Chemigate, the Bridge 1 / 2024 EN

“What is the use of a house if you haven’t got a tolerable planet to put it on?”

- Henry David Thoreau

The camera pans in on the boat from the upper right corner. A group of eight-cylinder MerCruisers force the cigar-shaped Wellcraft into a forty-knot formation over the swell. A snap zoom reveals a blond man in a sport coat at the helm, sleeves rolled up and sporting a mullet. Equally stylishly dressed, his Sancho Panza stands by his side, a scowl on his face, as Jan Hammer's electropop scores the scene with a steady, throbbing bass line. A generic Latino villain awaits them on the dock. Let his name be Javier Escobar. Javier sits in a Mercedes the size of an aircraft carrier. An Armani blazer drapes his shoulders, diamonds adorn his fingers, and a Patek Philippe is wrapped around his wrist. His profession? Processing and selling cocaine. Now I have your attention. And now if you don't mind, allow me to reel us back in.

I realised, gaping at channel 3 sometime around the end of the 80s, that it was just Javier who'd be rocking the bling. As for our villain's producers – the coca growers – they'd never even heard of Armani. And the product's end users couldn't care less about the complexity of the supply chain. They're only interested in the price and effectivity of the white powder. Although we at Chemigate are neither the Medellín Cartel nor our contract farmers coca producers, in a way, the same rules apply. Mammon doesn't accumulate at the beginning of the production chain. And we haven't been able to communicate the rise of biotechnology and the opportunities it creates to the whole chain. In this issue of our stakeholder magazine, we've decided to try and do something about it.

Much like the mega-popular TV show Yellowstone romanticises cattle ranching, with long shots of cowboys herding blissfully unaware cows from place to place, in our own minds many of us see the farmer as a proud but jaded figure ripped from the pages

of Under the North Star. When you lay this magazine aside, I hope you'll have internalised that this is not the case. The successful farmer has long since adopted the role and mindset of an entrepreneur. A computer mouse rests in the palm of his hand as naturally as a hoe. In a world where farming is more science than art, his mind is occupied as much with his balance sheet as it is about glyphosate resistance.

Of course, we all still have work to do – from the producer to the manufacturer and the customer. The world around us is burning, and we are expected to do something about it. There isn't a lot of time to decide what's most effective. I have some respect for the celebrities and politicians who dare to bring difficult issues like global warming into the spotlight (assuming that person hasn't flown a private jet halfway around the world to do so) – but much, much more respect for those who take a coldly clinical look at the data and use it to plot ways out of the situation and for the visionaries who dare to cough up the money when the path forward is laid out.

In this edition, you'll see some of the measures we're taking to push forward. These proposed measures may not be easy to digest or cheap to implement. Even as technology and practices improve, one thing hasn't changed: farming still isn't easy. Consequently, managing the biotechnology chain for starch potatoes, barley and wheat is also extremely challenging. Chemigate accepts the challenge. We bear our responsibility for tomorrow. And we expect the same from our partners.

Tom Schauman Editor-in-Chief and CEO of the Chemigate Group

140 years of Berner – a tale of

TWO CELEBRATIONS

In honour of its 140-year journey, Berner organised two celebrations. It was a great privilege to be one of those invited, by Hannes Berner and Antti Korpiniemi, to both. On the first evening, the Group's most important customers and partners were invited to Suvilahti Kattila-

halli. As our hosts arrived, there was a palpable sense of nervousness in the air. Saana Suomi, one of the people in charge of the arrangements, helped steady my heartbeat as she deftly pinned a white flower to my lapel. I'm convinced she never noticed what a soothing effect she had on us.

When the stakeholders’ representatives arrived, it was great to see the impact that both the venue and dashing attire had on them, too. When, one by one, the speakers at the celebratory seminar took to the stage to deliver their speeches, it became clear that the evening

Text: Tom Schauman

could be chalked down as a win for the home team. And what great speeches Carl Bildt, Elina Hiltunen and Maija-Riitta Ollila gave! The evening continued with good food (the best in Finland – after all, it was prepared by the national Culinary Team) and performances. The aim of the evening was to make it clear that Berner is ready to play its role in defending the future of an evolving Finland. The message certainly came through.

The second evening struck a different chord. It was more inclusive, down-toearth, and well, for want of a better word, more spirited. The celebration was put on for us, Berner employees. The invitations were delivered to everyone personally, and Chemigate answered the call. Two thirds of the Chemigate team packed into trains, cars and buses to head towards a night in the capital. It was a stunning evening. Berner's history was revealed to all as professional performers and talented amateurs put on a rousing show. As the evening progressed, our cheeks steadily became more flushed – and by the time Kaija Koo took

over Kattilahalli, even the most hardened wallflowers were tapping their feet to the rhythm. The Berner family's indefatigable mingling with the guests, shaking hands and exchanging words, also made an impression.

New legends were written late into the night, but I’ve promised to wait at least ten years – then I'll tell you all about them.

Kalle, Maisa, Tom (top left) and Annaleena (lower right) enjoy the festivities.

Antti Korpiniemi

Early 1900s –the birth of an agency

The first shipments of wheat flour from America give rise to Berner’s agency trade. In addition to salt, rye, barley and fish products, Berner begins to import rarer delicacies like marzipan, liquorice, raisins and coffee.

1883 Early 1900s

1930s –crop protection substances

As agriculture develops, imports are expanded to include fertilisers. In the 1930s, Berner becomes the first to offer crop protection substances to Finns.

1950s –new growth

Consumption habits begin to change, and car fever takes hold among Finns. In 1952, the Herttoniemi factory is established, cosmetics begin to be imported and XZ hair care oil is developed.

1960s and ‘70s –auto care products, hospital equipment and sport

Korrek car care products are launched – the result of inhouse product development. The business expands to include the sale of hospital equipment and supplies.

Sport, forklift and grocery segments are established.

1980–1990 2000

1883 – the story begins

Berner Oy’s story begins in the 1880s, when a Norwegian named Sören Berner arrives in Helsinki to study the market in the city of 40,000 inhabitants. Sören decides to establish a business in Finland and begins importing herring directly from fishing grounds in Stavanger, Norway to Helsinki.

1940s – the war years

Finland continues to labour under the effects of wartime rationing. Berner responds to this growing demand by importing potato flour, corn starch, glycerine and canned meat, among other products. In the 1940s, Berner begins to implement profit-sharing for all employees and develop employee welfare, including occupational health services and dental care.

1980s and ‘90s – first acquisitions and establishment in the Baltics

Berner celebrates its centenary year in 1983. In the 1990s, Berner purchases the technochemical operations from Alko (e.g. Lasol), and with the acquisition of Sareko Agro Oy, Berner becomes the country's leading crop protection firm.

Bergenheim Companies Ab is then acquired from Instrumentarium. The product range is expanded with the launch of the Infa childcare range, which is renamed Ainu. A subsidiary, Berner Eesti Oü, is established in Estonia.

