The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry steers the policy on sustainable use of natural resources. Legislative work is carried out as part of the Finnish Government and the EU institutions and decision-making.

Renewable natural resources derive from the renewal capacity of the nature itself. Among other things, they comprise all plants and animals. According to the principle of sustainable development, renewable natural resources must be used so that their value is preserved for the future: meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

The administrative sector of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry comprises agriculture and horticulture, rural development, forestry, veterinary services, control of foodstuffs of animal origin, fisheries, game and reindeer husbandry, use of water resources and land surveying.

The staff of the Ministry is about 350 and the whole administrative sector employs 5,100 persons. The budget of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry totals 2.7 billion euros.