National Food RDI Forum 2026
We are pleased to invite you to the National Food RDI Forum that will take place on October 28th, 2026 at the Visitor and Innovation Centre Joki in Turku!
This event will bring together food professionals, researchers, and stakeholders from all over Finland to discuss the development, research, and innovation within the food sector. The forum aims to strengthen collaboration between actors in the food sector and to promote the development of a sustainable and innovative food system in Finland. Talks and presentations will be in English.
National Food RDI Forum 2026 Program
9:30-10:00 Welcome and coffee
10.00-11.00 Opening and introduction to regional RDI clusters and programs: From Regional Strength to National Strategy
10:00-10:10 Greetings from the rectorate of the University of Turku
Vice-rector Tapio Salakoski, University of Turku
10:10-10:20 Multidisciplinary food research at the University of Turku and Southwestern Finland
Prof. Baoru Yang and Prof. Kirsi Laitinen, University of Turku
10:20-10:30 Vision for Southwest Finland Food Chain 2035
Riikka Leskinen, Valonia
10:30-11:00 Greetings from the regional food sectors actors
Hanna Pere, Apetit
Veera Meltovaara, Rosten
Mira Asunmaa, Munax
Tuire Wendelin, Raisio
11:00-12:00 Future-Ready Food System: Towards becoming a leading developer and reformer of sustainable food systems by 2040
11:00-11:20 Future food systems and changes in consumer behavior
Research Director Aki Koponen, University of Turku
11:20-11:40 Resilience of the Finnish food system
Miika Ilomäki, The National Emergency Supply Agency
11:40-11:50 Diversity of food recourses: focus on pulses
Juha-Pekka Aikola, Vihreä Härkä
11:50-12:00 Technology driven solutions: focus on indoor farming
Terhi Suojala-Ahlfors, National Resource Institute LUKE
12:00-13:00 Lunch
Lunch at restaurant Mauno, Biocity
13.00-15.00 The National Food Strategy and the Future of Food Culture – Students Ask, the Research Community Responds
13:00-13:30 Keynote: The National Food Strategy
Päivi Nerg, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
13:30-13:45 Introduction to Reverse Pitching and Co-creation
Prof. Anu Hopia, University of Turku
13:45-14:00 Students ask: Reverse pitch
Iida Vahtola , University of Turku
Sini Kuosmanen, University of Helsinki
Iina Jokinen, VTT
Anni Kortekangas, VTT
Matleena Autio, University of Eastern Finland
Terhi Viinikanoja, VTT
13:00-14:45 Small-group table discussions
14.45-15:00 Senior experts respond
15.00-15.15 Greetings from the funders
15:00-15:15 Greetings from Business Finland
Timo Metsä-Tokila, Executive Director, Business Finland
15.15-15.20 Concluding remarks
Prof. Kaisa Linderborg & Prof. Anu Hopia, University of Turku