Early

Early 2010s –production expands

Omron thermometers, pedometers, blood pressure monitors, and body composition monitors are added to the product range with the acquisition of Normomedical Oy. The Lithuanian cosmetics company, UAB Kruzas Nordic Cosmetics Distribution, is acquired. The transaction makes Berner one of the leading importers and distributors of cosmetics in the Baltic countries. New H2 and H3 production plants are completed in Heinävesi in 2013.

End of 2010s –a new headquarters

Berner's new, modern premises is completed in Herttoniemi in 2017. Berner acquires Ordior Oy, a member of the University Pharmacy Group specialising in the sale and import of laboratory equipment in Finland and Estonia. Berner also acquires Catrock Oy, a manufacturer of magnesium chemicals, and the business of its Kokemäki-based subsidiary. The new subsidiary, Berner Chemicals, further develops the production of magnesium products in Kokemäki.

In 2023, Berner celebrates its 140th anniversary.

End of 2010s

2000s – Acquisitions and factory in Heinävesi

Berner begins to acquire well-known brands like Nokian Footwear, LV sensitive skin products, the Herbina hygiene range, the Rajamäki vinegar business and Grow How, which is later renamed GreenCare.

Early 2020s

2021 2023

Early 2020s –coronavirus and growth

Berner manufactures ten times the normal amount of disinfection products in Heinävesi in the spring of 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Further growth is achieved through 10 acquisitions.

In 2021, Chemigate becomes part of Berner. Chemigate acquires a majority voting stake in the Finnamyl Group in 2022.

10,000

batches later

Text: Annaleena Stenman

We'd love to tell you the long and intricate story about the production of Lapua's wet modification batch number 10,000, but unfortunately its tantalising details aren’t quite clear to operator Jani Alanen. It was a regular Tuesday evening in September 2023. The supervisor had entered into the schedule that it was time to begin production of Classic 145. Alanen opened a new logbook and noticed that the running batch number was exactly 10,000. We've done quite a few batches with this system, he thought to himself. No drama, no happy tears, and no pats on the back. But at least we had some coffee and pastries to mark the occasion.

tomation System in the early 1990s made things easier to document. The logbooks, and their authors, have changed over the years, but the number of batches produced is staggering: an estimated 35,000!

The first batch was recorded by the tool on March 1, 2010, with batch number 6. At that time, operator Hannu Alho manufactured the Raisamyl 01151 product from start to finish. Consecutive numbering began at 6, since the first 5 batches were demo batches run by Esko Hagren, the developer of “Modificator” –which he later removed from the tool.

Looking back even further, batch number 6 is by no means the first wet modification batch in the company's history. In fact, the very first wet modification was completed in Lapua in 1980. Back then, production and its intermediate stages were recorded on graph paper, but the introduction of the ABB Au-

Wet modification remains an important way for Chemigate to process starch, as the reactor-specific liquid batch provides a uniform end result and security of supply. According to Alanen, the most important thing in wet modification is to avoid mixing products and dosing chemicals in the wrong places. Alanen himself tends to double-check that the valves in the dosing line are turned correctly before he starts pumping. This is something he's had to learn the hard way:

“In the 1990s, I was starting to operate alone for the first time. There was a problem with the pH cycle of reactor 15 and it had to be manually run down. After a while, then-foreman Seppo Sievi-Korte came calmly into the control room to ask me if I was alright. The lower floor of the wet modification area was apparently 'a bit' wavy – the floor was covered with a 15 cm thick layer of starch slurry. A more experienced operator helped sort out the problem, which was caused by an inadvertently open valve. At the time, I wasn't aware that reactor 1 and 15 shared a valve, because it was closed from a different page in the programme.”

AEROPONIC CULTIVATION – what in the world is it?

Soil and hoe nowhere in sight included. The flaxen-coloured root systems float in mid-air, awakening a sense of fascination and wonder. The crop displays perfectly clean, plump potatoes with a silky-smooth appearance. This is how you can imagine your first look at aeroponic cultivation. The aeroponic method was developed, primarily for research purposes, during the 20th century – and even NASA has funded its research for the benefit of space travel.

Aeroponic cultivation is practised on a larger scale at the Finnish Seed Po tato Centre in Tyrnävä. SPK's website states the following:

“The SPK has brought into use a new aeroponic method for the production of seed potato... The number of tubers per plant is increased up to tenfold compared to before. The idea behind the aeroponic method is that potato roots grow hanging in the air in a dark, enclosed chamber. There is no need for peat or other growth medium. The roots are sprayed at strictly defined intervals with a feed that has been tailored, among other things, according to the variety and growth phase. The potato stem stands in light above the chamber. The method requires its own equipment that enables strict control and automation of the feed spraying as well as changes to the lighting... Thanks to the new method, new and promising potato varieties are introduced faster on the Finnish market from domestic seeds and dependency on foreign registered seeds is reduced.”

Some consumers may have also come across hydroponics. With a quick online search, you'll find a wealth of information about hydroponic cultivation. This makes for a wide range of home gardening alternatives that avoid uprooting plants from the soil. What will all these methods offer for the future?

Finnish Seed Potato Centre (SPK)

In its first twenty years, SPK was a government institution and operated in co-operation with MTT Agrifood Research. SPK became an independent government institution in 1996, and then a limited liability company – its current form – in 2002. The largest shareholder is H.G., a company founded by contract farmers. Vilper Oy owns 51 percent. The government's share is 22%, the Finnish potato industry owns 17%, and MTK owns 10%.

Sources:

https://www.spk.fi/en/aeroponic-production/

https://www.spk.fi/en/enterprise/

Text: Tuire Luomala

Starch Europe gears up for bright industry future

Starch has been used as a versatile material since antiquity, but its wide range of benefits aren’t always clear to an untrained eye. That’s where Starch Europe comes in, championing the interests of the starch industry to EU institutions – picking up the baton from Pliny the Elder and carrying it straight into the halls of Parliament.

The Managing Director of Starch Europe, Jamie Fortescue, took a circuitous route to the starch industry. Hailing from a family of diplomats, Fortescue cut his teeth lobbying for Mars, Inc and employment agencies – eventually landing a job as Director General of Spirits Europe. Eight years later, in 2012, he was offered a position as Managing Director of Starch Europe.

Much of the work, he says, revolves around agreeing on positions within the 30 member companies – then communicating that position to the European Commission, the European Parliament, and the Member States. He spoke to the Bridge about going to bat for starch, their latest sustainability efforts, and his outlook on the future of the industry.

Advocating starch in the halls of European power

When we spoke, Fortescue had just returned from the association’s Starch Europe Conference 2023, held every year in mid-November. The subject this time had been plant-based proteins –the EU Commission’s last protein resolution was from 2018, and due for an update.

“Our aim there was to explain the importance of the processing step and that plant-based proteins don't only come from soybeans and leguminous crops – they also come from the crops that our member companies process. We wanted to make sure the mistakes from 2018 were not repeated. I like to believe that it was a success, but let's see what the strategy says in 2024.”

