FINEST - Swedish berries in healthy food

Sweden is one of the largest producers of wild berries in Europe, with a total biological yield estimated at more the 550 000 tons, mainly bilberries, lingonberries, crowberries and cloudberries. Still, only 2-5 % of the berries are utilized. There is a great potential in making the wild berry industry grow. 

Berry research is a hot area. Scientific papers are regularly published on how berries can promote human health in future products. Compared to many other countries, Swedish wild berry research is very limited, and has little focus on knowledge based product- and business development.  Through prior projects together with small producers, RISE has identified a potential for new products and a new process industry enabling an improvement of the Swedish berry value chain.

The World market for health ingredients is dominated by China and Japan. Both countries produce anthocyanin rich extracts, from bilberries.

The target for FINEST is placing Sweden I the front row of berry industry, by promoting and supporting the development of the Swedish wild berry value chain. We want to see the Swedish wild berry industry reach a high and compatible standard compared to China and japan.

The development of the Swedish wild berry value chain will create new jobs and place Sweden in a role of being a world leading producer of wild berry products.