Dia 1

1
Selenium Supplemented Fertilization in Finland
Reasons and Consequences Pentti Aspila MTT
Agrifood Research Finland
2
Foods and feeds naturally grown in Finland low in
Se - soils are naturally poor in Se -
availability of Se from soil to plants poor -
low soil pH and oxidation-reduction potential
3
Low feed Se results in Se deficiency diseases
Inorganic Se added in feeds since 1969 In human
diet only minor effect
4
In 1970s daily Se intake of Finnish population
30 µg In late 1970s studies in humans of
potential health effects of low Se intake
5
Excessive discussions in Finnish media of Se
need Low Se content in domestic food products -
speculations on healthiness of local
food Increase in sales of Se tablet and
preparations - Se intake unevenly distributed
among population
6
How convince Finnish population of - high
quality of Finnish food - to remove risks in the
public health Solution need to be comprehensive
and safe - whole population have sufficient Se
intake - no risks of overdosing
7
Options for Se supplementation to increase human
intake - inorganic - to animals - directly to
food - fertilizing - spraying - in fertilizers
8
Options to increase Se in animal products -
inorganic - organic, selenized yeast - Se
fertilized feeds
9

• Fortification of fertilizers used in food
  production chain
• chosen in 1984 as the most reliable mean
• Level of Se in fertilizers
• - 6 mg/kg in fertilizers for grasses
• 16 mg/kg for those formulated for cereal and
• horticultural crops

10
Se monitoring programme established In 1990
level of Se in all fertilizers adjusted to 6
mg/kg In 1998 Se level in fertilizers raised to
10 mg/kg
11
In products from organic farms Se content remains
low - regulations do not allow use of
fertilizers in organic farming