Rural research and Rural Studies network

The object of rural reseach at the Department of Geography is the sustainable development of northern rural areas of Finland. Research themes include e.g. the role of rural areas in the regional structure of Finland, rural planning and policy, changing position of northern villages, adjustment of rural areas to the new EU programming period and bioenergy production in rural areas. The rural research is multidisciplinary on its character and cooperation is made with several domestic and international partners from different disciplines (.  A central Finnish cooperation platform is Rural Studies network which collects academic rural expertise from ten Finnish universities and gives master level education in rural studies.

Staff

Research Professor Phd Toivo Muilu
Researcher MSc Pirjo Onkalo (MTT Agrifood Research Finland)
Researcher MSc (Agriculture and forestry) Tuomo Pesola (Oulu University of Applied Sciences/ School of Renewable Natural Resources)

Projects

(1) Northern villages - local knowledge in rural regions as a resource for endogeneous activity and development of land-use planning in villages
In this multidisciplinary research network project the structure of Northern villages is examined in relation to the influence of outer processes (e.g. globalisation, structural change of agriculture, polarisation of population and jobs) and inner dynamics (e.g. conflicting views on development of villages and use of natural resources). The main hypothesis is that the local inhabitants’ knowledge and experience of their living environment are important resources for endogenous developmental activity in the villages. The participation of the local inhabitants is crucial for example in the planning of local business and investments, as well as local land use and landscape. Therefore it is important that social capital, which forms the basis for endogenous activity, is enhanced, in order to support the sustainability and livelihood of the villages. The study is financed by the Ministry of agriculture and Thule institute (2006-2008).
Contact person: Toivo Muilu.

(2) Business services for rural bioenergy entrepreneurship in Finland: a network analysis approach

The number of Finnish farm enterprises is assumed to decrease from 70,000 to about 50,000 by the year 2013. This trend fosters the depopulation of rural areas and weakens the well-being there. New business opportunities are important in keeping up agricultural enterprises in business. High hopes have been put on the production and use of domestic bioenergy as one of the farm businesses. In here, govermental and other business services have an important role, but the Finnish business services are scattered in numerous organisations. This study plan aims at analysing business services in bioenergy investments and innovations on farms in the North Osthrobothnia region.
The research emphasis is put on local/regional (human)actors, who make final energy decisions. These decisions are understood as a result of interactions in complex socio-techno-economic networks, for which also comprehensive material and energy flow modelling is performed. Networking of bioenergy forerunners are compared to those of average farms. The results will help to develope future business services, increase bioenergy use, and bring in information about the factors and causalities behind bioenergy decisions. The study is financed by the Academy of Finland (2008-2010)
Contact persons: Toivo Muilu and Tuomo Pesola.

(3)Options of rural areas to adjust to the new EU-programming period

The research examines how sub-regions adjust to the new EU programming period that started in 2007. The new programming period will bring several changes what it comes to preparation and implementation of rural policy in different regional levels. The project will contribute to the better preparation and implementation of rural policy especially in sub-regional level. The general aim of the project is to reveal the most crucial changes affecting rural areas. One specific aim is to examine the challenges that sub-regions face when preparing and implementing rural programmes. Another specific aim is to give suggestions how to improve the process of rural policy as a whole. The case is Raahe sub-region in Northern Ostrobothnia, but the results of the research can be used in national rural policy. Participatory observation and action research are used as strategic methods. The main data will consists a tape-recorded work group meetings, where implementation of the sub-regional rural program is discussed. Also thematic interviews, newspaper articles and documents will be exploited.
Contact persons: Toivo Muilu and Pirjo Onkalo.

(4) Dynamics of regional structure

Dynamics of regional structure is nearly 20 years old umbrella research programme aiming to analyze different aspects of Finnish regional structures and different phenomenon of human actions on all regional levels. The research has been financed from several external sources.
Contact persons: Jarmo Rusanen and Toivo Muilu

Main publications

• Muilu, Toivo (2007). Rural Studies network of Finland - a national approach to networking rural expertise. In:  Voicilas, Dan Marius & Monica Tudor & Konrad Czapiewski (eds. 2007):  Values and challenges in designing the European rural structures – research network experiences.  5th volume of  European Rural Development Network, Romanian Academy, Institute of Agricultural Economics (in press).

• Muilu, Toivo & Pirjo Onkalo (2006). Challenges in preparation of regional rural policy programme for 2007-2013 - the case of Raahe sub-region, Finland. In:  Florianczyk, Zbigniew & Konrad Czapiewski (eds. 2006): Endogenous factors stimulating rural development, pp. 99-114. 4th volume of  European Rural Development Network, Institute of Agricultural and Food Economics, Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization, Polish Academy of  Sciences.

• Muilu, Toivo & Jarmo Rusanen (2004). Rural definitions and short-term dynamics in rural areas of Finland in 1989-1997. Environment and Planning A 36:8, 1499-1516.

• Muilu, Toivo & Alana Gilbert & Euan Phimister & Mark Shucksmith (2004). The changing rural context. In: Jentsch, Birgit & Mark Shucksmith (eds.). Young People in Rural Areas of Europe, 26-62. Ashgate, Great Britain.

• Muilu, Toivo & Jarmo Rusanen (2003). Rural young people in regional development - the case of Finland in 1970-2000. Journal of Rural Studies Vol 19 No 3, 295-307