Director-General's review
Erkki Kemppainen
Strengthened expertise at the new MTT
The year 2001 was one of the most significant in the history of MTT. On March 1, 2001, MTT merged with the Agricultural Economics Research Institute (MTTL). The merger will enhance cooperation in biological, technological and economic research and assist in focusing the research. Our new name is MTT Agrifood Research Finland, abbreviated to MTT. The change of name reflects our widened field of operations and varied range of expertise.
There are six research units within the new MTT. The regional unit comprises research stations in different parts of Finland and manages technology transfer and regional research and development projects. During the year under review, internal services were also reorganized into two service units: Research Services and Administrative Services. The chemistry laboratory, formerly part of Food Research, has now been incorporated into Research Services along with farm services, information services and international services. The new organization of the service units took effect on January 1, 2002.
New Board of Trustees began its term
MTT's Board of Trustees also underwent changes during the year. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry invited Kim von Weissenberg (Dean, University of Helsinki) to be Chairman, Heimo Hanhilahti (Deputy Director General, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry) to be Deputy Chairman, and Leila Helaakoski (Director, Northern Ostrobothnia, Oulu Employment and Economic Development Centre), Esko Lindstedt (Director, Danisco Finland Oy), Leena Mannonen (Senior Scientific Officer, National Food Agency), Paavo Mäkinen (Secretary General, Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners MTK), Tarmo Luoma (Chief Executive, TTS, Work Efficiency Institute), Erkki Kemppainen (Director General, MTT) and Päivi Parikka (Senior Scientist, MTT), to be members of the new Board of Trustees appointed for the term March 1, 2001-February 28, 2004. The Board of Trustees convened 12 times during 2001.
Strategy clarifies research aims
Our new research strategy was finalized during the year under review. It takes into account the agricultural strategy and research strategy of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry for 2002-2006. The new research strategy emphasizes customer orientation and continued development of core competence.
Work on a process model which will form the basis for the future development of MTT was begun in summer 2001. This will allow increased customer orientation in our operations, more efficient utilization of resources, improvement of the working environment and job satisfaction, and enhancement of overall operations. The aim is a flexible, efficient organization capable of learning and working in partnership with others. The process model will be introduced in all operations as of 2004.
More research in plant biotechnology
MTT has strengthened its plant biotechnology research with the aid of a separate funding allocation, and a professor has been engaged to head the research. The research work is being carried out in close cooperation with the University of Helsinki Biocenter, which guarantees the best expertise in the field and state-of-the-art equipment.
In August, we became a partner in the NorNet cooperation agreement, which is aimed at researching the boreal environment and sustainable use of natural resources, and providing expert assistance and laboratory services. The other partners in the project are the University of Oulu, the Finnish Forest Research Institute, the Finnish Game and Fisheries Research Institute, the Finnish Environment Institute, and the regional environment centres of Northern Finland.
Science park increases research impact
MTT has been actively involved in the development of the Agropolis science park, whose strategy was finalized and published in 2001. The innovation promoter Innotalli Oy, now up and running, will have a central role in the future when MTT's research results are turned into commercial products.
Extension of the Egypt-Finland Agricultural Research Project to cover 2001-2003 was secured. The project involves improving production and farming conditions for small livestock farms by means of research and guidance. MTT also continued its active cooperation with foreign research institutes, its international researcher exchange, and its participation in EU projects.
New strategy for information management and publications
MTT's information management and publication strategies were finalized during the year under review. In line with the new strategy, MTT's publication series were redesigned for 2002. A new workflow and document managing system was introduced in MTT's administration; the system will be extended during 2002 to cover all of MTT. Resources were also devoted to applying the provisions of the new legislation on public information and to organizing internal supervision.
The renovation and the new extension to the Food Research premises were completed in early spring 2001. MTT's Food Research now has modern offices and laboratory facilities, complete with product development premises.
Merger also affects MTT's economy
The merger
of the two research institutes also had implications for MTT's economy
increasing total costs by 19.3 per cent on the previous year. Overall
expenditure for the year totalled FIM 257.2 million (EUR 43.3 million),
of which financing from the State budget accounted for 66 per cent, an
increase of FIM 32.3 million (EUR 5.4 million) on the previous year. Joint
venture financing (external financing) was up by FIM 6.0 million (EUR
1.0 million), other cash flow from operations by FIM 2.1 million (EUR
0.4 million) and income from customer financing (chargeable service operations)
by FIM 1.2 million (EUR 0.2 million).
Special thanks
I would like to thank MTT's staff and trustees for a successful year. I should also like to express my appreciation to all our stakeholders and partners. 2001 has provided a sound basis on which to build our future success.