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Tero Hemmila 🌾 Elected as New MTK Chairman Promises to Challenge Retail Chains’ Grip on Food Production

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Introduction

On 27 November 2025, the council of MTK the Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners elected Tero Hemmilä as its new chairman, effective from 1 January 2026. (MTK)
In a time when many farmers and food producers voice concern over pressure from large retail chains squeezing margins, Hemmilä arrives with a strong pedigree in agriculture, forestry, and food-industry management, and a bold promise: to defend producers and restore balance in Finland’s food production chain. (Tero Hemmilä)

In this article, we unpack who Hemmilä is, why his election matters now, what he claims about retail chains’ power over food production and how he plans to act as MTK’s new leader.

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Who Is Tero Hemmilä?

• Hemmilä is a 57-year-old agronomist and agricultural / forestry entrepreneur from Laitila in Southwest Finland. He manages the family’s “Hemmilä farm,” now operated by the seventh generation. (MTK)
• Over 25 years, he has built a diverse career across the food chain agriculture, forestry, food industry management in Finland and abroad. (Tero Hemmilä)
• Known for his commitment to “farmer values,” rural livelihoods, and sustainable food-chain practices. He emphasizes that advocacy is not just about ideas but “strong leadership, clear vision, and actionable policies.” (Tero Hemmilä)
• Outside professional life, he has interests in national defence, hunting, and forestry dog training reflecting deep rural roots and a strong sense of responsibility. (MTK)

With these credentials, Hemmilä becomes the ninth chairman of MTK, succeeding the long-serving Juha Marttila who had held the post since 2009. (MTK)

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Why His Election Matters And What He’s Criticizing

🏬 The Problem Retail Chains’ Power vs Producers

In recent years, many Finnish farmers and food producers have raised concerns over the growing dominance of large retail chains which often dictate purchase prices, impose strict terms, and squeeze margins. This dynamic can undermine the viability of domestic agriculture and food production, pushing smaller producers out or forcing consolidation.

Hemmilä argues that this imbalance must be addressed, warning that unchecked retail-chain power weakens domestic food production threatening food security, rural livelihoods, and fair value for producers. (Tero Hemmilä)

🌱 A New Direction Protecting Producers, Strengthening Food Chain

As MTK chairman, Hemmilä plans to push for policies and advocacy that:

• Ensure fair pricing and equitable contracts for producers supplying retail chains.
• Support cooperative ownership models (e.g. producer-owned cooperatives and food-chain cooperatives) to give farmers more control and bargaining power. Hemmilä has emphasized that cooperatives have strategic importance in the food chain. (Osuustoiminta-lehti)
• Strengthen transparency and traceability across the food production and supply chain, from farm to retail, to ensure consumers and producers alike benefit not just retailers. (Tero Hemmilä)
• Advocate at national and EU levels to safeguard domestic agriculture, forest owners, and small-to-medium producers, ensuring sustainable rural livelihoods and resilience. (Tero Hemmilä)

He envisions MTK not as a passive lobby group, but as a proactive actor “leading change” rather than “just reacting.” (Tero Hemmilä)

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The Election What Happened

• The candidate pool included several prominent figures: agronomists, farmers, entrepreneurs, and politicians. Notably among them were Antti Kangas, MP and farmer, and Kati Partanen, an MTK board member and cooperative sector leader. (MTK)
• Despite a competitive field, the MTK council elected Tero Hemmilä on 27 Nov 2025. His term begins 1 Jan 2026. (MTK)
• His election signals a shift: from older status-quo leadership to a leader promising stronger advocacy for producers, cooperative empowerment, and systemic reforms.

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ltas Opinion/ Why This Could Be a Turning Point

From the vantage of AltasGaming.com normally focused on business & industry trends this leadership change at MTK carries lessons and signals that matter beyond just Finland’s farms:

1. Power Structures in Supply Chains Need Rebalancing

Too often, retail giants capture disproportionate leverage over suppliers. Hemmilä’s election reflects a growing pushback: supply-side stakeholders demanding fair share, sustainability, and equity. This isn’t just about agriculture it’s a lesson for any supply-chain sector where producers are overshadowed by oligopoly retailers or intermediaries.

