Finnish Food Industry Teams with Biggest Cities to Combat Biodiversity Loss

According to the City of Tampere, the Finnish Food and Drink Industries' Federation (Elintarviketeollisuusliitto) joined the ten largest Finnish cities at the Cities' Nature Forum in Lahti this year to broaden commitments against biodiversity loss. Tampere had already announced it would attend the forum to discuss urban growth and biodiversity.

Environment and Climate Minister Sari Multala said city and business cooperation is essential to tackling the environmental crisis, and that biodiversity loss demands action from municipalities, the state and companies. City leaders produced a joint nature declaration to guide urban biodiversity work. This year the food industry published a supporting statement to strengthen collaboration on sustainable food systems and reduce environmental impacts.

Tampere is highlighting practical measures through its LUMO biodiversity programme and the Carbon Neutral Tampere 2030 roadmap. Local food provider Pirkanmaan Voimia Oy is shifting menus toward more plant proteins, fish and poultry while cutting red meat. The city is teaching responsible eating habits across school levels and working to curb food waste, and it has linked nature and carbon footprints to its financial systems, publishing the metrics in a Power BI report.

Cities are piloting procurement tools that account for nature footprints, and the natural value hectare has been adopted in land-use impact assessments in several municipalities. Construction Industry RT joined the cooperation with its own agreement in 2025 and served as the main partner for the Lahti forum.