Comparision of national food situation - Estonia

Liina Laumets, Karin Pai & Liisa Lang

Ecological state of the coastal waters

• General ecological state of coastal areas– stable, but poor.

• State of fish stocks

decreasing increasing improving

Sprat Baltic herring Cod

Pikeperch Flounder Salmon (cultivation)

Pike Roach Smelt

Whitefish Crucian Carp Pike

Vendace Bream Perch

Burbot    

Eel    

According to: Eesti kalanduse strateegia & Kalamajanduse arengukava

Reasons of fish stock decreasing:

Reasons of fish stock decreasing:1) too intensive fishing less fishing licenses increase

of illegal fishing2) Environmental conditions3) Decrease of good living and spawning places/ limited

access to spawning places (Narva hydro electric power station).

4) Due to intensive fishing some fish species have reached their critical state where self-regulation and spreading is complicated or impossible (human interference is needed – cultivation etc)

5) Catching of undersized fish.

• Recreation & livelihood - 3790 km of coastline; SPA-s, sport (e.g. sailing, diving, swimming), hobby-fishing, hiking, nature tourism etc.

http://www.agri.ee/?id=31058

Fisheries & fish consumption• History• 2010 - 95,4 thousand t (decreasing during 20 years –

132 000 t in 1992) ; fishery – 25% of food sector export; (only 10 % for local market); 0.56% of population work in fishery sector.

• Consumption • Decreasing: 14.3kg/yr (2001) 10.5kg/yr (2010)• Depend on location (coastal areas+), age, nationality etc.• The most consumed fishes are Baltic herring and sprat,

but also salmon (campaign). • mostly once a week.

According to: Kala ja kalatoodete turg Eestis. 2011. Eesti Konjunktuuriinstituut

Cultivation (Aquaculture) of fish to restore fish stocks

Species 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

394,3 451,0 520,2 622,0 648,5 789,6

Carp (Cyprinus carpio ) 47,4 43,9 79,7 28,1 69,8 73,6

Eel (Anguilla anguillia) 7,0 39,8 40,0 45,0 47,0 30,0

European crayfish(Astacus astacus)

0,2 2,3 0,8 2,8 2,2 10,8

TOTAL (t)448,9 537,0 640,7 697,9 767,5 904,0

According to: Kalavarude taastootmine

Regulations• Legislative constraints, international agreements &

their fulfillment• Fisheries Act (1995), Fishing Regulation• Catch limitations are established by the Council of the European Union

(highly migratory fishes) & Republic of Estonia (less migratory fishes)

• SAPARD (2003-2006); State Development Plan (2004-2006),

European Fishing Fund (2007-2013). • EU Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) (2004)• Council Regulation (EC) No 1098/2007• Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009• Estonian-Russian fishing commission • Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Environment • Environmental Inspectorate of Estonia (45 inspectors)

• In Soviet times all industry was owned by the State, so there was limited legislation (collective farms)

• The Farm Act in 1989 (legal guarantees for the establishment and development of farms)

• Land Reform Act in 1991 (in 1990 no private farms and in 1994 10,153 private farms)

• Establishment of Estonian Biodynamic Association in 1989 (beginning of organized organic farming)

• Situation now: The number of farms has grown, but farm size has decreased

Sources: Thorne, S. 2003. Estonian food production. The Anthropology of East Europe Review. Vol 21, No 1: Special Issue: Food and Foodways in Post-Socialistic Eurasia. Available at: http://scholarworks.iu.edu/journals/index.php/aeer/article/viewFile/375/450

Peepson, A; Mikk, M. 2008. Country profile of rural characteristics. Estonia. Assessing the impact of rural development policies (incl. LEADER). Centre for Ecological Engineering. Tartu. Available at: http://www.rudi-europe.net/uploads/media/Estonia_WP1_Report.pdf

History of agriculture

Overview of agriculture • Most of the production

volume comes from milk and meat

• In 2010 organic land was about 13% of all agricultural land in use (with 1356 organic producers)

• In 2009 42% of the total sheep, 7% of bovine and 2% of cows were organic

Sources: Orro 2010 & Estonian Organic Farming Foundation 2011.

