Estonia has a sizeable food industry which benefits from ecological raw materials, skilled workers and modern production facilities. With an established export capability and growing application of food science and technology, Estonia is the ideal location for export and R&D oriented investment.
| Talent pool with world-class education and technical skills. | |
| Modern facilities, automation and quality certification as standard. | |
| Experience and supply chain to service overseas markets. | |
| Growing R&D in areas such as nutrition, directed evolution and food technology. | |
| Pristine environment providing high-quality, ecological raw materials. |
Estonia is a compact Nordic country benefiting from a pristine natural environment. Raw material inputs are high-quality, often organic, and sourced from clearly identifiable local origins.
Food production in Estonia, of which there are approximately 700 companies, is highly modernised and productive. Estonian workers are typically multilingual, possess higher or professional qualifications, and are trained by world-class companies. Quality certification to stringent EU requirements is mandatory and modern equipment extensively utilised in production and packaging.
Supported by a pro-business environment that is free of red tape and an efficient supply chain, Estonia is increasingly a center for exported oriented activity. Regional giants such as Orkla, Saarionen and Lantmännen export final product from Estonia to European markets. High quality Estonian raw materials are exported globally for use in food, beverage, health, animal feed, and horticulture sectors.
Estonia has a long history of food science innovation, including supplying Soviet space missions as early as 1962. Today Lallemand operates a cutting-edge, global R&D hub for functional molecules and directed evolution in Estonia in collaboration with TalTech. Finnish dairy giant Valio conducts R&D into lactose-free and digestion improving foodstuffs.
Estonia is also emerging as a center of expertise in food technology thanks to close collaboration with its world-class IT industry. Blockchain technologies, which will assure global supply chains, have been used on a daily basis in Estonia since 2008.
With a strong track record of successful investment and innovation supported by a highly competitive business environment and digital capability, Estonia is the ideal location for export and R&D oriented investment.
Success stories in the Estonian Food industry include:
Carlsberg Group, Fazer, Food Union, Lallemand, Lantmännen, Olvi, Orkla, PRFoods, Saarionen, Valio, etc.
These websites can be useful when interested in the Food sector in Estonia:
You are also welcome to send us a request for personal e-consulting to obtain more specific information.
Estonia is the world’s most digitally enabled nation, offering a unique combination of talent, environment, and innovation. Our IT R&D ecosystem enjoys global proof of concept, being trusted by global organisations such as Kuehne+Nagel and NATO and producing unicorn startups like Transferwise and Bolt.
Estonia is a cashless society with over 99% of financial transactions occurring digitally. Electronic ID and Blockchain are widely used in FinTech applications. 80+ FinTechs ranging from innovative startups such as TransferWise to Blockchain leader Guardtime make Estonia a global centre of excellence for FinTech.
Estonia has a sizeable Advanced Industrial sector and world-class IT expertise in areas including high tech systems, control technologies and cyber security. Supported by a collaborative ecosystem well suited to research and development, Estonia is emerging as a centre of excellence in industrial automation.
Estonia developed X-Road, its proprietary decentralised, distributed system in 2001 and has utilised Blockchain since 2008. World-class technical skills supported by practical experience implementing public and permissioned Blockchain’s place Estonia at the forefront of the emerging Blockchain economy.
Patient records in Estonia are digitised and secured by the Blockchain, providing a single immutable data source for healthcare professionals. With a unique digital platform and collaborative ecosystem, Estonia is positioned to lead on preventative medicine, patient self-treatment and industry efficiency.
What is it like to run a business in Estonia? How to benefit from the e-solutions and the efficiency of our business culture? What are the opportunities in specific sectors? Who to partner up with?
The Estonian Investment Agency’s team is happy to help you via its complimentary e-Consulting service, organize online or offline follow-up events such as virtual investment visits and guide you through the fairly simple process of investing in Estonia.
