The Wild Food project helped to develop the food and tourism industries in the Kuusamo and Taivalkoski municipalities in Northern Ostrobothnia, Finland, by promoting their unique arctic nature. A wild foods brand and website were created to promote products and services. Around 50 businesses participated in the project.
- 28 October 2021
‘Wild Food Kuusamo Lapland connects local companies offering wild food and experience services in the Kuusamo and Taivalkoski areas.'
The project encouraged collaboration and partnerships between businesses in the tourism, retail and food industries. This resulted in setting up a buyer-seller network, more demand for local products and greater availability of locally sourced ingredients.
Many of the participants successfully developed new products. Eight study trips were organised and international contacts created, especially with France and Russia. Local expertise was bolstered with study trips and wild-food cooking courses for both beginners and professionals.
Marketing, both locally and abroad, helped promote wild food and developed the brand. One of the project’s most important cross-border events was the visit of master chefs from Michelin-starred restaurants to Kuusamo, which helped create contacts with Europe.
In total, 27 seminars and events, attended by 6 700 people, were organised. The project manager gave 43 presentations on wild foods; around 200 articles about the project were published, and it won a food culture award.
Nature’s bounty
The Wild Food website defines wild food as locally produced, free-range and sourced from nature. It is prepared using natural ingredients and simple methods. The menu includes free-range reindeer and elk meat, hand-picked berries, mushrooms and herbs, fish from lakes and streams, and leipäjuusto – also known as Finnish squeaky cheese.
The Koillismaa sub-region provides a wealth of resources for the culinary tourism and food-exporting industries. The region’s pristine waters and unspoilt, arctic nature give it a significant competitive edge, as do its expertise in global food trends, innovative product development and high food-safety standards
As of November 2021, over 20 companies are listed on the Wild Food site, including enterprises offering activities and accommodation, local food producers, restaurants and retailers. Some organise adventures and tours whereby travellers can enjoy traditional, wild food.
A boost for tourism
According to project beneficiary Naturpolis, a business development agency, the regional economy is based on tourism, wood processing, food production and the metal and information industries. The region is the EU’s north-eastern gateway to Russia.
To help the tourism industry out of its COVID-19 slump, and ensure its growth, a separate project is being implemented in collaboration with local tourism associations. ‘International tourism back on the path to growth’ is running from May to December 2021, with Naturpolis as the project administrator. The focus is on marketing the region, ensuring visitors are kept safe from the health risks linked to the pandemic, and bringing back tourists from outside Finland, particularly Russia.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment for the project "Wild food - Vitality for Koillismaa from food services and nature" is EUR 397 363, with the EU’s European Regional Development Fund contributing EUR 278 345 through the “Sustainable growth and jobs” Operational Programme for the 2014-2020 programming period. The investment falls under the priority “improving the competitiveness of SMEs”.