Organized for the fourth time, the Innovation Market once again brought together the latest innovations in agriculture and the fair attendees interested in them. Held as part of the Helsinki Agricultural Machinery Fair, this year’s event featured over 20 innovation projects and many organizations focused on advancing agricultural innovations.
The latest innovations in agriculture were comprehensively showcased at the Helsinki Agricultural Machinery Fair. At the Innovation Market, attendees could explore both promising project ideas on the verge of commercialization and fully developed products and services. The theme of innovation was also evident in the stage program and during expert-led walking tours.
The Innovation Market showcased over 20 innovation projects. This year, the European Innovation Partnership (EIP) projects developed with rural financing were highlighted at the fair, featuring ten Finnish EIP innovation projects. Notable innovations included an automatic UVC irradiation device designed to combat strawberry plant diseases, a VR learning environment, Datasato, and a model for integrating data from the Älysikala project. For the first time, the Innovation Market also included international project participants, featuring Estonian EIP projects such as Wisecow, AI&Robotics Estonia, BeefEST, Authentic Honey, and Grain Dryer Digitalisation, along with international Horisontti- projects.
On the market, visitors could also get acquainted with other innovative projects, and a large number of startup companies in this field could be found nearby. In addition, other innovation players in the sector, such as AgriHubi, the Baltic Sea Action Group, and the Hiilestä kiinni- an impact accelerator project, also were present. The Innovation Market gathered a record 26 different exhibitors this year.
“The feedback has been positive from both the companies and the exhibitors at the Innovation Market. Visitors expressed interest in the innovations presented, and valuable connections were made between farmers and developers at the fair. Additionally, international participants have reported satisfaction with their involvement, stating that they gained useful new contacts and increased visibility,” says Tuija Kallio, network coordinator at the Rural Network.
Data, energy solutions, climate insights and innovation successes
At the Innovation Market, international and Finnish experts demonstrated how data can enhance the profitability of farming companies. For instance, weather and soil information, along with water and energy optimization, aids in decision-making and marketing strategies. The Datalive panel also addressed the impact of the data economy and cyber threats facing agriculture. Panel presenters included Hannu Haapala from JAMK, Liisa Pesonen from Luke, and Timo Teinilä from HAMK. Additionally, one of the speakers at the Innovation Market was Alfiya Kayumova, the founder and CEO of the Latvian startup Green Growth, who provided farmers with valuable insights on crop monitoring.
The program also addressed themes related to farm energy, including renewable energy sources and the application of machine learning in grain drying. Furthermore, the discussion covered the role of field robots in agriculture, focusing on their autonomous capabilities and potential applications in Finland.
At the Innovation Market, insights from climate and environmental projects were presented, highlighting the importance of sustainable agriculture. Key factors for environmental protection and the efficient use of natural resources included smart irrigation methods, the benefits of circular economy initiatives, and the significance of bee pollination. The audience also learned about opportunities to participate in municipal carbon neutrality efforts, the overall sustainability of using curd moss, and the vital role of bee pollination.
As part of the program, FinAgEng – Maaseudun Teknologiayhdistys ry awarded prizes for the best theses from universities and universities of applied sciences in the field of Agrotechnology at the Innovation Market. The aim was to highlight the importance of membership in the development of the food chain and to inspire students to engage in technological research. This year, two theses from universities of applied sciences, completed in 2023, were awarded. The scholarships, worth five hundred euros each, are sponsored by Koneviesti.
Päivi Hänninen and Maija Kinnunen received a scholarship for their thesis from Jyväskylä University of Applied Sciences titled “Cybersecurity on Automatic Milking Farms: Cybersecurity as Part of the Farm’s Operating Culture.” Roope Svensk received a scholarship for his thesis from Savonia University of Applied Sciences, titled “Application for Non-Renewable Energy: Risks for the Green Transition of Farms.” In awarding the scholarships, the evaluation criteria included the relevance of the topics, their significance in Finland, novelty, quality, and the functionality of the learning materials. The awardees were invited to become members of FinAgEng and were granted a three-year exemption from membership fees.
The Agricultural Machinery Fair was held at the Helsinki Exhibition Center from October 17th to 19th, 2024. The event brought together Finnish agricultural and forestry producers, as well as enthusiasts of rural life, creating a unique opportunity for networking and collaboration. A total of 100 partners contributed to the program, attracting 18,768 visitors over the course of three days.
The Rural Network Unit organized the Innovation Market in collaboration with AgriHubi, Jyväskylä University of Applied Sciences’ BioBoosters business accelerator, and the Finnish Future Farm project.
AgriHubi’s website will later publish blog posts about the interviews conducted at Innovation Market.
You can find more information about the Maatalouskone fair at: https://maatalouskone.messukeskus.com/
You can find Metsa Mann’s YouTube video about the innovation project BIOSIVU – products from side streams of oil hemp for low-carbon construction on the website: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdRg52eyeaA
Upcoming events and webinars can be found on the Maaseutuverkosto and Agrihubi website: https://maaseutuverkosto.fi/verkostoidu/tapahtumat/
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