Development of New Peatland Farming Based Business in the Kymenlaakso Region (SuoLiike)

Project is an innovative initiative that responds to the need of Kymenlaakso’s peat production chains to find new business opportunities in the changing industry. The project focuses on identifying new, environmentally and commercially attractive plant species suitable for peatland cultivation, defining their commercially potential uses, from large biomass-based applications to high-value products such as bio stimulants, and generally developing peatland-based production activities and product ideas. In addition, the aim is to develop farming techniques and peatland-based production activities and product ideas towards more carbon-neutral business models. In cultivation experiments, the carbon economy is also studied with gas measurements and the possibilities and effectiveness of biochar.

The project will investigate:

Potential production sector, customer needs and markets for crops produced in decommissioned peat extraction areas
Suitable cultivation techniques, yield potential and quality requirements for food, biomass and bio stimulant processing
Operational legislation and references from abroad
Possible business concepts and prerequisites for profitability

Peatland farming on cutover peatland sites is still a relatively new and unexplored area in Finland. In addition to field trials, workshops will be organised in active cooperation with experts from different fields, peat entrepreneurs and farmers in Kymenlaakso as well as other stakeholders. The aim is to promote the renewal of the operations of existing companies in the peat production chain and business operations in line with a sustainable circular economy. The project supports the economic and ecological sustainability of Kymenlaakso’s livelihoods.

Project promoters

Kouvola Innovation (Kinno) is the main implementer of the project, and the project’s partners are Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke) and the Finnish Environmental Institute (SYKLI). Cooperation is also carried out with local landowners, peat entrepreneurs and other stakeholders.

The implementation period of the project is 1.3.2024–30.6.2026, and it is funded by the Regional Council of Kymenlaakso and the Just Transition Fund (JTF).