Finnish feed makes pure meat
Finnish feed makes pure meat
At Atria, clean and balanced feed supports farm animals' healthy growth and well-being, resulting in unparalleled meat quality. Discover what makes our feed almost animal superfood — hailing from the fields of Finland, one of the purest and most sustainable countries in the world.
Nutrition directly affects the farm animals' health, well-being and, therefore, the composition and taste of the meat. In Finland, feed quality is exceptional due to the cold climate, which reduces the need for chemical treatments, strict regulations, high-quality process standards, traceability, and advanced technology, minimizing the risk of contamination. "Concurrently, Finnish farm animals are generally among the healthiest in the world. In turn, as the animal medication is minimized, we can produce antibiotic-free meat", tells Ilkka Ala-Fossi, Business Director at A-Rehu, a Finnish feed manufacturer and grain trading subsidiary of Atria.
The process for pure and sustainable meat
At A-Rehu, high-quality feed production starts with carefully analyzing the raw materials and production purity, which is also strictly regulated in the Finnish Food Act. "Altogether, during the production lifecycle, we make tens of thousands of analyses per year", Ala-Fossi notes.
Most raw materials used at A-rehu are Finnish-grown, including the grains. The company has almost entirely replaced soybeans with Finnish protein sources, such as peas, dehulled oats, and barley protein from the nearby Koskenkorva ethanol plant. Additionally, A-feed can trace most of the raw material it receives. "We can easily see which batches each farm has supplied and, thus, retain samples for quality monitoring ", Ala-Fossi continues.
Furthermore, A-rehu's factory has a highly automated and modern production environment, enabling precise monitoring with state-of-the-art technology. A-rehu has also invested in the environmental sustainability of production by improving energy efficiency and utilizing renewable energy.
From local farms to global markets
As a pioneer in the feed industry and an expert partner for livestock farms, A-Rehu continuously develops new feeding solutions for the industry. The company's role is crucial in Atria's traceable chain, aiming to produce the world's purest domestic food delivered worldwide. In addition, Atria's experts are involved in the daily operations of farms, from planning feed to developing production. Effective interaction supports mutual learning — small groups, academies, stakeholder collaboration, feeding plans, feeds, investments, the development of production facilities, and investment solutions keep the experts engaged daily.
"Animals need fresh feed daily, and the storage facilities on Finnish farms are small, so our production must be continuous. When the farmers are doing well, we are doing well too. Ensuring solid primary production is also a cornerstone for Atria's partnerships with its clients", Ala-Fossi states.