Governments and ministers since 1917
On this page, you can browse information about the governments of Finland by name, term, number of days in office or Prime Minister’s political party and see whether the government was a majority, minority or caretaker government. Ministers can be organised by name, political party and total number of days as minister. Information is available for all governments of Finland since it gained independence.
![](https://valtioneuvosto.fi/documents/194055633/209272310/Sari-Essayah-O45A8889-yja.jpg/e3323926-0103-fee5-23af-e5513275ba0c?version=1.0&t=1708419677032&imagePreview=1)
Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Sari Essayah
Christian Democrats in Finland
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
The remit of the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry comprises food policy, food security, food safety and animal welfare, rural policy, commercial and recreational fishery, and hunting and game management. The Minister is also responsible for tasks related to spatial data, including land surveying.
Profile
Sari Essayah was born on 21 February 1967 in Haukivuori in South Savo and she grew up in Lapinlahti in North Savo.
She took her matriculation examination at Säkylä general upper secondary school in 1986 and completed her Master’s degree in Economics and Business Administration at the University of Vaasa, where she majored in accounting.
Her sporting career as a race walker stemmed from her childhood hobby of track and field sports. It peaked in 1993 when she won the world championship. Three years after ending her career as an athlete, Essayah joined the Christian Democrats and was elected to the Lapinlahti local council. She had already been a candidate in municipal elections after having completed her matriculation examination and had served in the municipal boards for youth and promotion of temperance.
Essayah was elected to Parliament in 2003 from the electoral district of Southwest Finland where she had moved with her family. She also chaired the Christian Democrats parliamentary group until 2007. During her years in Parliament, Essayah served as a member in the Grand Committee and Finance Committee. She also served as Christian Democrats’ Party Secretary in 2007–2009.
In 2009 Essayah was elected to the European Parliament, where she was a member of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs and Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs.
In spring 2015, Essayah again entered the Finnish Parliament. In the same year, she was also elected to chair the Christian Democrats.
Besides her duties in politics, Essayah has worked as senior accountant and auditor. She has also been active in various sports associations, including serving as a member of the International Olympic Committee since 2016.
Essayah is married to church social worker Roope Knapp. They have two adult daughters.
Personal details
Member of Parliament
Christian Democrats in Finland
Date and place of birth: 21.2.1967 Haukivuori
Domicile: Lapinlahti
Minister of Agriculture and Forestry 20.6.2023 -
Days in office 425
Previous ministerial duties
Further information
Ministeriöt eivät vastaa henkilökohtaisten sivustojen sisällöstä eivätkä ylläpidosta.
Ministerial duties
- Orpo - Minister of Agriculture and Forestry 20.6.2023 - (Christian Democrats in Finland)
State Secretaries
- Orpo - Nerg, Päivi 29.6.2023 -
Contact details
Secretary to the Minister
Ms Tiina Sahlberg-Kelly
Tel. +358 295 162 242
State Secretary
Ms Päivi Nerg
Tel. +358 40 8429810
Advisers
Ms Marjo Loponen
Tel. +358 50 3085411
Ms Iina Mattila
Tel. +358 50 4736221
Ms Sonja Falk
Tel. +358 50 9114546
Ms. Marjo Anttoora
Tel +358 50 5700334
Mr. Tapio Luoma-aho
Tel. +358 50 4727040
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
Hallituskatu 3 A, Helsinki
PO Box 30
FI-00023 Government, Finland
[email protected]
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry