www.biofach.de