Roadmap on options for future use of peatland fields submitted to Ministry
The roadmap of the Natural Resources Institute Finland presents two alternative scenarios for the change in the use of peatland fields in different regions. The plan was drawn up together with stakeholders as part of the Catch the Carbon package of climate measures for the land use sector, and it offers support for the official preparation processes and policy making.
The Natural Resources Institute Finland submitted the roadmap on the use of peatland fields to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry on 25 November. The plan explores measures in two different scenarios by region through which the use of peatland fields could be adapted to the needs of the climate and environmental targets and of agricultural production by 2050.
One of the scenarios focuses on the environmental targets and the other on the food production targets of agriculture. In both scenarios, it will be possible to use peatland fields for food production in future, as stated in the Programme of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s Government in order to ensure security of supply and food security. The roadmap offers information and tools for this.
The roadmap was prepared as part of the implementation of the Climate Plan for the Land Use Sector, and the key aim was to reduce climate emissions from peatland fields. About one tenth of Finland’s arable lands have peaty soil but they account for about 60% of the greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture.
The roadmap investigates the impacts of the change in the use of peatland fields relative to each other and, besides the environmental targets, takes the economic, social and regional justice into account. This also supports the strategy work on sustainable and profitable food production that is currently under way at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. One of the objectives of the strategy work is to improve the sustainability of food production, and peatland fields have a key role in this.
Measures with multiple benefits explored
The measures explored – wetting of peatland fields and wetlands, controlled subsurface drainage, cultivation of perennial plants, and permanent grasslands and fallow land – are for the most part well known from e.g. the national CAP Strategic Plan and the Climate Plan for the Land Use Sector. Besides the climate targets, they also promote biodiversity and water protection. According to the roadmap, greenhouse gas emissions from peatland fields could be reduced at reasonable costs by as much as 28%, nitrogen loading of waters by more than 30% and phosphorus loading by 15%.
In connection with the submission of the roadmap today, Minna-Mari Kaila, Director General of the Food Department at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, pointed out that the roadmap prepared in extensive cooperation among stakeholders offers strong support for the official preparation processes and policy making. The roadmap will be used in the preparation of the national restoration plan and post-27 common agricultural policy of the EU.
“Besides scientific knowledge, we need constructive discussion, willingness to seek solutions and ability to look into the future. Finnish agriculture has changed dramatically in just a few decades, and in 2050 the environment where we operate will be completely different. In line with the Government Programme, peatland fields can be used for food production in the future, but it is important to reduce the climate emissions from this to reach the climate targets. Now it is important to use the roadmap to create a clear and just vision of the future use of peatland fields so that the farmers, landowners and companies can proactively prepare for the change,” Kaila says.
Press release and roadmap of the Natural Resources Institute Finland (in Finnish)
Inquiries:
Anna Salminen
Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
firstname.lastname@gov.fi
+358 295 162 002
Heikki Lehtonen
Research Professor, Natural Resources Institute Finland
firstname.lastname@luke.fi
+358 295 326 316