  Whole production (t)

Organic production (t)

Milk 671 031 10 662

Cereals 873 466 171 121

Wheat 342 520 2 397

Barley 376 945 2 720

Oats 86 504 8 975

Meat 75 988 987

Beef 140 172 743

Pork 46 118 11

Mutton 778 230

Poultry 14 882 1

Potatoes 139 100 1 654

Vegetables 70 600 277

Eggs (thousand)

173 264 523

www.ki.ee

Regulation of agriculture

Legislative constraints

• Common Agricultural Policy Implementation Act

• Rural Development Plan 2007-2013 (ERDF) and Leader programs

• Organic Farming Act• Agricultural supports (ARIB)• Ministry of Agriculture &

Ministry of Environment

Agricultural renovations for improving the state of Baltic Sea

• HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan (BAT requirements for stock farmers)• Investments in wastewater management• Agricultural supports paid since 1993 (by the State) and

since 2001 (from EU budget)(Crop farming, animal husbandry, fisheries,consultation, training and development, developmentof rural life, industries production and processing,EU food programs)Sources: Estonian Agricultural Registers and Information Board homepage. Available at: www.pria.ee

HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan. Available at: http://www.envir.ee/882607

History of food industry

• In 1991 there was no official rural food industry and little legislation to control it

• Liberal trade policy was implemented after Soviet Union• Russia remained as major export market for decades

(products designed for the Russian market – fish, meat and milk)

• The Association of Estonian Food Industry in 1993• Agricultural supports from EU budget since 2001

Sources: Thorne, S. 2003. Estonian food production. The Anthropology of East Europe Review. Vol 21, No 1: Special Issue: Food and Foodways in Post-Socialistic Eurasia. Available at: http://scholarworks.iu.edu/journals/index.php/aeer/article/viewFile/375/450

Importance of food industry

• Food industry provides about one fifth from the total production of processing industry

• Food industry gives almost 2% of GDP and 8% of industrial product export

• Food industry plays a major role in rural life as the main employer in rural communities

Sources: Estonian Rural Development Plan 2007-2013. Ministry of Agriculture. Available at: http://www.agri.ee/public/juurkataloog/MAK/RDP_2007-2013.pdf

Raudla, H. 2010. Estonian Agriculture. Rural Life. Fisheries. Ministry of Agriculture. Available at: http://www.agri.ee/public/juurkataloog/TRUKISED/Esindustrykis_2010_ENG_3.PDF

Major impacts on environment• In 1970s and 1980s the lakes in Estonia were strongly

affected by fertilizers and farm sewage waters, which caused rapid eutrophication.

• The state of water bodies depend directly on the efficiency on the purification of wastewater

• The most fertile soils are located in the nitrate-vulnerable area

• Land is left out of direct agricultural use (big share of acid soils)

• Wide usage of pesticides and herbicides in Soviet times (record in 1986 when 1 kg of pesticides was used for 1 ha)

Sources: Estonian Rural Development Plan 2007-2013. Ministry of Agriculture. Available at: http://www.agri.ee/public/juurkataloog/MAK/RDP_2007-2013.pdf

Rohtsalu, K. 2001. Põllumajanduskemikaalid. Tallinn Technical University. Available at: http://www.hot.ee/teekaaslane/keskkond.html

Overview of food industry

Legislative constraints

• Food Act

• Plant Protection Act

• Fertilizers Act

• Waste Act

• Ministry of Agriculture (VFB), Health Protection Inspectorate, surveys and research by Estonian Institute of Economic Research and National Institute for Health Development

Photo: www.hellus.tere.eu/oleterve

Problems in agriculture and food industry

• The internal market is small

• Weak cooperation between enterprises

• The high price of local basic products. Low purchase power of consumers. EU direct payments are lower than the EU average

• Bad state of technology

• Small enterprises can not achieve EU requirements

• Low population concentration in rural areaSources: Estonian Rural Development Plan 2007-2013. Ministry of Agriculture. Available at:

http://www.agri.ee/public/juurkataloog/MAK/RDP_2007-2013.pdf

Campaigns

• „Acknowledged Estonian taste” (main basic product 100% Estonian)

• National organic food marking (Eco lable -Ökomärk)

• „Notice the flag” campaign

• The nomination of best Estonian food products

• GDA (Guideline Daily Amount) labeling etc.Sources: Association of Estonian Food Industry homepage. Available at:

http://www.toiduliit.ee/Estonian Organic Farming Foundation homepage. Available at: http://www.maheklubi.ee/

Consumers’ trust

• Various kinds of food is available: local, imported; fresh, half-ready, ready-made

• Most people (70%) prefer to buy local food (exception: fruits); also consumer trust is highest on local/Estonian food

Country of origin % of trust (2009)

Estonia 99

Latvia 89

Lithuania 85

Northern countries (Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway)

83

Produced in EU 76

Germany 74

Russia 74

Poland 67

Netherlands 64

Ukraine 61

France 49

USA 25

Source: Lepane, Lia (koost), 2010. Elanike

toitumisharjumused ja toidukaupade ostueelistused. Eesti Konjunktuuriinstituut, Tallinn, 2010. 176 lk.