Year-round, Starch Europe courts a wide range of issues such as this – championing starch-positive policies that revolve around innovation, rural representation, and sustainability-related issues –including plant-based food and the circular, bio-based economy. But 2024 is an election year, which means much of the focus will be on educating the incoming MEPs.

“We're looking at a slightly different makeup of Parliament next year, but our long-term themes certainly won't disappear. The normal ongoing work around pesticide and mycotoxin levels will continue, and there'll be an ongoing emphasis on trade deals. There's also a lot of discussion about government support for industry, during these challenging times.”

With a new Parliamentary makeup, precisely where the lens of Starch Europe’s policy goals will align with political will is a bit up in the air. But there are no plans to throw the breaks on –environmental and bio-based economy issues will continue to be key in Starch Europe’s agenda.

Ambitious sustainability targets demand co-operation and new technologies

The starch industry was a pioneer in providing regular LCAs (Life Cycle Assessments) of its carbon footprint. From the beginning, getting each member company on the same page regarding methodology was critical. According to Fortescue, this was done to ensure consistent results among companies in the sector, as well as to allay any question of greenwashing.

Text: Jenga

“I think we spotted, perhaps earlier than others, that making this a competitive issue based on each company using different methodologies was going to be a dangerous situation. We all agreed that we should have a common methodology, done by third parties, and come up with a sector figure.”

Come what may in the 2024 elections, the association will continue to work closely with the EU on its Green Deal – an ambitious slate of policy initiatives committed to reducing net greenhouse gas emissions and reaching net zero emissions by 2050. To that end, Starch Europe both updated its LCA and published its own decarbonisation road map in 2022.

“One of the main Green Deal objectives is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030, and we set out a road map committing to reduce our own CO2 emissions by 25% between 2019 and 2030. In essence, every five or six years we update the sector's LCA study. And with that we want to communicate that we’ve made some progress – but we're challenging ourselves to continue that progress going forward.”

This year’s LCA study revealed a 19% reduction in CO2 emissions between 2009 and 2019.

Starch Europe’s steady hand at the negotiating table. Significant investment in NGTs will not come until there is certainty about to what extent it will be allowed in the EU. This, says Fortescue, is well on the way in the form of an EU Commission proposal – but if it’s not finalised by the time EU elections take place, it could get stuck in the system and re-evaluated by the new Parliament.

If that happens, it’s anyone’s game.

What’s next for starch in Europe?

As for the future of starch, Fortescue doesn’t shy from admitting the past few years have been challenging – from a global pandemic to geopolitical instability and soaring energy costs – but highlights starch’s versatility and necessity as reasons for optimism.

Their next goal is a rigorous one, which they plan to support by regular monitoring, a mid-way progress report, and an independently conducted LCA study in 2031.

“In terms of GHG emissions, we can only control what happens in our own plants. But we’ve also committed to working closely with our suppliers. 75% of our environmental footprint happens before the crops even get to our factories.”

Over the next few years, cutting down on agricultural emissions will require working closely with farmers on emerging techniques and technologies, such as regenerative agriculture – which aims to improve soil quality and increase carbon sequestration.

“Large food customers are pushing hard on making sure their supply chain is coming from regenerative agriculture. Five or six years down the line these changes will make production more efficient and less expensive, but there will be an up-front cost. We need to work with the farmers in terms of how they should be compensated for that.”

Another key developing technology are new genomic techniques (NGTs), which can be used to introduce and propagate genetic improvements to crops faster and more accurately. This enables precise changes to be made in the genetic makeup of crops, for example, to make them more resilient to particular climate conditions – or more resistant to pathogens.

“It’s critical that the farmers get access to the technologies they need for a green transition. And that's where the whole discussion around new genomic techniques becomes very important. If you look at potatoes, for example, my members tell me that with the proper access to CRISPR-Cas technology they could reduce pesticide needs by up to 75%. This type of technology is precisely what the farmer needs to hit some of the targets that have been set.”

But again, a positive outcome for the starch industry requires

“I think people will increasingly need starch – particularly in non-food applications, as starch is a renewable raw material which can be a very good alternative to fossil based raw materials in many products. On the food and proteins side, I think this move to more plant-based diets is an opportunity for the sector. We’ve learned in the past few years how important we are to so many supply chains, and I think that's going to continue.” And how about the man himself – how does he feel about switching from spirits to starch, more than ten years on?

“Well, sometimes it felt a lot easier when I was representing spirits – people understand what whiskey and cognac is! But starch is a great sector to represent. It's always very exciting hearing from the members how they're adapting to the changing needs of society. That's what makes this job so interesting.”

We’ll drink to that, Jamie.

EUROPEAN STARCH INDUSTRY

EU farmers: 60,000

Production plants: 71

Jobs: 16,000

Raw materials: 25,000,000 tonnes

Starches & derivatives: 11,000,000 tonnes

Proteins & fibres: 5,000,000 tonnes

STARCH EUROPE

Staff: 6

Members: 30, associate members: 6

Budget: 1,500,000 €

Jamie Fortescue

Nationality: British-Belgian

Title: Managing Director, Starch Europe

Education: Eton College & University of East Anglia

Jamie Fortescue

Koskenkorva: a hub of regenerative agriculture and partnership

MAnora is Chemigate's trusted starch supplier.

The firm is now investing heavily in regenerative agriculture, an initiative meant to ensure the supply of raw material while contributing to its overarching objectives for sustainability and environmental wellbeing.

any may know Anora as the leading brand house for wines and spirits in the Nordic countries. And if not, the name Koskenkorva will strike a familiar note in the hearts and minds of Finns, at least. The company's range stretches from alcoholic beverages and industrial ethanols to the production of raw material for feedstuffs and barley starches – these latter passing through Chemigate and on to the paper and board industry.

The core of Anora's international operations lies in Koskenkorva, in Ilmajoki. “The Koskenkorva plant is the crown jewel around which Anora is built,” states Kari Kiltilä, Category Sourcing Manager, Barley. Kiltilä arrived on the scene in 2007, bringing with him 19 years of experience and expertise in grain procurement for the feed industry.

“The Koskenkorva plant, and its efficient use of raw materials, is also at the

Text: Jenga

core of our carbon neutrality strategy,” adds Jukka Sala , five-year Sales Director at Anora and key contact person for Chemigate.

Growth conditions indicate a need for corrective action

Anora's contract farmers are valuable partners, too. Their most acute challenges are related to weather and soil conditions. The scourges of farming – dry early summers, June heat waves, and high humidity during harvest – are becoming more common as climate change progresses.

Kiltilä also cites 1980s agricultural policies as context for current problems. At that time, as livestock and dairy production shifted further north, the focus in southern Finland was primarily on bread and feed grain production. As a consequence, crop rotation became less diverse. This caused the amount of live-

stock manure and other organic matter in the soil to decrease, which lead to a decline in soil fertility.

