Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke) – a foundation for the bioeconomy

Vision: We are a bioeconomy pioneer – our expertise creates a basis for sustainable growth and well-being.

The rationale for establishing the new Natural Resources Institute Finland is to boost natural resources research which is fundamental for building a future for bioeconomy. The needs of decision-makers, businesses and other clients are growing, and the challenges facing societies are becoming increasingly complex. Natural Resources Institute Finland will develop bioeconomy research and look for increasingly integrated solutions to societal problems. The more cohesive structure of the scientific community will ensure the preservation and development of vital research infrastructures and optimise the use of information, monitoring data and statistics.

The research and expert activities of the Natural Resources Institute Finland are founded on broad-based competence. Four research units, a statistics unit and an internal services unit all contain groups and teams, whose competencies are exploited in multi-disciplinary research programmes and projects carried out in collaboration with Finnish and international partners. Our customers, the end users of the information and solutions we offer, play a major role in planning and determining the focus of our research activities.

Luke is the second largest research institute in the country. In 2012 we had a turnover of EUR 140 million, with approx. 1700 person-years. We operate at 38 locations, the headquarters is in Helsinki.

Five research areas represent Luke´s strategic research. The research areas utilise the expertise of the entire organisation. The Inclufar project is embedded within the research area “Green economy opportunities”.

Green economy opportunities

Research manager: Prof. Dr. Hilkka Vihinen

Research themes

• Use of land and natural resources
• Transformation in rural livelihoods
• Sustainability and competitiveness of local and organic foods
• Changing markets, new green entrepreneurs and business know-how
• Policy-formation, societal steering and knowledge-based decision-making

Luke carried out several research projects associated with Green Care and Social Farming (SoFar, MAIE). Luke is co-operating with the Green Care Finland association, which coordinates the national collaboration of green care professionals.

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