Strengthening security of supply, resilience and climate-smartness in cattle farming (Nero)

Nitrogen is the key nutrient influencing crop yields and land use efficiency. About 60–65% of nitrogen on Finnish farms comes from mineral fertilizers, which are made using hydrogen from fossil natural gas. While industrial nitrogen fertilizers are crucial for crop yields, especially in crises, it’s important to optimize their use, minimize waste, and reduce usage where possible. Livestock farms have more opportunities to reducing usage than other sectors.

The first goal of the "Strengthening security of supply, resilience and climate-smartness in cattle farming (Nero)" -project is to generate research data on topics that have the highest potential to develop the nitrogen cycle on cattle farms to achieve the objectives outlined above, thereby enhancing supply security and climate resilience. These themes include: 1A) developing nitrogen-fixing grass legume, such as red clover, cultivation practices, 1B) the use of red clover in cattle feeding, 1C) increasing red clover seed cultivation, 2) nitrogen and potassium fertilizer application of peat soils, 3A) risks of nitrogen and phosphorus leaching in livestock farm crop rotation, 3B) preventing ammonia volatilization through acidification of manure, and 3C) the mechanisms of nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions. When implemented, the cultivation guidelines and recommendations will also support strengthening climate resilience by securing yield (drought resistance of red clover and other grass legumes, peat soils) and reducing nitrogen losses and their negative environmental impacts as weather risks associated with climate change increase. Climate resilience and supply security will be enhanced by promoting the use of domestic nitrogen sources (grass legumes, livestock manure), which will reduce dependence on industrial nitrogen fertilizers.

The second goal is to create a nitrogen cycling model for livestock farms that accounts for crop farming efficiency, animal nutrition, and environmental impacts (greenhouse gases, nutrient leaching, ammonia volatilization) annually. This model will evaluate the impact of production decisions on the nitrogen cycle, identify cost-effective solutions, and build on existing models. Data from various projects will be used, and the models will be integrated to simulate the overall nitrogen cycle on Finnish livestock farms for the first time.The third main goal is to communicate the themes of the project through strong collaboration between research and advisory experts, involving agricultural educational institutions, business and government representatives, as well as farmers. The Finnish Meteorological Institute’s expertise in weather and climate will be integrated into the communication efforts. The research data will be made easily accessible and applicable to practice so that the information can be translated into action on farms. Research results will also be used in scientific publications, model development, and for administrative purposes.

The project supports the implementation plan of the North Savo Regional Program for 2025–2026 and the priorities of the North Savo Climate Roadmap, as well as EU environmental policies, the principles of sustainable development, and the Baltic Sea Region Strategy.

Nero-project will be implemented mainly in the North Savo region between 2026 and 2027. The main project will be carried out by the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), and the sub-projects will be implemented by Savonia University of Applied Sciences, the National Land Survey of Finland, ProAgria Eastern Finland, and the Finnish Meteorological Institute. The primary funding for the project comes from the European Union’s Structural Funds (ERDF, Uudistuva ja osaava Suomi 2021–2027, Regional Council of Pohjois-Savo). Additional funding is provided by Valio, Nautasuomi, HKFoods, Snellman Meat Processing, Boreal Plant Breeding, MTK North Savo and Olvi foundation.