“Average barley yields, for example, have stagnated since 2010. Although plant breeding has produced better cultivars, their yield potential has not been realised,” states Kiltilä.

Natural processes breathe life into the soil

Regenerative agriculture offers a solution to weather condition and soil problems. Regenerative agriculture means improving soil growth conditions by revitalising the soil and water ecosystem and optimising nutrient cycling. In addition to improving yields, this method contributes to biodiversity, water conservation and carbon sequestration. This benefits not only farmers and industry, but also the environment and climate.

The principles of regenerative farming include diversifying crop rotation, increasing year-round crop cover, rotational grazing, and minimising tillage.

“The key is to improve drainage and increase the amount of organic matter and nutrients. Ideally, livestock manure should be used. Additionally, the land is tilled less, with the aim to keep the crop in the field as long as possible – even throughout the year,” says Kiltilä.

Anora requires true crop rotation in its contract production: “When barley is sown, or afterwards, a catch crop is added to the crop as a rootstock. This allows it to grow after the barley is threshed and produce greenery in the field until the end of the growing season.”

Contract farmers in tune with the needs of the soil

Anora is methodically training its contract farmers in regenerative agriculture to increase the share of regeneratively farmed

barley in their production. This operating model was presented at a farmers' event in Seinäjoki in 2020.

“There was a lot of public talk at the time about forests and carbon sinks. Regenerative agriculture was largely associated with coal, which farmers perceived as negative. We decided to approach the issue from their point of view, that is, improving the growth condition of the soil. Coming from that perspective, the message was better received,” says Kiltilä. Farmers have also been motivated by the fact that many of those who have tried it have seen results in just 2-4 years.

Anora also studied regenerative agriculture in the Carbon Action project, led by the Baltic Sea Action Group. The project also inspired a product idea, leading Anora to launch the world's first vodka made from regeneratively cultivated barley, Koskenkorva Climate Action, in spring 2021.

“That means you can improve soil fertility and Baltic Sea conditions by drinking

regenerative Koskenkorva,” Sala jokes.

“Yes. It's a climate action,” Kiltilä laughs.

Moving towards sustainability

The key stepping stones for regenerative agriculture are also reflected in Anora's sustainability roadmap, tying in seamlessly with the company's environmental goals. These include, for example, achieving carbon neutrality at the Koskenkorva plant by 2026. Anora is also aiming to be carbon neutral in all its production by 2030, with no emission credits and 30% of its grain-based spirits based on regeneratively grown barley.

In other words, their operation is guided by sustainability thinking – a message that Chemigate and the paper and board industry have also cultivated in their communications. At the same time, Anora wants to ensure that the Koskenkorva plant will have access to enough high-quality raw

material – even if the environment changes.

“This also includes the commercialisation of regenerative farming and promoting its benefits for starch. We produce domestic starch sustainably and with respect for the environment – and that value chain continues in a sustainable way with Chemigate. The next step should be to get end-users to manufacture their own products in such a way that environmental thinking extends all the way to the end of the chain,” says Sala.

Although the sustainability chain still needs further development, Anora is holding up its end. Thanks to its location and effectiveness, as well as efficient logistics and transport, the Koskenkorva plant already outperforms, for example, natural gas power plants in Central Europe in terms of environmental performance. Regenerative farming is poised to increase the lead even further.

Fair, regenerative co-operation

When asked to describe Chemigate as a partner, both men break into big smiles –lending sincerity to the praise that follows.

“It's been great to see how well their organisation works, particularly the motivation, expertise and customer orientation of their sales team. This brings added value to our products, too. In addition to modification, Chemigate's portfolio also extends to native starch, allowing them to serve customers more broadly with all starchbased products,” says Sala.

“Chemigate is a good and important partner for us. And now they're also part of a broad, long-standing co-operation with Berner, which includes agricultural chemicals and crop protection agents. Together we can develop the whole ‘grain chain’, also taking carbon footprint reduction into

account,” Kiltilä confirms.

“Shared management of the whole value chain is also in the interest of customers. We know each other well and work closely together in an open and transparent way, which lends itself to quick flexibility – for example when we need to handle customer feedback, make any necessary changes, or in quality assurance,” Sala continues.

Finally, the Sales Director notes that the close partnership is topped off by the proximity of Koskenkorva and Lapua: “We're practically within shouting distance of each other!”

Sales Director Jukka Sala and Category Sourcing Manager Kari Kiltilä.

Hammering it down with Sara

Hi, I'm Sara Killinen, a Lapua-based hammer thrower. My combo of athletics and academics is working out quite well for me – I live in Blacksburg, Virginia, USA, and I'm part of the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association). Sure, during the summer I head back to Finland to compete, but otherwise I'm here on the other side of the pond.

Virginia Tech offers pretty prestigious academic degrees, but it's also well-known when it comes to sports. Although American football (where the school generates most of its revenue) and basketball are by far the most popular sports here, we have several Olympic athletes from other sports. The most well-known alumni among the track and field crowd are probably female sprinters Queen Harrison and Kristi Castlin, who I've met in person when they visited. My days on campus are usually chock-full of things to do – for an example, let's take a look at one fall Tuesday.

Sara's day

My day starts around 7:30. I'm not much of a morning person, so being able to wake up at this time is quite the luxury. I throw on my gym clothes and head for the University's campus bus, whose route happens to go right by my apartment. I live off-campus with two other athletes – Barbora Malikova from the Czech Republic and Victoria Gorlova from Russia. Living on-campus is also a possibility, though it's more expensive. The bus brings me to the campus athletics mecca, Cassell Coliseum, where athletes can have breakfast at a place called Nutrition Oasis.

At Oasis, which is open daily, each athlete gets five points to use each day. Each product “costs” one point. I can use these five

Text: Sara Killinen VIRGINIA

points at any point during the day, but I use them for breakfast, since Cassell's other dining option, the SAPC (Student-Athlete Performance Center) is open for athletes Monday through Thursday during lunch and dinner. Back at Oasis, I'll usually have a bagel, an egg and cottage cheese. The two extra points I might use on something I can easily take with me. Unfortunately, they don't serve coffee, so usually I make my own at home before heading out the door.

Cassell also has athlete locker rooms, where I drop off or pick up my stuff before morning training sessions. The practice itself takes place in Rector Field House, Virginia Tech's athletics facility. My coach, Andrew Dubs, tries to put together the best possible practice groups based on each thrower's lecture schedule, which isn't an impossible task with our team of eight throwers.

Morning training

Luckily all my lectures are in the afternoon or evening, so I can go train first thing in the morning when I'm fresh – and when two discus throwers, Essence Henderson and Vlad Pucko, also train. I've been very satisfied with our group, because we each have goals that will take us beyond the NCAA – it brings a lot of good drive to our daily activities.

