Sailas warns that the foodstuffs industry in Finland could deteriorate if farm competitiveness does not improve. To boost the competitiveness of farms, the group proposes measures such as raising the size of farms, and reducing their number.
Minister Korkeaoja said that the working group’s proposals are workable. Korkeaoja says that says that the report would work as a basis of the agricultural policy of the next government.
The proposals also include a call to utilise the controversial practice of genetic manipulation in Finnish agriculture. The report states that a Finnish strategy is needed in the utilisation of biotechnology in food production and in refining agricultural products.
The group says that genetic technology should be used for the refining of agricultural plants suitable for the conditions that prevail in Finland. Korkeaoja voiced his support for that proposal as well.
On agricultural policy, the working group says that the goal should be an equal amount of subsidies per hectare in the whole European Union, and support for the production of bio-energy. The team wants to ease passing on family farms to the next generation by lifting inheritance tax if the heir holds on to the farm.