Soil Processes for Sustainable Industry
Research-based solutions for ecosystem services maintained and provided by soil
We want to be pioneers together with the business community by combining the use of natural soil and various commercial growth media in different forms of land use. To achieve this goal, we study the biological processes and structures of soil. We are also developing digital solutions that help assess the impacts of measures on soil health, carbon sequestration and biodiversity conservation.
Our research groups focus on soil well-being and sustainable land use, where soil microbes and micro-organisms play a key role. Our goal is to develop solutions that support nutrient recycling, carbon sequestration and soil health, as well as help land users optimize their operations from the perspective of the environment and productivity. We want to be at the forefront of applied research and provide tools that enable agriculture and the food supply chain to transition to a more sustainable and efficient operating model.
Cooperation with the business community and research institutes is an essential part of our work. We support companies’ product development and offer data-based solutions for assessing and managing the climate impacts of farming. Due to increasing production requirements and stricter emission reduction targets, farms and food companies need new kinds of tools to achieve more sustainable production. For example, milk and grain production is moving towards carbon-neutral solutions, and this change is reflected throughout the production chain.
Digitalisation and the utilisation of data are in a key position. We develop measurement systems and digital platforms that can be used to monitor soil condition, carbon sequestration and the impact of farming on the environment. This information can be used to inform decision-making, improve resource efficiency, and develop new business models. For example, we are involved in building the Field Observatory, which provides real-time measurement data on soil changes.
Our research brings together experts from different fields, and long-term cooperation with the Finnish Meteorological Institute, the Baltic Sea Action Group and food industry companies ensures that the solutions we develop are practical and scalable. Our business partners are involved in developing digital interfaces and methods that help agricultural operators move towards more climate-friendly production.
Our research groups
Soil processes for sustainable industry focus area consists of two research groups that collaborate closely and support each other.
Our research group specializes in processing, analyzing, and utilizing data collected from bioeconomy-related processes. Our goal is to develop methods that help transform data into actionable insights to enhance production efficiency and promote positive climate and environmental impacts. We work particularly within the domain of climate-smart agriculture and forestry. In primary production, we apply data-driven and digital solutions in various monitoring and analysis applications. Recently, we have emphasized the role of digitalization in supporting decision-making and planning in primary production.
Our team brings together diverse expertise, including data collection methods, sensor technologies, data processing and analytics, as well as application and interface development. For several years, we have been developing the Field Observatory Service, a real-time tool for monitoring and analyzing carbon sequestration in cultivated fields. We have also contributed to multiple projects aimed at building mobile applications that support climate-smart farming practices for farmers. All our research activities are grounded in close collaboration with research institutes, companies, and international partners. Our projects also highlight co-creation with stakeholders in primary production, such as agricultural entrepreneurs.
This section is work in progress.
Our projects
CAgriLab – Consolidated virtual living lab platform for knowledge sharing and adaption in regenerative agriculture
We are establishing a consolidated virtual living lab platform in an international project to enhance knowledge exchange in agriculture. This will support collaboration and data sharing, helping farmers adopt and adapt regenerative practices to improve soil health and promote sustainable agriculture.
Digi4CSA – Digital Solutions to Foster Climate-smart Agricultural Transition
In the Digi4CSA project, funded by the Research Council of Finland, the goal is to build a digital solution for assessing and monitoring the environmental and economic impacts of climate-smart agriculture (CSA). The solution aids stakeholders in decision-making and tracking the results of CSA.
Digital CityCarbon 2.0 Kanta-Häme
In the Digital Urban Carbon 2.0 dual project, we explore what new and complementary data, as well as methodological recommendations, can be produced to support cities’ low-carbon efforts, specifically regarding the carbon sinks in built natural environments.
Enhancement of Soil Carbon Sequestration Through Agricultural Practices: Implications for Soil Biodiversity (HilletBio)
The project investigates how tillage practices affect soil microbes and soil fauna, as well as their diversity and activity. The research also explores changes in the relationships between harmful and beneficial microbes and soil fauna, and the impact of these changes on the soil’s aggregate and pore structure.
FUN-C
The goal of the project is to generate more knowledge and methods to predict how soil fungal communities and their chemical structure influence the amount of microbial carbon in forest soils and the accumulation of organic matter in forest ecosystems.
Microbial Activity on Commercial Growth Platforms (KAKAMI)
The project examines how different commercialized growth substrates affect microbial communities and their ecosystem services. It combines knowledge of soil ecology with the study of practical challenges in horticulture and green construction, highlighting the significance of the habitats provided by commercialized, clean growth substrates for microbes and other small organisms.
Processes in Agricultural Soil as a Basis for Focused Carbon Sequestration (Hiiletin)
The project supports the 2035 carbon neutrality goal by generating knowledge about methods that take soil properties into account to increase organic matter—and thereby carbon—in the soil, as well as to reduce carbon loss from the soil.
PUNURMIO – Development of automatic methods for grass biomass estimation, monitoring and prediction
We are developing a method in our national EIP project that allows farmers to automatically assess and predict grass biomass growth using their phone’s camera and local data. The goal is to improve grass yield, reduce the carbon footprint of agricultural products, and support climate-smart milk and meat production.
Smart Food Security – FoodSec
The project integrates knowledge of synthetic biology and cell-based agriculture methods to promote future food security. Cross-cutting themes in the project include digitized measurements and the analysis of measurement data collected from processes related to sustainable food security.
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