Kasviaines

Kasviaines is a Finnish term used to describe plant-derived raw materials and ingredients that are used across multiple sectors, including food, feed, energy, and industry. The concept encompasses materials obtained from terrestrial plants through agriculture and horticulture, such as cereals, oilseeds, legumes, tubers, and other crop byproducts, as well as non-food plant matter like fibers and green biomass that can be processed for various end-uses.

In food and animal feed contexts, kasviaines include components such as starches, sugars, oils, proteins, and dietary fibers derived from plant sources. In energy and industrial applications, plant-based materials serve as feedstocks for biofuels, biogas, bio-based chemicals, and bioplastics. The term can also be used more broadly to refer to plant biomass utilized in industrial processes, including non-edible fractions.

Processing of kasviaines typically involves cultivation, harvesting, and transport, followed by separation and conversion into usable fractions. Key technologies include milling, oil extraction, fermentation, enzymatic hydrolysis, and refinery steps that enable the production of multiple value-added products from a single biomass stream. Biorefineries are an emerging framework that aims to maximize the transformation of plant biomass into a range of fuels, chemicals, materials, and energy.

Sustainability considerations are central to kasviaines, with attention to land use, water efficiency, soil health, biodiversity, and greenhouse gas emissions. Certification schemes and origin tracing are often employed to meet product standards and market requirements. Policy measures in Finland and the European Union influence crop choices, incentives, and investment in plant-based supply chains.

See also: biomass, plant-based ingredients, renewable resources, biorefinery.