omavarainen

Omavarainen is a Finnish adjective meaning self-sufficient or independent in the sense of being able to supply one’s own needs without long-term reliance on others. It is used to describe people, households, communities, or systems that produce at least part of their own resources, such as food, energy, or water. The noun form omavaraisuus denotes self-sufficiency as a state or quality.

The term is common in discussions of sustainable living, rural development, and energy policy in Finland, but it is also used in everyday language. In policy and planning contexts, omavaraisuus is often linked to resilience and local autonomy, while recognizing that it does not imply complete isolation, but rather a goal of reducing vulnerability and external dependence.

In everyday use, omavarainen can describe a person who can manage basic needs independently; a household that grows vegetables or produces electricity; a village or municipality seeking to reduce dependence on external supply chains; or a business that can operate with limited external inputs. The concept is frequently connected to discussions about energy independence, food security, and local production.

Etymology: the term combines oma meaning "own" with a productive suffix that forms adjectives indicating a state. Related terms include omavaraisuus (self-sufficiency), omavarainen energiantuotanto (self-sufficient energy production), and autarkia (economic self-sufficiency or autarky). See also resilience, sustainability, and local production movements.