This fall we've had just one practice per day, which lasts the whole morning. After practice, I usually stop by to say hello to our “trainers”, who are basically physiotherapists for our 100-person athletics team. They might give me a short massage, or we might go through the physiotherapy exercises that they've prepared for each of us. Muscle conditioning works a little differently here than in Finland since the trainers are on duty all the time. Of course, there are roughly one hundred athletes on the team, so each athlete is also responsible for keeping up their own exercise regimen.

After training and muscle conditioning, I head back to Cassell’s locker room to make myself look like a human again, then go upstairs to the SAPC for lunch. Of course, there are countless student dining options on campus, but SAPC is easily my favourite because they offer a lot of fresh and healthy food – plus, for athletes, it’s free. Lunch is also a good opportunity to chat with athletes from other sports. Many also use this time to study, which I try to do myself…unless my friends happen to be eating at the same time.

Coursework and hobbies, too

After lunch, I walk across campus for lectures. I'm majoring in public relations with a minor in organisational leadership. My minor is fascinating, and I've enjoyed it a lot. Going to school in itself isn't too demanding, in my opinion, but it does take work. At first, of course, I had to work hard at the language, because English was never easy for me in school. These days, three years later, it's hardly a problem – a welcome relief.

After lectures, I head back to the other side of campus again for dinner at the SAPC, where I meet up with my teammates to catch up on all the pressing global issues of the day. Dinner

Blacksburg, Virginia

finished, sometimes I go downstairs to the sauna (it's a dry sauna, so not quite like home, but it's something...) and cold plunge, but usually I save those for the weekend. After that it's back home, where I study for a bit and then settle quietly into bed.

This day didn't include anything extracurricular, but since the campus offers a huge number of clubs and activities, last year I also felt the need to do something. I joined the VT PRISM ad agency, which is entirely student-run and supervised by a few professors. I'm also part of SAAC (Student-Athlete Advisory Committee), which helps athletes' voices be heard. Naturally these extra commitments add to my workload, but I think of them more as hobbies.

Although my days are quite fast-paced and I'm always busy, I can’t complain at all. This kind of schedule can get challenging – especially when exams are coming up and every project under the sun is piling up, but here at Virginia Tech, everything is so well-organised that the only thing left to do is enjoy every moment.

y Sara Killinen, Lapua-based hammer thrower

y Personal Record 71.02m

y Studying Public Relations and Organisational Leadership at Virginia Tech

Our vision:

We are the MOST SUSTAINABLE and RELIABLE PLAYER in our market, and the MOST SOUGHT-AFTER partner in bio-based products.

Developing

Over 90 % renewable raw materials

4

10 plants,

4, 2 / 5,0 differentiation through excellence (workflow survey) production lines

Ecovadis Gold since 2020

Commitment to SBTi targets

Product specific

CO2

since 2009, product specific

LCA calculations from 2024 calculations

100 % of staff have completed ethical code of conduct and sustainability training

Workplace well-being and company culture Values

Sustainability and corporate responsibility

COMMUNITY IS THE PILLAR OF POTATO FARMING

Potatoes are an important raw material for Chemigate. For years we've spoken about the results of cereal starch, but there's always a market for potato starch. These days, the value of domestic potato starch stems not just from its purity and strength potential, but the transparency of its cultivation and the resulting sustainability and low carbon footprint. But how does potato starch and its future look from the farmer's perspective?

This was the question we posed to two of Lapuan Peruna's contract farmers, Heikki Takala and Antti Lammi.

Text: Tuire Luomala

Lammi's farm is located in Untamala (Ylistaro). The farm has cultivated starch potatoes since the 1960s and continues today with Antti Lammi – who assumed responsibility for the farm in 2008 alongside a generational change.

Lammi became an agrologist in 2006 after graduating from Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences. The topic of his final paper was “Improving potato starch production on a smallhold”. For Lammi, potatoes are an interesting crop to grow. “The potato is a challenging plant, but very rewarding when you find the right growing methods. There's no shortcut to a good harvest, and I myself have a desire to develop as a farmer and to improve my crops by testing new varieties and their suitability for my fields, for example. We've also made the effort to implement crop rotation to ensure the continuity of our starch potato cultivation.”

A major risk for potato production is difficult weather condi-

tions. In autumn 2023, potatoes at Lammi’s farm had to be left in the field due to rain. “Mentally, autumn was very difficult – it rained 10-15 millimetres almost every day. How other farmers are getting along has also been on our minds, because large areas of potatoes were left in the field due to the wet conditions. Production input volumes and prices are high, and if potatoes cannot be harvested, the situation will become extremely difficult.”

That autumn, the final harvestable potatoes on the Lammi farm were pulled from the ground just before the frosts arrived. “At the end of the day, the farm came out relatively well,” he says.

A strong community is the pillar that sustains the farmers. “Other farmers here in Untamala and the surrounding area are a great resource – for peer support as well.”

Lammi also feels there are many benefits to co-operation – it offers access to new perspectives and help with harvesting when

Antti Lammi looks to the future.

necessary. Spring sorting and seed treatment are also carried out co-operatively.

What changes will the future bring?

The future is of some concern to Lammi – also in terms of what changes and regulations might be imposed on farming in the future. “It may involve the kind of risks that are tough to adapt to, such as changes in EU agricultural policy and crop protection product regulations. But our intention is to continue with potatoes – in a way that's sensible and economically viable, of course. The price the farmer gets has to be enough that he's both paid for his work and is also able to develop the crop,” adds Lammi.

There's not much free time on the farm during the summer, but when there is, Lammi likes to head to the baseball stands. In the winter, he follows skiing, and he's kept up with the opening of the World Cup in Ruka on several occasions.

In the future there may be even more free time for Lammi –his 10-year-old nephew, Jussi, is already enthusiastic about helping out on the farm. “My nephew is a huge help. He remembers better than I do what grows where or what's been grown the previous year,” Lammi laughs.

Finally, Lammi sends his greetings to other farmers: “Despite the difficult autumn last year, we need to look to the future and hope that the weather in the next growing season will be favourable: sun, heat and rain – in just the right proportions.”

Potato harvesting hitting its stride

Lappajärvi-based starch potato farmer Heikki Takala was inspired to grow potatoes by his father Rauno Takala, who began growing

Tractor pulling can be put to good use in potato cultivation.

potatoes on his farm in 1987. From a young age, Takala has followed in his father's footsteps, learning valuable lessons about the fields and their bounties. Heikki Takala took over the farm in 2009.

In addition to growing potatoes, Takala also runs a machinery contracting business. He also keeps his CNC operator papers in his back pocket, but he's never used them – potato cultivation swept him in a different direction entirely.

“My interest in potatoes is still there, even though the rainy autumn was particularly challenging,” Takala begins. “But we're already looking ahead. There’s no time to waste on worrying.”

Takala is enthusiastic about improving potato farming: “We've done a lot of work to improve quality, and we've also improved the efficiency of potato harvesting. The development is ongoing, and it's a positive that we can work together with the factory without compromising potato quality.”

