Maatalousraakaaineita

Maatalousraakaaineita, or agricultural raw materials, are basic agricultural products that function as inputs in downstream processing rather than as finished goods. They include crops grown for food, feed or industrial use, animal-origin products, and forestry outputs that are processed into other ingredients or materials.

Typical categories include cereals such as wheat, barley, oats and rye; oilseeds like rapeseed, soybean and sunflower; root crops such as potatoes and sugar beet; and legumes such as peas and beans. Animal-origin raaka-aineita include milk, meat and eggs used by the food industry and feed producers. Forestry-related raw materials comprise wood and pulp used for paper, textiles, and bio-based products.

These raw materials are transformed through processing into food ingredients (flour, sugar, fats, proteins), animal feed, and non-food products such as bioenergy (bioethanol, biodiesel, biogas) and biochemicals or biomaterials. They can also serve as inputs in textiles and other industrial applications, depending on the material.

Market and sustainability considerations are central to maatalousraakaaineita. Prices are influenced by weather, harvest yields, global demand, and exchange rates, while supply security and policy frameworks shape production and trade. Environmental and social impacts—such as land use, water use, biodiversity, and emissions—drive efforts toward sustainable sourcing, certifications, and traceability.

In practice, the sector underpins the agri-food chain and rural economies in many regions, including Finland and the wider EU. Emphasis is often on domestic production, diversification of crops, and sustainable farming practices to maintain stable supplies of maatalousraakaaineita for various downstream industries.