Suomi meets Poland: Feed-focused meeting at Hankkija FFI

Finland isn’t just the land of lakes and forests. It also hosts some of the northernmost commercial farming in the world. Despite the short growing season, Finnish agriculture delivers high performance through research-driven feeding, automatization of processes, strict biosecurity, and a strong focus on animal welfare.

This spring, we welcomed our Polish partners – Noack Polska and Wipasz, a regional feed manufacturer – for a technical visit to Hankkija. The agenda was built around swine nutrition, feed production, and shared challenges in modern pig farming.

Pig production: Shared focus, different conditions

The visit began with a tour of our Turku feed mill. Our guests explored the production flow and saw how we manage feed safety, traceability, and nutrient precision. These are essential pillars in ensuring consistent quality across all product batches.

In the discussion session that followed, we compared sow and piglet production in Poland and Finland. Although some differences, both countries face similar issues: gut health, piglet vitality, and cost-effective feed strategies.

Our swine nutrition expert gave an overview of Finland’s pig sector – highlighting its focus on biosecurity, stable productivity, and long-term sustainability goals.

Hankkija´s R&D director Juhani presented recent findings on Progut® Extra, a functional feed ingredient:

“Due to its immune and microbiota modulating effects, Progut® Extra has shown to improve colostrum quantity and quality in sows, thus improving piglet vitality and weaning weights. In weaned piglets, trials have shown reduced diarrhoea and improved performance”.  

Such trials are key in proving the economic value of functional feed components – especially under field conditions.

From formulation to farm gate

The group also visited a local Finnish pig farm to see how theory translates into practice. We observed strong farm management and well-adapted feeding routines. It was especially encouraging to see the younger generation taking over farm operations, bringing fresh thinking while respecting tradition.

For feed professionals, farm visits are always a highlight. They offer direct feedback from the field, especially valuable when comparing practices across borders.

Shared knowledge, global impact

Edvard Haimi, Hankkija’s Export Manager, commented on the exchange:

“It’s always rewarding to share experiences and solutions. Finnish know-how in feeding is now applied in more than 30 countries worldwide.”

A cultural pause: Moomin island visit

The group also visited Moomin Island in Naantali, a charming place rooted in Finnish storytelling and design. The Moomins, created by Finnish author Tove Jansson, celebrate their 80th anniversary—a major milestone in Finnish cultural history. The Moomins are also well known in Poland under name Muminki, loved by many through books, comics, and animated series. The visit offered a relaxing moment and showed how Finnish creativity connects across generations and cultures.

We truly enjoyed hosting Noack Polska and Wipasz in Finland. This visit reminded us how important it is to stay connected, keep learning, and grow through collaboration. We’re looking forward to continuing the conversation – next time, in Poland!

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