Food sector

Accelerating the development of food innovations and food culture

In 2029, the City will have a clear picture of Helsinki’s strengths in developing innovations related to food and food production and the priorities for growth in the food cluster. Helsinki’s food culture will be utilised more effectively than before to boost the city’s appeal and raise its profile. Promoting food innovations and food culture will have helped to strengthen the city’s position as a platform for developing the food of the future. Research, development and innovation operations in the food sector will be active and innovations will emerge in different areas of the food system. Helsinki will be a recognised capital of gastronomic expertise and food business.

In the development of Helsinki’s food cluster, the focus will not only be on food product innovations, tourism and food culture, but also on solutions that strengthen the sustainability, resilience and strategic self-sufficiency of the food system. The City will promote data-based and technological innovations that support the development of a carbon-neutral, resource-wise, more local and resilient food system and adaptation to climate change. This will also strengthen Helsinki’s position as a development and export environment for sustainable food system solutions of the future.

In particular, we will promote the achievement of the target state by the following means:

1. We will build partnerships and work together with higher education institutions, research institutes and key companies in the sector (including restaurants) to identify ways to accelerate the development of food innovations in Helsinki. In particular, we will aim to establish a cluster of innovation and expertise in the sector around Viikki Food Design Factory.(Link leads to external service) 
2. We will raise Helsinki’s international profile through culinary tourism, media productions and events. We will bring together food sector pioneers and food innovators to strengthen a new kind of food culture and export Helsinki’s food culture to the world with the help of top talent.
3. We will develop food culture and boost innovation activities and sustainability in the sector by experimenting with new solutions as part of the City’s procurements and services.

Responsible parties: City Executive Office, Urban Environment Division, key companies of the City Group.