# Artturi Ilmari Virtanen

_Finnish chemist and professor (1895–1973)_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/artturi-ilmari-virtanen
Last updated: 2026-10-31

> Artturi Ilmari Virtanen (Finnish: [ˈɑrtːuri ˈilmɑri ˈʋirtɑnen] ; 15 January 1895 – 11 November 1973) was a Finnish chemist and recipient of the 1945 Nobel Prize in Chemistry "for his research and inventions in agricultural and nutrition chemistry, especially for his fodder preservation method".

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 15 January 1895 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q157239#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Helsinki ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q157239#P19))
- **Died:** 11 November 1973 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q157239#P570))
- **Place of death:** Helsinki ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q157239#P20))
- **Citizenship:** Finland; Grand Duchy of Finland ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q157239#P27))
- **Occupation:** chemist; biochemist; university teacher; inventor; agronomist ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q157239#P106))
- **Political party:** National Coalition Party ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q157239#P102))
- **Education:** University of Helsinki; Imperial Alexander University; Stockholm University; University of Zurich ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q157239#P69))
- **Positions held:** docent; professor ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q157239#P39))
- **Awards:** Pour le Mérite for Sciences and Arts order; Nobel Prize in Chemistry; Grand Cross of the Order of Merit for Agriculture; Grand Cross of the Order of the Lion of Finland; Commander of the Order of the White Rose of Finland; Memorial medal of the War of Liberation; Memorial medal of the Winter War; Memorial medal of the Continuation War; commander of the Order of the Dannebrog; doctor honoris causa from the University of Paris; Cross of Liberty, 2nd Class; honorary doctor of Royal Institute of Technology ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q157239#P166))

## About

He invented AIV silage which improved milk production and a method of preserving butter, the AIV salt, which led to increased Finnish butter exports.

## Questions

**When was Artturi Ilmari Virtanen born?**  
Artturi Ilmari Virtanen was born on 15 January 1895 in Helsinki.

**What positions has Artturi Ilmari Virtanen held?**  
Positions held by Artturi Ilmari Virtanen include: docent; professor.

**Where did Artturi Ilmari Virtanen study?**  
Artturi Ilmari Virtanen was educated at University of Helsinki, Imperial Alexander University, Stockholm University, University of Zurich.

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## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Artturi Ilmari Virtanen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artturi_Ilmari_Virtanen) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q157239](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q157239) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: A-I-Virtanen-portrait.jpg by Anonymous Unknown author (CC BY 4.0)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A-I-Virtanen-portrait.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Artturi Ilmari Virtanen, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: A-I-Virtanen-portrait.jpg — Anonymous Unknown author, CC BY 4.0.

## Cite this page

"Artturi Ilmari Virtanen". DigiNepal. Last updated 31 October 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/artturi-ilmari-virtanen. Retrieved 15 November 2026.