Artturi Ilmari Virtanen 15.1.1895 - 11.11.1973 was a Finnish chemist, professor and the first supervisor of the Academy of Finland. His most famous invention is the AIV fodder, for which he was awarded in 1945
Biochemistry researcher A. I. Virtanen is the most famous Finnish chemist of the 20th century. In order to improve the poor shelf life of butter and poor livestock feed, Virtanen invented AIV butter salt and AIV feed, the preservation method of which was based on the regulation of acidity. Both inventions had a direct practical effect: the use of AIV salt promoted Finnish butter exports and AIV feed promoted milk production. Virtanen's Nobel Prize in 1945 made Finnish science known abroad and encouraged spirits in the difficult post-war situation.
With AIV feed, Virtanen managed to bypass three problems associated with silage: harmful fermentations, protein degradation and cellular respiration. The starting point of the AIV feed research was to maintain the vitamin content of cow's milk all year round. The large difference in the quality of dairy products was perceived as a serious public health problem, and by developing fresh feed whose nutrients were preserved during storage, Virtanen and his research groups solved the problem of livestock winter feeding. AIV feed is based on lowering the acidity of fresh silage below pH 4, which slows down the action of bacteria and preserves the feed better. AIV butter salt and feed are economically significant inventions. The use of AIV salt promoted the export of Finnish butter and feed treated with AIV solution improved the quality and taste of milk. The patent for the solution was purchased in several countries.
International recognitions
Nobel Prize in Chemistry Member of the Leopoldina
1971 became a member of the German Order of Åpur le Merite.
1968 awarded with the US Atwater Prize
Member of the US National Academy of Sciences
Member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
Member of the Norwegian Academy of Sciences
Member of the Deutsche Akademie der Naturforscher Leopoldina
The bacterial species Acidipropionibacterium virtanenii is named after Virtanen
The minor planet 1449 Virtanen is named after A. I. Virtanen.
His name has also reached the Moon: Crater of Virtanen
A. I. Virtanen on a stamp published in 1980.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artturi_Ilmari_Virtanen
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