2. Cooperative and Producer-Owned Models Might Be the Future

Producers reclaiming power through cooperatives instead of being passive suppliers can lead to fairer economics, stronger quality control, and sustainable production. This model may become increasingly relevant globally as supply-chain transparency, food security, and fair trade become more important to consumers.

3. Leadership Matters Not Just Policies

Having someone like Hemmilä with real-world farming experience, food-sector management background, and a willingness to reform may make the difference between empty promises and real change. Industry organizations globally should note: strong leadership rooted in frontline experience often resonates better than top-down policymaking.

4. The Risk Is Real Retail Chains Won’t Give Up Power Easily

Retail chains benefit hugely from scale, purchasing power, and supply-chain dominance. They will likely resist reforms that cut margins or change supply dynamics. Hemmilä’s push will require broad political and social support and careful negotiation.

5. This Is Not Just About Finland

Global markets are watching food security, sustainable agriculture, and fair producer rights. If MTK under Hemmilä sets a precedent, similar movements farmer empowerment, cooperative resurgence may emerge elsewhere. This could influence how global food markets, sustainability, and agriculture policy evolve.

In short: this is more than Nordic agriculture politics it’s a potential blueprint for fairer, more sustainable global supply-chain governance.

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❓ FAQs All You Need to Know

Q1: Who exactly is Tero Hemmilä and when does he begin as MTK chairman?
A: Tero Hemmilä is a 57-year-old agronomist and agricultural/forestry entrepreneur from Laitila, with decades of experience in farming, forestry, and the food industry. He was elected on 27 Nov 2025 and will begin as MTK chairman on 1 January 2026. (MTK)

Q2: Why is his election seen as a challenge to retail chains’ power over food production?
A: Hemmilä believes that large retail chains currently have outsized influence over pricing and terms, which squeezes producer margins and undermines domestic food production. He intends to push for more balanced power, fair contracts, cooperative models, and stronger representation for producers. (Tero Hemmilä)

Q3: Were there other notable candidates, and how competitive was the election?
A: Yes the candidate list included Juha Junnila, Antti Kangas (MP and farmer), Kati Partanen (MTK board member/cooperative leader), Ilkka Pohjamo, and Eerikki Viljanen (MP). Despite stiff competition, Hemmilä won the majority. (MTK)

Q4: What are Hemmilä’s key priorities as chairman?
A: Key priorities: strengthen producer rights, promote cooperative ownership in the food chain, ensure fair pricing and transparent contracts, reinforce Finnish food production and rural livelihoods, and modernize MTK’s advocacy with bold leadership. (Tero Hemmilä)

Q5: What challenges could he face?
A: Major resistance from powerful retail chains, political and regulatory hurdles, the complexity of restructuring food-supply dynamics, and the need to balance interests across small farms, large producers, and cooperatives.

Q6: What does this change mean for ordinary consumers?
A: In the long run if Hemmilä succeeds consumers might see more transparent pricing, better support for domestic food producers, potentially higher value (if domestic production costs rise), and stronger emphasis on sustainability and food security.

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✅ Conclusion

The election of Tero Hemmilä as MTK chairman marks an important turning point for Finnish agriculture and food production. It signals a potential shift in power from dominant retail chains back toward producers, cooperatives, farmers, and sustainable rural livelihoods.

If Hemmilä’s vision is realized, MTK may reclaim its role as a strong, forward-looking advocate for producers, challenging entrenched retail-chain power, strengthening domestic food security, and supporting fair and sustainable agriculture.

But the path ahead is not guaranteed. It will require courage, negotiation, broad support, and resilience against resistance.

From AltasGaming.com perspective, the world should watch because the outcomes here may serve as a model for many other countries balancing agriculture, food supply chains, and the rights of producers.

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