Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry enables renewing and sustainable food production and natural resources use as well as generates reliable information pools. Broad-based cooperation with many different parties is a typical feature of the ministry’s tasks. We serve the Government and Parliament, direct the agencies and institutions in our branch of administration, and handle national and international cooperation. The driving force of our activities is the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

In the Government, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is responsible for water supply and wastewater disposal, river regulation, flood and drought risk management, land drainage and watering, dam safety, the central government’s water structures as well as transboundary water issues.

Well-functioning water services are a basic precondition for a modern society. Many businesses cannot operate without access to water, and water resources and their management are also a common denominator for industries based on natural resources use, including agriculture, forestry and the fishing industry.

Water also plays a key role in climate change adaptation. Together with its partners, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry strives to anticipate the challenges created by climate change and to also tap the potential of circular economy and new technologies in water issues. We aim to manage the water sector in Finland to such a high standard that it also creates international demand for our expertise.