Pathways for International Students to Own Farms in Finland

Abstract

The thesis examines a pathway for international students to own a farm in Finland and focuses on the immigration process, financial breakdown, permits required, and subsidies available. With increasing global interest in sustainable food production; ageing population of Finnish farmers and increment in enrolment of international students in environmental, agricultural and forestry programmes present the unexplored potential for future farmers in Finland. There is a possible future, yet the transition from student to agricultural entrepreneur is often constrained by legal status, ineligibility and significant capital requirement and difficulties in getting loans, and unfamiliar regulatory bureaucracy. The thesis focuses on making a pathway easier and motivational for possible future farmers without hiding the fact that it won't be a simple task after all. Using a mixed-method approach with interviews with immigrant farmers and agricultural advisors, the research identifies major barriers either it be economical, cooperative, structural or social barriers. Regarding all possible barriers, the thesis proposes an easier, brief and step-by-step model and how and what need to be considered before starting a farm in legal, financial and administrative perspectives. The thesis ultimately argues that expanding pathways for international graduates to own farms can contribute to rural revitalization, food security, and cultural diversification within modern agricultural systems. The commissioner of the thesis is Kati Heikkinen from HAMK International.

Keywords Permits, Subsidies, International Students, Land acquisition, Policies Pages 27 pages and appendices 3 pages