Last autumn brought a real challenge for harvesting, with record rainfall. A lifting machine had to be used to wrest the potatoes from the uneven field.

“The biggest challenge in potato cultivation is the weather, and if extreme weather conditions will increase. To manage that risk, we try to avoid the worst scenarios. No one wants to see production inputs go to waste.”

In addition to growing potatoes, the young farmer is also involved in tractor pulling. Takala is no novice to the task, as indicated by the World Championship medals – two silver, two bronze – adorning his trophy case. The longest journey took him to Denmark, where all of Europe's best faced off. Here, too, he came in the top ten.

This begs the question – though it’s perhaps not in the best interest of the interviewer: are his potatoes harvested faster when he’s the one behind the tractor wheel?

“Naturally practice comes to some use in potato farming, but I think the lessons tend to be learned more from making repairs than pure speed,” Takala says with a smile.

Potato farmer Heikki Takala.

For better harvests –

FARMER’S BERNER

Ulla Kommeri is the marketing manager for Farmer’s Berner. She is a trained animal nutrition agronomist and marketer, and a consummate professional who believes in the company she represents and in the importance of its work. In short, I had the privilege to discuss Farmer’s Berner and Finnish agriculture in general with someone born and raised on a farm in Asikkala. The discussion ended up sprouting in so many different directions that it became difficult to keep within the character limit for this article.

Berner has been a fixture in the agricultural business for 90 years. Today, the organisation is known as Farmer's Berner. It employs around 70 crop production experts and agricultural professionals, with branches around the country. As in many companies, its structure has traditionally been built around product groups like cereals, crop protection, horticulture, fertilisers and seeds.

Their strategy is to work in close co-operation with farmers. This fact is reflected in the name – it's “Farmer's Berner”, not “Agriculture's Berner”.

“We've been working for better harvests for more than 90 years. We have to deliver on that promise in each and every harvest.”

This promise is fulfilled, for one, through the facilitation of crop-species-specific development groups, where industry experts – together with courageous, forward-thinking farmers –work to identify and adopt best practices. This also requires an understanding of the farmers’ annual cycle, supply chains and

service needs. “For the most part, our work is about figuring things out together.” You can't just go into these things willy-nilly. Farmer's Berner considers its expertise in crop development as one of its key strengths.

The hands-on farm work carried out by the experts at Farmer's Berner could be described as long-term problem solving, for which the ability to also react quickly is a strength. Examples of the problems addressed include crop challenges posed by climate change – like pests, diseases and even new or resistant weeds, not to mention extreme weather conditions. The aim is always to find solutions that increase farming’s profitability.

Work done in small groups, or in collaboration with larger research institutions, sometimes results in larger projects. At the moment, one of the most important is Project Pearl, which you can read about in this issue. In particular, these projects will increase the mutual exchange of information between farmers and other experts – and where necessary, third parties from outside agriculture will also be consulted, for example, to solve technical

problems. The amount of capital invested in these projects is also increasing.

Berner's slogan is “A Defender of Tomorrow”, and the work of Farmer's Berner reflects that commitment. Ulla strikes a serious tone when she states that she believes agriculture has the potential to solve some of the bigger problems facing the world, such as global warming. “After all, Chemigate uses agricultural products as raw materials instead of fossil fuels.” Another issue striking at the heart of their operation is ensuring the security of supply in the midst of Russia's current war of aggression.

“We're working to ensure that clean Finnish food will remain available in the future.”

“I get to do really meaningful work.” With these words, Ulla Kommeri, one of our Defenders of Tomorrow, concludes the interview.

A COMPREHENSIVE SERVICE RANGE ACROSS CATEGORIES

SMOOTH TRADE IN CEREAL AND OIL PLANTS

We have unrivalled expertise in the cereals trade in Finland and on the global market. We genuinely support farmers throughout the cereals chain, offering suitable options from risk management to seed and grain purchasing.

STRONG EXPERTISE IN CROP PROTECTION

We have exceptionally strong expertise in plant protection for various crops. As a trusted expert, we offer profitable solutions for the unique needs of Finnish farmers.

PROFESSIONAL HORTICULTURAL SERVICE

Drawing on our wide range and robust expertise, we can support the horticulturist through crop planning and all the choices presented by the growing season: we provide solutions to help you succeed.

COMPETITIVE SOLUTIONS FOR LIVESTOCK FARMS

We offer competitive alternatives tailored specifically for the needs of livestock farmers, from feed components to fertilisers. We also promote the cultivation of crops suitable for animal feed in Finland –like maize and triticale.

DIVERSIFIED TRADE IN SEEDS AND FERTILISERS

As experts in high-quality seed cultivars and versatile fertiliser solutions, we offer farmers a range of profitable options.

Production boost:

NEW PLANT TAKES OFF LIKE A ROCKET IN KOKEMÄKI

Text: Annaleena Stenman

We've clearly done something right. In our last issue, we spoke about the successful start of Lapua's glucan modification plant – a success we're now building on. At the Finnamyl plant in Kokemäki, the first earth was broken to mark the start of our next project in January 2024. Once again, International Flavors and Fragrances, or IFF, has come on board as a partner in the project.

Designed Enzymatic Biomaterials are changing the world

Over the past couple of years, glucans have become a significant commercial contract manufacturing product for Chemigate. The glucans produced in Lapua and Kokemäki will increase plant utilisation rates and open new applications alongside the paper and board industry. CEO Tom Schauman stresses the importance of a diverse range of raw materials.

“Alongside starch, we now have a natural raw material that is less weather-dependent as a new mainstay. In the long run, a diversified product portfolio will stabilise operations,” says Schauman.

IFF has developed the designed enzymatic biomaterial technology and the derived product portfolio for more than 15 years. The first patent for its unique technology was granted in 2006 (US patent no. 7000000). The company's specialty lies in the design and optimisation of enzymes that enable the production of these high-purity, consistent quality, and environmentally friendly polysaccharide products. According to Christian Lenges, Venture Director at IFF, the challenge in the biomaterial space has remained to make the performance of novel bio-based polymers as good or even better as the fossil-based compounds they're intended to replace.

“The greatest advantage of these glucan materials is the ability to design in biodegradability, while at the same time maintain the product performance across a range of applications, which most synthetic polymers lack. Among typical naturally extracted materials, cellulose or starch typically require a higher degree of functionalisation (e.g. cationisation) to perform as well as traditional fossil derived polymers. With this new family of glucans, on the other hand, moderate functionalisation (especially cationisation) gets the desired behaviour out of the material,” says Lenges.

The designed enzymatic biomaterial product to be produced at Kokemäki will be using liquid beet sugar as its feedstock, which is converted through enzymatic polymerisation and isolated and dried into a powder product. So far, IFF has carried out this enzymatic process and development program at its pilot plant, but this time the confidence in Finnamyl is exceptionally strong, and the opportunity was identified to further scale up the production of this new material. The current plan for the project at Kokemäki is to produce the glucan material for a period of about four months per year. However, Finnamyl has already prepared to increase capacity with additional investments.