Consumer trust: quality, healthiness

• Local bread (and bread products), milk & dairy products, flour & cereal products, sweets & pastry products, soft drinks & juices, meat & meat products & sauces, mayonnaises & ketchups were valuated with high quality.

• Less satisfied with quality of local fruits and vegetables.

• Healthy food = fruits, vegetables, milk products, lean meat, fish.

• People are interested getting information about harmful substances in food, however, the topic is difficult for them.

Sources: Lepane, Lia (koost), 2010. Elanike toitumisharjumused ja toidukaupade ostueelistused. Eesti Konjunktuuriinstituut, Tallinn, 2010. 176 lk.Toiduliit, 2008. Tervisliku toitumise tähendus ja sisu Eesti tarbijaskonna seas. Faktum & Ariko. Tallinn, September-Oktoober

2008. 79 lk.

Food describing factors % of people who consider the factor very important (2009)

freshness 91

taste 89

quality 84

healthiness 68

cheap prize 62

special offerings 56

look of the product 53

composition 50

familiar brand 37

origin, Estonian origin 37

signs on packaging 36

without genetically modified ingredients

45

green products or ecological products

28

content of hydrogenated vegetable fats

28

long self life 24

comfortable packaging 14

look of packaging 15

easiness to prepare 16

Source: Lepane, Lia (koost), 2010. Elanike toitumisharjumused ja toidukaupade ostueelistused. Eesti Konjunktuuriinstituut, Tallinn, 2010. 176 lk.

Consumer trust: ethical and environmental aspects

• Fairtrade products are not well known.• Less package & trash is preferred.• People do not know which producers can be

trusted. Most trusted/known are Tere and Leibur.

• Main advisor organization: National Institute for Health Development. Importance: awareness.

• People trust the information coming from a competent source (e.g. doctors, scientists).

Sources: Lepane, Lia (koost), 2010. Elanike toitumisharjumused ja toidukaupade ostueelistused. Eesti Konjunktuuriinstituut, Tallinn, 2010. 176 lk.Turu-uuringute AS, 2009. Õiglase kaubanduse tuntus elanikkonna seas.Toiduliit, 2008. Tervisliku toitumise tähendus ja sisu Eesti tarbijaskonna seas. Faktum & Ariko. Tallinn, September-Oktoober

2008. 79 lk.

General eating habits & food culture• Food providing at schools: 1) support for school

lunch (1-9 grade, trade schools), 2) support for school milk (1-12 grade, kindergarten, trade school), 3) support for school fruits and vegetables (1-4 grade).

• Eating out is more preferred by young people. Using fresh components & cooking at home are more preferred than buying ready-made and half-ready food. Lately preserving and making juices has increased in families.

• Local food is preferred. More people have started growing some of the vegetables and fruits themselves.

Sources: Lepane, Lia (koost), 2010. Elanike toitumisharjumused ja toidukaupade ostueelistused. Eesti Konjunktuuriinstituut, Tallinn, 2010. 176 lk.Lepane, Lia (vastutav täitja), 2006. Elanike rahulolu Eesti traditsioonilise toidu pakkumisega toitlustuses. Eesti Konjunktuuriinstituut, Tallinn, 2006. 8 lk.www.pria.eewww.riigiteataja.ee

References:• Elanike toitumisharjumused ja toidukaupade ostueelistused, 2010• Tervisliku toitumise tähendus ja sisu Eesti tarbijaskonna seas, 2008 • Elanike rahulolu Eesti traditsioonilise toidu pakkumisega toitlustuses, 2006 • Elanike toitumisharjumused ja toidukaupade ostueelistused, 2010• Õiglase kaubanduse tuntus elanikkonna seas, 2009.; • Tervisliku toitumise tähendus ja sisu Eesti tarbijaskonna seas, 2008• Association of Estonian Food Industry/Toiduliit Orro, E (koost). 2010. Kohalike mahepõllumajandustoodete ja -toidukaupade turg Eestis 2009.

aastal. Eesti Konjuktuuriinstituut. Tallinn. Available at: http://www.agri.ee/public/juurkataloog/UURINGUD/Kohalike_mahep6llumajandustoodete_turg_Eestis_2007.pdf

Estonian Organic Farming Foundation. 2011. Mahepõllumajandus Eestis. Organic Farming In Estonia 2010. Ministry of Agriculture. Available at: http://www.maheklubi.ee/upload/Editor/New%20Folder/mahepoll_eestis_2010-1.pdf

• www.envir.ee• www.riigiteataja.ee• www.pria.ee • www.agri.ee

Thank you!

www.eestitoit.ee