AGCLIMATE project develops solutions to measure and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural lands

Agriculture is responsible for a substantial share of greenhouse gas emissions in the food supply chain. AGCLIMATE aims to reduce these emissions by developing solutions to monitor the carbon balance and nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions at the field level and integrate the results into farm- and product-specific carbon footprint calculations. The project’s innovations support climate-smart farming, increase transparency, and open new export opportunities for Finnish companies.

“In AGCLIMATE, scientific results are turned into practical solutions for everyday farming. Reliable data becomes usable for climate-friendly business and decision-making,” says project leader, Research Professor Jari Liski from the Finnish Meteorological Institute.

AGCLIMATE has four main objectives:

• to develop climate-smart agricultural practices
• to build a monitoring system for carbon balance and N₂O emissions
• to integrate results into companies’ carbon footprint calculations
• to increase the export potential of climate-friendly products and services.

The project is led by the Finnish Meteorological Institute, with research partners Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke) and the University of Helsinki. Business partners with their own sub-projects include Valio, Hankkija, Vaisala, Datasense, and Cense Analytics. Atria, HKFoods and Lantmännen participate in the project steering group.

AGCLIMATE is the largest individual project within Valio’s Food 2.0 programme. The Food 2.0 initiative is a broad research, development and innovation programme aimed at making Finland’s food system more sustainable, profitable, and export-oriented.

The project supports Finnish companies in the climate transition

AGCLIMATE consists of seven work packages focusing on cultivation practices, monitoring systems, life cycle assessment, and international validation of results. The real-time Field Observatory system makes measurement results openly and transparently available to stakeholders. The project runs from April 2025 to December 2027 and spans three growing seasons.

AGCLIMATE improves the climate performance of Finland’s food system value chains and enhances export opportunities for companies. The results help domestic food, agriculture, and technology companies improve their climate impact assessments, meet market and regulatory requirements, and comply with certification and carbon market standards.

AGCLIMATE engages in broad international research collaboration and is linked to major EU projects and global research infrastructures. International partners serve as scientific references and strengthen the project’s global impact.

Project partners and roles:

• The Finnish Meteorological Institute leads the project and develops a system to estimate agricultural carbon balance and N₂O emissions using measurements, modelling, and satellite data.
• Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke) is responsible for life cycle analysis, research on reducing N₂O emissions, and measuring root biomass and soil carbon. Luke also compiles climate-smart practices.
• The University of Helsinki contributes expertise in nitrogen-efficient farming and N₂O measurements via the Viikki research farm and the SMEAR-Agri platform.
• Valio links the field-specific climate impacts to product-specific carbon footprints.
• Hankkija focuses on carbon-smart grass cultivation and forage usage optimization.
• Vaisala develops next-generation CO₂ sensors for carbon footprint monitoring.
• Datasense develops its GHG Research Suite for integrated greenhouse gas research.
• Cense Analytics develops and provides comprehensive soil carbon measurement service.