Vaisala Joins AGCLIMATE Consortium to Drive Innovative Solutions for Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Agriculture

Vaisala Joins AGCLIMATE Consortium to Drive Innovative Solutions for Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Agriculture

(IN BRIEF) Vaisala has joined the AGCLIMATE project, a Finnish-led initiative aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural fields. The project, which brings together leading research institutions and companies, focuses on developing practical tools for the food industry to track and reduce emissions at the field level. Vaisala’s role includes the development of next-generation sensors to monitor carbon emissions, building on its 25 years of expertise in CO₂ measurement. The AGCLIMATE project will run from 2025 to 2027 and includes seven work packages focused on sustainable farming practices and climate-smart food production. The results will help improve the climate performance of food production while preparing companies for future carbon regulations.

(PRESS RELEASE) VANTAA, 19-May-2024 — /EuropaWire/ — Vaisala has taken a significant step forward in the fight against climate change by joining the AGCLIMATE project, a Finnish-led research consortium focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural lands. This initiative, spearheaded by the Finnish Meteorological Institute, brings together prominent research institutions and industry leaders to create innovative, science-driven solutions aimed at improving climate-friendly farming and food production.

The AGCLIMATE project aims to tackle agriculture’s considerable impact on food system emissions by developing practical tools for the food industry to measure and reduce emissions at the field level. The consortium’s primary goals are to develop climate-smart farming practices, build a real-time monitoring system for carbon and nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions, integrate emissions data into carbon footprint calculations, and enhance the market potential of low-emission food products.

“AGCLIMATE is all about turning scientific research into actionable solutions for everyday farming,” said Research Professor Jari Liski, Project Lead at the Finnish Meteorological Institute. “The key is making reliable data accessible for climate-friendly decision-making in the agricultural sector.”

Vaisala’s contribution to AGCLIMATE is grounded in its world-class expertise in carbon measurement technology. With over 25 years of experience in CO₂ monitoring, Vaisala is recognized globally for providing high-precision tools that enable effective climate action. “This project aligns perfectly with our goal of providing accurate measurement tools to help the food industry understand and reduce carbon emissions,” said Fernando Trolia Slamic, Head of Vaisala’s New Climate Business.

Vaisala’s involvement in the consortium will also see the development of next-generation sensing technologies for agricultural and environmental monitoring. “By testing our prototypes in challenging field environments and gaining feedback from leading research institutes, we can accelerate the development of our mid-cost, high-precision carbon dioxide probes,” said Hilkka Heiskari-Tuohiniemi, Head of Project Management Office of Vaisala’s New Climate Business.

The AGCLIMATE consortium is composed of several key partners, including the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), the University of Helsinki, Valio, Hankkija, Datasense, and Cense Analytics. These partners, alongside Vaisala, will work collaboratively to improve the climate performance of food production and help prepare for future carbon regulations and market standards.

The project, which runs from April 2025 to December 2027, spans three growing seasons and includes seven work packages focused on cultivation practices, life cycle analysis, monitoring systems, and international validation. A key feature of the project will be the Field Observatory system, which will provide real-time measurement data that will be openly accessible to stakeholders. AGCLIMATE is partially funded by Business Finland.

Project partners and roles: 

• The Finnish Meteorological Institute – Project lead; develops carbon and N₂O monitoring systems using field measurements, modeling, and satellite data
• Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke) – Focuses on life cycle analysis, research on N₂O reduction, soil carbon and root biomass measurement, and compiles best practices
• The University of Helsinki – Provides expertise on nitrogen-efficient farming and N₂O measurement through the Viikki research farm and SMEAR-Agri platform
• Valio – Connects field-level climate impacts with product-specific carbon footprints
• Hankkija – Focuses on climate-smart grass cultivation and forage optimization
• Datasense – Enhances its GHG Research Suite for integrated emissions research
• Cense Analytics – Develops and provides a comprehensive soil carbon measurement service.
• Vaisala – Develops next-generation sensors to improve carbon footprint monitoring and modelling

About Vaisala  

Vaisala is a global leader in measurement instruments and intelligence for climate action. We equip our customers with devices and data to improve resource efficiency, drive energy transition, and care for the safety and well-being of people and societies worldwide. With almost 90 years of innovation and expertise, we employ a team of close to 2,500 experts committed to taking every measure for the planet. Vaisala series A shares are listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki stock exchange.

www.vaisala.com

Media Contact:

Panu Heikkinen
Senior Communications Specialist, Vaisala
Tel. +358 40 559 4175
Email: panu.heikkinen@vaisala.com

SOURCE: Vaisala