This cooperation project involved rural advisory and research organisations, ProAgria Western Finland, and the Natural Resources Institute Finland (LUKE). The region’s berry growers were active partners, offering infrastructure for farm trials and sharing their expertise as farmers. Cooperation also took place with the Farmers’ Association, Hedelmän ja Marjanviljelijäin liitto ry, and local associations. Additionally, companies such as Novarbo Oy, Lallemand Finland Oy, Verdera, Eurofins, and KekkiläBVB were engaged. Cooperation extended to other regional and national projects, as well as educational institutions including Livia Vocational School, the University of Helsinki, Aalto University, and Häme University of Applied Sciences.

The project won an award as the most effective development project in the countryside gala of Southwest Finland for March 2023.

Combining research data, advisory support, and farmer experiences helped introduce new sustainable berry production methods. New information on the benefits of tunnel growing and the placement of tunnels in the landscape helped farmers to better plan tunnel designs, making it easier for locals to accept the appearance of the tunnels in the landscape.

EAFRD – funded projects

Programming period: 2014–2020 

Priority: P3 – Food chain and risk management 

Focus Area: Agri-food chain integration & quality 

Funding: Total budget 321 029 (EUR) 

• EAFRD 107 866 (EUR) 

• National/Regional 148 957 (EUR)

•  Private/own 64 206 (EUR) T

Timeframe: 01/09/2019 – 31/08/2023 

Project promoter: ProAgria Western Finland and the Natural Resources Institute of Finland (LUKE)