A portion of the produced glucan is then transported to Lapua, where it's further processed for applications developed by Kemira. The rest of the glucan is used in other IFF applications as it is, or chemically modified. Potential applications include water treatment, detergents, personal care products, and applications in the textile space.

Speed matters

Chief Technology Officer Aki Laine and Lenges emphasise their ongoing co-operation since 2017, which has built deep trust and understanding between them. Lenges also sees IFF's strong roots in Finland as a benefit, giving the American company an important understanding of local culture and practices, especially as the local teams from all companies involved can work seamlessly together. This new project, then, didn't require either to take a leap of faith.

Based on the well-established working relationship through the prior projects, the concept to integrate the glucan process into the Finnamyl facility was assessed. It was quickly discovered that a low investment option could be realised by leveraging the facilities in Kokemäki. The equipment was surprisingly well-suited to the task, which put some wind in everyone's sails – and so a new project, “Booster”, got underway in March 2023.

The name of the project, which refers to a booster rocket or booster vaccine, was coined by Schauman, who wanted it to

reflect the project's tight schedule. The plan at Kokemäki is to implement the enzymatic polymerisation process and to produce a water insoluble glucan later this year. Booster is an example of a commercialisation accelerator project, where the technology is quickly brought to market to enable first demand for a new product line through a targeted investment. To validate and grow the market for new materials, the product needs to be tested extensively in large enough quantities. And larger volumes require a larger plant for market development than would be achievable with typical pilot-scale equipment.

“We're moving forward expectantly, with open minds.”

Maria Lindholm , Production Manager at Finnamyl, says the project has been hectic and nerve-wracking – but behind everything else, there’s been an encouraging and positive vibe.

“There have been a huge number of events and challenges in a short period of time. Sometimes you must fit 20 hours of project meetings into a week, and on top of that you have to find the time to unload their resulting To Do lists. Yes, other work is taking a bit of a back seat to Booster. But we can keep on schedule if everyone

manages their days and deadlines well,” says Lindholm.

From a potato factory to a biorefinery

Kalle Kainu, CEO of Finnamyl, believes that the production of glucan will support Kokemäki's core business excellently. In the future, the plant could be described as a multi-product “bio-refinery”, where products are produced year-round. Process Engineer Artturi Törrönen was already hired, in August 2023, for the project –and more permanent process professionals will be needed going forward.

This investment stage is already keeping the staff at Kokemäki plenty busy. Lindholm is driving the team forward, including overseeing the initial installations together with Törrönen. Quality Manager

Niina Aarnisalo and Laboratory Manager

Heidi Poutanen are working on instructions for the quality system and developing new analytical methods for quality control. Coping with rapid changes and new ways of working should always be instilled in employees alongside their regular activities. Kainu therefore has an important role to play in leading the change and in encouraging staff – not just paying the bills.

“Change always stirs up a lot of different emotions. However, there's interest in the project, and we're moving forward expectantly, with open minds. I know everyone’s aware that this project will give us security for the future,” says Lindholm.

Production Manager Maria Lindholm checking up on how things are going at the construction site.

PEARL DIVERS – Co-operation beyond borders PEARL DIVERS – Co-operation beyond borders

Text: Maisa Kantola

Like many good ideas, Project Pearl got its start in the sauna – with casual, spontaneous conversations free from any big plans or goals.

Of course, ideas about the potential for more efficient cultivation had been floating around for quite some time before the Finnamyl deal, but our ability to influence this hadn't fully materialised until Chemigate acquired a majority stake. A new card was dealt, direct contact with the contract farmers. In the relaxed heat of the sauna, we started to ponder what the better use of a fully integrated production chain could bring to the table. With Berner Group, our junk five-card hand had become a straight flush – it's a very exceptional production chain by Finnish standards alone, covering not only the inputs and harvest, but also, through Finnamyl and Chemigate, the final processing and sale of the crop.

The main drivers of the project include Kalle Erkkola, Business Unit Director of Farmer's Berner, Mika Hyövelä, Development Manager at Berner, Kalle Kainu, Managing Director of Finnamyl, and Kimmo Pusa, Farming Manager. And let’s not forget the 28 farms that have actively participated in the first phase of the project – without them, there wouldn't be a project at all.

Win-win-win-win

When I began the interview by asking the different parties involved about the project, the answers from both Kalles were the same: winwin-win-win. Okay, but why FOUR wins?

It's clear that closer co-operation with farmers will improve the understanding of producers' needs at Farmer's Berner, and therefore help to better develop and target their service to their farmer customers. And on the other hand, Finnamyl “lives on potatoes”, so ensuring a sufficient potato harvest and starch content is the lifeblood of its business continuity. For the farmer, finding a more efficient operating model will allow him to optimise his use of fertilisers and crop protection substances, and result in a better yield per hectare. If successful, this will pay off directly through improved profitability. The project will also give Chemigate and its customers a competitive advantage. For the paper and board industry, responsibly produced, high-quality, domestic raw materials and low CO2 emissions are becoming more important every year.

So, what kind of numbers are we talking? “Already the results are promising. I see the possibility of an average yield increase of up to 20% in terms of starch,” says Kalle Erkkola.

Whoa! That number is a lot bigger than I expected. But this is necessary, since the cultivation area hasn't been growing in the past few years – actually, the opposite. There are also large fluctuations in yield levels and starch content. Of course, not all fields have the same requirements – and you can’t turn a knob to adjust the weather – but there

PROJECT PEARL

Finnamyl's Contract Farmers

are still many things that haven’t yet been sufficiently studied or capitalised on. There has certainly been a lot of research in the potato industry, but the effects or consequences of these activities have not necessarily been properly measured at the farm level. For example, adjusting the amount and timing of nitrogen fertilisation can have positive impacts on yield and reduce the carbon footprint of the final product. It has also been observed that the awareness of what kind of starch potato harvest is coming is usually only revealed at harvest time. Improving knowledge and awareness is, therefore, a key element in planning both the cultivation and processing of starch. Practical ways to achieve this include mid-season sample taking, soil analyses, nutrient measurement from plant leaves, as well as the use of measurement technologies – like weather stations – to find correlations between conditions and yields.

Developing a community spirit in the starch potato sector is also essential – co-operation, trust and an open and active exchange of information would be the right keywords. Follow-up meetings within the project team are held every couple of weeks, but in the future the idea is also to organise more discussions and training sessions between the different participants, and to form smaller groups of farmers to exchange information and experiences more effectively.

CO2 figures per product

But let's come back to CO2 – what's that got to do with it?

“Scope 3”, an emissions nerd might say. Wait what?

