Atria's producer cooperatives establish a carbon sequestration company - with the aim of combating climate change and strengthening the profitability of agriculture
Press release, 22nd of November, at 9 am
Atria's producer cooperatives establish a carbon sequestration company - with the aim of combating climate change and strengthening the profitability of agriculture
Atria's producer cooperatives Itikka cooperative and Lihakunta have founded a new company to commercialize carbon sequestration of farms and forest farms. The founded company is called Maanvaalija Oy, and its registered office is in Kuopio.
"The carbon neutrality goals set by companies and communities require not only significant emission reductions but also carbon dioxide sequestration. Because of this, voluntary carbon compensation has significant business potential both in Finland and internationally," says Risto Lahti, CEO of the founded company.
The company's goal is to bring to the market verified and audited carbon sequestration units based on the latest scientific information. Company will develop credible carbon sequestration measures in Finnish fields and forests. The company's main goal is to combine carbon sequestration measures with active food production and forestry.
M.Sc. (Agric.) Lauri Jyllilä has started as a project manager of the established company. "Maanvaalija Oy's carbon sequestration products offer companies and communities an opportunity to compensate their emissions supporting the profitability of Finnish agriculture and forestry at the same time. Profitability and growth will enable agricultural entrepreneurs and forest owners have even better opportunities to invest in lower-emission solutions”, says Jyllilä.
Maanvaalija Oy's goal is to start piloting measures related to carbon sequestration together with selected farms in the growing season of 2023. The commercial supply of carbon sequestration products will start later, and then the goal is to offer carbon sequestration contracts to a wider range of Finnish agricultural and forestry entrepreneurs.
The company's partners in the project are Climate Analytics Finland Oy (CAF) and KPMG Oy Ab. CAF produces measurement and verification of carbon sinks using science-based methods. KPMG supports the established company in business development and audits the carbon sequestration process and the measures included in it.
"The strategic goal of Itikka cooperative and Lihakunta is to promote the economic success of agricultural entrepreneurs and a carbon-neutral food chain. The stable financial position of cooperatives creates the conditions for the company to be founded to invest in the reliability and verification of measures. Due to Maanvaalija Oy's farmer-based ownership structure, the company's goal is that the farmer and forest owner implementing carbon sequestration measures will also receive the greatest benefit from sequestration" concludes Lahti.
Additional information:
Risto Lahti, CEO, Maanvaalija Oy, +358 505650424
