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Climate work at farms

Our goal is to develop our food chain from farms to consumers while also taking environmental perspectives into account. The aim of our climate work at farms is to promote sustainable agricultural practices and reduce the climate emissions generated from raw material production.

We support our contract farms in developing their operations and reducing their emissions by strengthening climate expertise in primary production and by providing farm level emissions data. We conduct research and develop primary production together with our contract producers and other partners, and scale the best practices for use across our contract producer network.

In our responsibility programme, we are committed to reducing scope 3 FLAG greenhouse gas emissions related to the primary production of meat raw materials by 30.3 percent by 2030 compared to the 2022 level. FLAG emissions are generated from land-use change as well as land use in the primary production of meat raw materials.

Together with our contract farmers and other partners, we are moving towards our target. In primary production, we focus on reducing emissions from feed production and land use, which have a major impact on climate. Promotion of resource efficiency and carbon sequestration in field farming are at the heart of our efforts.

Our priorities of the climate plan in reducing the environmental impact of agriculture:

  • We reduce the climate impact of animal feed production through regenerative farming methods and collaboration with feed suppliers, as well as by optimising the use of fertilizers and other production inputs.

  • We replace soy with domestic protein sources whenever possible and procure certified‑origin soy.

  • We improve feed efficiency by developing animal health and genetics.

  • We promote carbon sequestration in the fields together with our partners.

  • We develop the conditions for more efficient circular‑economy use of manure, for example in energy production or as fertilizer.

HKFoods’ contract farms have long worked to reduce the climate impact, for example by increasing the circular use of manure, introducing solar power and promoting resource efficiency in feed production. Reducing emissions from primary production requires diverse expertise, so in addition to us and our contract farmers, other companies as well as expert and research organisations will be involved. Together, we will look into new ways to reduce climate impacts and scale good practices across our home markets with an ecosystem-based operating model. 

Responsibility programme 2026–2028 targets

Programme target Indicator Target year
CLIMATE    
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 from 2022 levels in our own operations and value chain in accordance with the short-term targets approved by SBTi (Science Based Targets initiative)


Indirect Scope 3 emissions from industrial operations: -42%

(Includes Scope 3 categories: 3.1. Purchased services and goods, 3.3. Fuel‑ and energy‑related activities, 3.4 transportation and distribution in the value chain’s upstream 3.9 transportation in the value chain’s downstream, 3.15 Investments)
2030

 

farmhouse

Digitalised calculation of environmental impacts

We have developed our primary production environmental impact calculation system by digitalising the Natural Resources Institute Finland’s lifecycle models for pork, poultry and field crops. The calculation system enables continuous calculation and more reliable reporting of the water and carbon footprints and biodiversity impacts of primary production, and helps to identify measures that promote farm-level sustainability. Farms can use the producer portal to examine the main climate impacts of their operations and receive recommendations for actions to reduce emissions.

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Carbo® Environmental Calculator

We have also adopted a carbon footprint calculation model for the beef value chain. Valio’s Carbo® Environmental Calculator is a tool developed for assessing the environmental impacts of the Finnish dairy and meat sector, providing Finnish producers with a shared national standard for carbon footprint calculation.

Read more about Carbo® 

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Maintaining soil health

By taking care of soil health, we improve the conditions for food production and help prevent the loss of carbon from agricultural soils. In a pilot study, the Finnish Meteorological Institute modelled soil carbon sequestration and carbon emissions from the fields of an HKFoods contract broiler producer. The study was carried out as part of the Business Finland–funded development project “From Footprints to Digital Handprints (FF2DH)” with the objective  to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in HKFoods’ food chain. 

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Examining field emissions from fertilisation

We are continuously working to reduce emissions from feed production and land use together with our contract producers. HKFoods participated in a research project by Yara, which increases understanding of nitrous oxide emissions generated in the cultivation of cereals and grassland.

hiilivuomittaus HKScan

Sensors providing new information on carbon sequestration in fields

We have been measuring the carbon sequestration of crops on our pilot fields since 2020. The results show that good vegetation and high leaf litter increase the carbon sequestration capacity of the field. For example, catch crops and grasses sequester carbon well into autumn. The longer photosynthesis takes place in the field, the better for the environment. One field hectare can sequester more than 50 kg of carbon dioxide per hour, the equivalent of driving about 300 km in a car.

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Arvo circular economy fertiliser increases security of supply

Biolan processes a new type of Arvo fertiliser for field farming from the manure generated in the farming of Kariniemen chickens. By using livestock manure and processed products, valuable nitrogen and phosphorus nutrients and organic matter can be efficiently utilised in line with the circular economy principle. Arvo fertiliser is entirely Finnish, which also increases security of supply.

HKScan pilot farms are using Yara's satellite for precise farming.

Optimising field nutrient use with new technology

For example, on 7 HKFoods’ pilot farms in Finland, we use sensors and satellite technology for precision fertilisation of crops. With the new technology, we aim for high yields with a low carbon footprint.

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Climate training for our farmers in Finland

We train our contract farmers in climate-friendly farming methods in Finland. We provide our contract farmers with concrete advice on how to reduce the carbon footprint of their own farm.

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Pilot farms in Finland

Our climate work is based on genuine actions! We study and develop climate-friendly primary production on our pilot farms. We scale up best practices to the use of our contract farmers.