Climate-smart food production on peat soils

Peat soils play an important role in food production, especially in the northern parts of Finland. At the same time, they account for over half of Finland's agricultural greenhouse gas emissions. In 2024, we published a roadmap for the climate-smart use of peatlands, outlining measures that could significantly reduce emissions from these areas.

The roadmap presents two alternative transition pathways to 2050: one emphasizing environmental objectives and the other focusing on maintaining production capacity. According to estimates, the environmentally focused pathway could reduce greenhouse gas emissions from Finland’s peat soils by more than 28%, equivalent to 2.2 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent (MtCO₂-eq). The production-oriented pathway could achieve a nearly 17% reduction, or 1.3 million tonnes, from 2022 to 2050.

The preliminary costs for emission reductions are estimated at €22–28 per tonne of CO₂ equivalent in the environmental pathway and €31–38 per tonne in the production-oriented pathway. These costs are a fraction of the price of EU emissions allowances in recent years.

Key measures for transitioning peatland use include rewetting and wetland creation, controlled drainage, perennial crops, and permanent grasslands or fallows. These actions effectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions and nutrient runoff into water bodies while promoting biodiversity. They are also relatively cost-effective compared to the benefits achieved.

According to researchers, the environmental pathway is achievable if farmers are better compensated for the environmental benefits they provide and for the costs associated with implementing the necessary changes.