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F.I.N.E. – Farm Innovation for Nutrient Efficiency

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F.I.N.E.

Farm Innovation for Nutrient Efficiency

Project information

Project	F.I.N.E. – Farm Innovation for Nutrient Efficiency
Duration	1.7.2026 – 31.12.2028
Partners	Häme University of Applied Sciences HAMK, Jamk University of Applied Sciences, Invenire Market Intelligence Oy
Funders	European Innovation Partnership (EIP) European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) Funding granted by: Economic Development Centre of Southeast Finland
Budget	Funding granted by the Economic Development Centre: 387 059,40 € EU share of the funding: 166 435,54 €

In this international cooperation project, we study and promote sustainable nutrient use and circular economy practices in agriculture. The project will result in new products and services that improve nutrient recycling and nutrient use efficiency, support farmers’ decision-making, and more broadly benefit the food system and the environment.

Fertilisers have become an even more valuable production input, and farmers are looking for ways to optimise their use. As prices have increased, interest in other fertilisation options, such as manure and recycled fertilisers, has also grown. Farmers are considering fertilisation-related decisions more carefully than before, and there is a growing need to understand nutrient cycling and the chemical and ecological behaviour of nutrients in arable soil and on farms.

In the project, we study nutrient use efficiency and the potential for nutrient recycling in agriculture, as well as ways to improve nutrient use and recycling at farm level. We combine experimental measurements and develop digital environments and data management. The project also develops and tests a farmer’s toolkit that enables farmers to monitor the effectiveness of measures on their own farms and document their observations. Our aim is to support farmers’ work and thereby promote sustainable nutrient management and circular economy practices. We also build national and international networks and promote knowledge exchange.

The expected results include new products and services that improve nutrient recycling and nutrient use efficiency, support farmers’ decision-making, and more broadly benefit the food system and the environment.

Project page on Maaseutuverkosto.fi

Target group

The main target group of the project is farmers. In addition, the project will benefit advisory and education experts, other actors in the agricultural sector, and companies working with recycled fertilisers and agricultural technology.

The project will also produce new knowledge to support national decision-making and help move towards more targeted and comprehensive steering measures and support practices that promote nutrient management that is both environmentally sustainable and feasible from the farmer’s perspective.

Operating area

The project is part of an international initiative involving farmers as well as research and expert organizations from Finland and Latvia. We also collaborate and exchange knowledge with a partner project in Estonia.

Project objectives

The aim of the project is to promote sustainable nutrient management and circular economy practices in agriculture through the following sub-objectives:

Improve nutrient management and nutrient use efficiency
We produce scientific and practical knowledge on nutrient behaviour in soil and crop rotations to optimise fertilisation, reduce nutrient losses and improve resource efficiency at farm level.
Develop digital tools and data infrastructure
We test and pilot a data management system and a digital service for farmers that combines nutrient modelling, clear measurement methods that support farmers’ decision-making, and soil analyses.
Strengthen farmers’ competence and advisory services
We provide targeted guidance materials and decision-making frameworks to address competence gaps, especially in nutrient use efficiency and sustainable fertilisation practices and methods.
Validate and scale innovative solutions
We pilot and validate digital tools and measurement methods in real farm conditions, collect feedback from farmers, and prepare a roadmap for commercialisation and large-scale implementation.
Strengthen cooperation and dissemination of knowledge
We build international and national networks, organise annual events and study trips, and publish results in professional and scientific channels to support wider adoption and the CAP and national strategies.

Innovation group

The EIP innovation group includes organisations and primary producers that are relevant to the project and work with climate-friendly food production.

HAMK acts as the coordinator and main implementer of the project and its international cooperation. HAMK is a university of applied sciences focused on applied research and competence that renews working life. It operates on seven campuses. The potential of soil as a basis for sustainable livelihoods is an important part of HAMK’s research activities. Two closely collaborating research groups work in this area: Soil processes in a sustainable value chain and Digital solutions in bioeconomy.

JAMK’s Institute of Bioeconomy and its smart farming team provide the project with a strong, practice-oriented platform for developing soil research. The team has broad expertise, for example in sensor and drone technologies and precision agriculture solutions, laboratory services, and farm data management. This enables the use of modern, data-driven methods for assessing soil condition and long-term monitoring. The infrastructure of the Tarvaala research farm supports both piloting and company cooperation.

Invenire was established in 2003 and initially focused on producing market information and market understanding for companies in the biotechnology and food sectors. Work in market understanding created the basis for offering business and marketing strategies, product concept development and brand building mainly to international customers, especially in the fields of functional foods, dietary supplements and raw materials. Over the past 10 years, the focus of the company’s activities has shifted increasingly towards primary production, such as farming and fish farming, with a particular focus on promoting the transition to regenerative farming practices. Today, Invenire carries out both publicly funded projects and direct commercial assignments for its customers.

The project’s innovation group includes five arable farms from different parts of Finland. The farms cultivate a wide range of crops, from cereals to horse hay. Many of the farms have long paid special attention to soil condition and the environmental impacts of farming. The farm representatives provide the project with valuable expertise and take part in testing the methods and services developed in the project.

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