Raisio plc Press release 17 April 2008 Raisio, a European pioneer, created a new indicator ELOVENA OATS NOW COME WITH A CO2 EMISSIONS LABEL Raisio has equipped its Elovena oats with a label that indicates the CO2 emissions of the product. A European pioneer in the sector, the company has thus created a new labelling indicator. When making purchasing decisions, consumers want information about the environmental impact of foods. Raisio answers this need with the introduction of its CO2 label. The company will now determine the CO2 emissions of its other products and add the label to other consumer products in order to further develop the new indicator. The CO2 emissions of Elovena oats, from cultivation through processing to store warehouse, are only around 37 grams per 100 grams of oats. This is an extremely low emissions level. In other words, Elovena's overall impact on the environment is positive. In his speech at Raisio's Research Foundation's ecology seminar on 17 April 2008, CEO Matti Rihko said that Raisio is probably the world's first food company to show the CO2 balance, as well as the CO2 emissions, on a product package. One hundred grams of Elovena oats correspond to some 300 grams of biomass (grains and crop). This amount of biomass binds around 500 grams of carbon dioxide. According to a modified version of the balance calculation model adopted by the forest industry, the CO2 balance of 100 grams of Elovena oats is approximately 460 grams negative. In other words, the volume of atmospheric CO2 bound by biomass exceeds the volume of CO2 released during processing. This clearly shows the advantages of plant-based, locally produced nutrition when searching for solutions to the global climate challenge. Worldwide analyses of the CO2 emissions from foods are few in number. So far, most of them have focused on the processing stage. The calculation model used in Raisio's indicator is based on studies conducted by MTT Agrifood Research Finland. In the future, food packages will include a CO2 emissions label alongside the now familiar nutritional facts label. “I believe that in 2008 the effects of climate change will begin to have an increasing impact on consumer choices, and that people will move from words to action. The CO2 emissions of foods are of interest to consumers - and for a good reason: food accounts for around one-third of the CO2 emissions of Finns, with living and traffic accounting for one-third respectively. Plant-based, locally produced food reduces CO2 emissions and decreases the ecological footprint of each of us,” says Rihko. He believes that Raisio, as a pioneer in ecological, plant-based nutrition and as one of Europe's most innovative companies in the grain field, is well positioned to meet the new challenges facing the food industry. Raisio's Research Foundation awards grants totalling EUR 233,300 Raisio's Research Foundation arranged its annual seminar on 17 April 2008. This year's event focused on the operating environment, which was analysed with reference to global trends. In 2008 the Foundation awarded a record amount of grants - EUR 233,300 - for research on human and animal nutrition. Grants were awarded to 15 researchers or research groups. In addition, the Research Foundation gave six recognition awards for the best Master's theses in the field. Says Ilmo Aronen, representative of the Raisio's Research Foundation: “The Foundation's goal is to move the focus of its operations more and more towards research schools. The funding decisions reflected this policy, as five of the grants were given for brand-new research projects aiming at doctoral dissertations, six grants were given for ongoing dissertation research projects and four grants for the completion of dissertation work.” “It is vital for the Finnish food industry to ensure its competence throughout the business chain. Sufficient inputs in research work towards this end. This is why the Raisio's Research Foundation supports high-quality research and further qualification of young researchers,” says Aronen. The Research Foundation's grants will next be available for application in January 2009. RAISIO PLC Heidi Hirvonen Communications Manager Tel. +358 50 567 3060 Further information: Matti Rihko, CEO, tel. +358 400 830 727