Peat-free food chain

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

The reduction of peat production will have a significant impact on the entire food chain in South Ostrobothnia. Peat is used as bedding material on livestock farms, especially for broilers, cattle and horses. Peat is also the most common growing medium in greenhouse production, so gardens also need new sustainable and domestic alternatives to peat. The project aims to find sustainable alternatives to peat, looking at their value chain and contributing to the development of a peat-free business ecosystem. The project will also investigate the feasibility of sustainable cultivation of plants in areas freed from peat production, for example as bedding, growing media or insulation materials for the construction industry.

The aim of the project is to create a peat-free food chain model for South Ostrobothnia. The project will test and evaluate the practical, economic and environmental effectiveness of different options and their applicability in local conditions.

The project is looking for peat-free:

* new and innovative materials of higher added value, for example for the construction industry

* substrate products for greenhouse production

* bedding materials for animal production.

The short term objective of the project is:

* To find new farming opportunities on former peatland sites.

* To find a single product with the desired properties for the above mentioned uses, or different mixtures with the desired properties.

* Promote market access through communication and stakeholder engagement.

ACTIVITIES

The project's measures are grouped under two themes:

1) innovations to replace peat, and

2) Promotion of business opportunities.

The other measures of the project support the measures of the above themes:

* Compilation of existing knowledge

* Development of wetland crop chains

* Peat and peat substitute potential / peat substitute innovation, testing and piloting

* Socio-economic aspects / promotion of business opportunities, analyses

* Environmental impact analysis

* Communication and dissemination

EXPECTED RESULTS

The short-term effects of the project include strengthening the business ecosystem and bringing new products to the market. The project will lead to a better knowledge of climate-friendly materials to replace peat at provincial and national level, and to the ‘Safe Food Chain’ model. The project's target groups will have comprehensive knowledge about new ways of producing bedding and growing media, new farming opportunities will be found in former peatland areas and the sustainable use of peatland will be promoted.

Long-term impacts include reduced peat use, reduced climate emissions, increased regional vitality and new business opportunities.

The results of the project will continue to be actively exploited after its completion. For example, farmers will be able to benefit from the experience and growing guides gained from the project, growing medium and litter businesses will be able to use the expertise gathered from the project for product development and marketing, and companies innovating new products will gain important information on product characteristics and impacts.

The project results will be integrated into ongoing research and practical work on peat substitutes. In addition, the project's recommendations will help to support the conditions for a peat-free food chain in policy-making.

PROJECT INFORMATION

Project duration: 1.1.2024-30.6.2026

Project partners:

Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences Ltd

Järviseudun Koulutuskuntayhtymä

Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke)

Funding:

Etelä-Pohjanmaan liitto / Just Transition Fund (JTF),

Etelä-Pohjanmaan korkeakoulusäätiö

and co-financing by the implementing partners.

Total budget: € 1 100 903

EU funding: € 880 722

Visit project's website at: https://projektit.seamk.fi/kestavat-ruokaratkaisut/turvevapaa-ruokaketju/