Ossi Paloneva is a self-taught top chef, food entrepreneur, and a pioneer in all-ecological cooking, with a strong focus on future ingredients and innovative food solutions. His work is deeply connected to Finland's nature and wild food. He's actively engaged with emerging trends such as plant-based cooking, insects, seasonal food, wild food and food waste. Operating in Food Tech, Activism, Media, Storytelling, Influencing and Product Development make Ossi a balanced multi-skilled player in versatile projects.

"Eating is the most political act an does in their daily life. Chefs, food companies, and top restaurants are the cultural leaders of food. A chef's care should not be limited to just the edges of a plate."

Ossi's extensive grassroots expertise in sustainable cooking, paired with his deep understanding of the entire food supply chain, enables him to lead impactful conversations on food culture and policy. As a speaker, Ossi seamlessly blends practical examples with food politics, offering concrete solutions, food innovations, and a clear vision for the future of eating.

"Food and eating have an impact not only on the nature - water systems and soil, but also on the tourism industry, national branding, public health, regional employment, and the vitality of Finland as a whole. It's essential to take this seriously. It's clear that Finland should currently focus on cultivating specialty crops, valuing natural resources, increasing added value, revisiting subsidy policies, and turning unique growing conditions into strengths—while not forgetting effective marketing and cross-sector cooperation."

Ossi's passion for Finnish food culture is reflected in his ability to bridge the gap between traditional culinary practices and cutting-edge food science. His focus today is on alcohol-free food and mastering the energetic impact of nutrition, operating at the intersection of high-tech, tradition, nature's wisdom, quantum physics, and holistic thinking. As a systems thinker, Ossi effortlessly transforms abstract concepts into tangible, delicious, and practical forms that resonate with audiences.

Ossi's career has spanned a diverse range of fields, from founding pop-up culture and food waste businesses to exploring seasonal produce, organic farming, food tourism, food technology, product development, and activism. He has represented Finnish food culture on both national and international stages, including in global media and high-profile events. His VILLD restaurant (closed in 2020) was Finland's only fully plant-based fine dining restaurant in the country's culinary history.

"Food as a platform is fascinating—it is broadly interconnected with the rest of society. It affects the national brand, regional vitality, cultural factors, and has relevance for employment and public health. In a changing world, generating authentic and enriching added value as close as possible to the original producer is the only way to maintain social sustainability in the food chain."

Ossi's strong public speaking background includes appearances at Suomi Areena, Parliament, international media platforms, and various workshops and projects. Whether discussing development projects or delivering inspiring keynotes, he is known for his ability to communicate complex ideas effectively and inspire action. If needed, Ossi can also curate and design food experiences tailored to complement any event, furthering his mission to create a more sustainable and enriching food culture.

As an inspiring communicator, Ossi continues to lead the conversation on food innovation, sustainability, and the broader societal impact of food.

Honest bio

I've seen little this and that, and done even more. Based on this, I'm strongly against creating global monocultures as the base of all food systems. The only way to grow is from the bottom upwards – into something meaningful. I'm rarely wrong, but often too early. Currently I see Alchemy as the easiest form of value creation in the food chain. In the nutrition related segment, the demand for products and services beholding deeper meaning than just the user surface is huge. I'm happy to put my know-how in action in order to advocate all healthy systems and positive growth. People deserve better.