Sociologist and trained welfare professional with a broad working experience in Finnish social services since 1980ies. Expert member in the administration courts of Helsinki and Hämeenlinna in matters of child welfare, adoption and disability services. Visiting researcher in the National Institute for Health and Welfare, Finland, THL. Research interest include: practice research in social work, science and technology studies, sociocybernetics, implementation studies. Research and development collaboration in Europe, Asia and LAC region.

I have a special interest in the field of health sciences with a multifaceted expertise in the determinants of health and wellbeing in different social aspects, as well as health and social policies.

I am a research professor at Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke). I have a PhD in production economics and farm management and a title of Docent in Agricultural Economics at the University of Helsinki. My research mainly focuses on the following topics: economics of animal health and welfare; bio-economic modelling of animal production management, animal disease outbreaks and interventions to reduce different types of animal health disorders; adaptation of agriculture to climate change; food safety management; edible insects; competitiveness of animal-based supply chains. I have worked in several national and international projects such as EU-funded projects PROHEALTH, LEAP4FNNSA and ProIntensAfrica, NEAT Erasmus network, GroupHouseNet Cost action, and FoodAfrica research for development programme.

Projects

Improving Food Security in West and East Africa (FoodAfrica I & II)