When assessing climate impacts, it's essential to understand not just the current situation, but also where the product-specific CO2 emissions come from and how they could be influenced. Chemigate has been hard at work on this issue in recent years, and this year the product specific LCA (life cycle assessment) calculations will be complete. They show, among other things, that about 80-90% of the climate impact of modified starch products stems from cultivation. The share produced by chemicals, energy and logistics is therefore relatively small. The increased yields, optimised fertilisation and the appropriate use of crop protection agents will, in the long term, also have a direct impact on our bottom line, because it's precisely these so-called Scope 3 emissions that we need to be able to influence. Personally, I can say that it gives me great satisfaction to be able to stand honestly

Farmer's Berner

Finnamyl Oy (Chemigate's subsidiary company)

BERNER GROUP

Chemigate Oy

Paper and board industry (Chemigate's customers)

behind the products I sell and provide my customers with real research data – not just statistical averages. And, as the icing on the cake, promises of an even better tomorrow.

Last summer marked the first pilot period, and its results will be put into practice as early as the coming growing season. So despite very poor harvests in 2023, there's still a sense of enthusiasm in the air. “The collaboration has gone really well,” says project lead Mika Hyövelä. Kalle Kainu certainly agrees. “Our goal is to get good, clear and workable farming models and practices in place by the

Classic 145

end of 2025. And of course, we'll make these models available to all farmers. Who knows – maybe it will also enable new contract farmers to join us in the future.”

Naturally, it doesn't end there. Kaizen, or continuous improvement, applies here too. In short, Project Pearl adds value to the whole chain. Ultimately, you could even say it filters all the way down to the consumer. The phrases “Together, we are more” or maybe “Towards a better tomorrow” could make a fitting end here. But in any case: “Good on us!”

Potato-based, wet modified, high cationic wet end starch

What is Project Pearl all about?

Project Pearl is the pilot phase of a collaborative multistakeholder project targeted at improving the efficiency and reducing the environmental impact of starch potato cultivation. The stakeholders include Berner, the fertiliser and crop protection expert, Finnamyl, the native starch producer, and the contract producers of starch potatoes. Our IT partner is Mtech Digital Solutions, whose My Farm ERP system, designed for farming, is used for data collection and analysis.

Do you

grow

anything

to eat? What? If not, would you like to?

I have potatoes, onions, peas, cucumbers and strawberries growing – and I'm testing some Jerusalem artichokes left in the ground to hibernate over the winter... we'll have to wait until next year to taste them. And hay for the neighbour's horses!

Nickname: Project Pete

I don't grow and have never grown anything to eat. The exception is the hanging strawberry basket I bought one summer I'd be very interested in having my own strawberry bed or berry bushes. Maybe someday.

Nickname: City Slicker

I do. Vili was willing to help and fertilised the plant bed. Although I did remove the fertiliser before planting the seeds. I sowed cucumber seeds there, and they came up – though not very well, since it was so wet at the end of the summer.

Nickname: Turnips

We've grown onions, lettuce, chives, apples, strawberries and cherries. There are also a few currant bushes.

Nickname: Shovelshaft

I grow lettuces and herbs for myself. This guy in the photo is also interested in my crops, having found a suitable shady spot near the food workshop. I also occasionally grow potatoes. But my absolute favourite summer crop is the strawberry. During the harvest season, it's lovely to hop out to the backyard in the morning and pick some fresh breakfast berries for the table.

Nickname: Pallet Collar Gardener

yourself

Compiled by: Tuire Luomala

We grew potatoes for the first time in our own backyard last summer We also grow lettuce, herbs, chives, carrots and peas in planters. It would be nice to expand our range even further.

Nickname: The Home Gardener

Yes, last summer the grow box had cherry tomatoes, peas, carrots, mild chilis (Anaheim), peppers, zucchinis, arugula, lettuce and herbs (including mint, oregano, parsley, basil, chamomile, lavender).

Nickname: Gardenator

There used to be a small vegetable garden at the edge of our field, of course with potatoes, carrots, peas and zucchinis. Last year – I think in July – I remembered that I forgot to sow / plant anything

Nickname: I'll Garden if I Remember

Pe tit fo urs

A festive spirit

The Chemigate crew recently had the pleasure of celebrating 140 years of Berner. Read more on page 4.

Face the fire!

Safety begins with each of us! But sometimes it's good to be prepared, so you'll know what to do if an accident happens. At the start of this year, the Mietoinen sales team learned some basic firefighting skills, first in theory...and then in practice.

Future leaders and top-class researchers

Encouraging and supporting learning is at the heart of Chemigate. Let's remember that the freshman chasing free love and cheap beer this academic year is a future segment leader, top scientist or the Elon Musk of their field. Here's our latest student photo harvest, for your delight.

2024 Landmarks

Birthdays

50 years

Vuorijärvi, Katja 15.1.2024

Koski, Toni 15.2.2024

Haatainen, Pasi 19.3.2024

Laine, Aki 30.5.2024

• Rannikko, Mika 6.7.2024

60 years

Siltala, Katariina 20.2.2024

Vainionpää, Harri 27.3.2024

Niemelä, Anssi 24.8.2024

Service years

Alho, Jaana, 30 years

Porvari, Simo, 35 years

Komulainen, Markku, 40 years

Laine, Jari, 45 years

Responsibility for real!

In 2022, the 27 EU Member States will allocate more than €40 billion to the green transition. Also, an estimated 27% of European companies' investment budgets in 2023 were dedicated to sustainable development. These sums are shocking. However, it's not always clear what is being pursued and what responsibility really is. And when you try to figure it out for yourself or others, you quickly find yourself lost in a maze of exotic acronyms, littered with pseudoscience and greenwashing.

To avoid this, we at Chemigate decided to clarify for ourselves what responsibility is – for real. January marked the completion of our latest relevant training. Its aim was to make sure that everyone working at Chemigate knew what responsibility means to us – and what we're doing to champion it, now and in the future. It was also important to increase staff's understanding of the impact of their own work on sustainability. Participants also got to compete against each other, and the best-performing teams were rewarded with some sustainable chocolate.

In April, at Pulp&Beyond, we'll be ready to share this information with you. We are, after all, all on the same boat. Come visit, and step onboard.

Chemigate Podcast

The Social Shepherd website reports that there are as many as 4.25 million podcasts worldwide. If you make use of the usual search filters, I'd imagine you won't find many podcasts in Finnish about the forest industry, starch, management and sometimes even hammer throwing. The Chemigate podcast team must admit that the initial audience was largely made up of family (thanks, Mom) and friends (a quick check revealed that they were mostly pulling our leg), but today our audience has, thankfully, spread beyond the team's gene pool.

If you're interested in make-up tips, beating the stock market or true crime, you might want to listen to something else. Otherwise, be sure to check out the Chemigate Podcast, where Maisa and Tom sound (thanks to great post-production and very intelligent guests) bewilderingly smart. Available on most platforms.

Photo: Koivuniemi / Mikko Huttunen

In the same boat!

Ahoy, all hands on deck at booth B48.