How does HVO biodiesel work in Valtra tractors compared to fossil diesel? How can carbon sequestration in fields be increased? How could the sales network and farmers be trained better in the precision farming capabilities of tractors?
Iita Appelgren prepares a drone for flight in Tarvaala. Photo: Sanna Kuitunen
There are many big and practical questions in agriculture that demand more information. To address these questions, Valtra has joined the joint research project Finnish Future Farm together with local agricultural educational institutions JAMK University of Applied Sciences and POKE Vocational College, Neste, AGCO Power and other partners.
“The research project will last for around three years, and it has received funding of approximately 2.5 million euros from the EU’s Just Transition Fund,” says Jani Oksanen, who is heading the project at Valtra.
The project is already underway, and the first studies have begun.
“We now have four Work Packages. One of them, for example, is studying the differences between renewable Neste My and fossil diesel. Other Work Packages are developing training methods for precision farming features on tractors and promoting networking with start-up companies in the field. A small-scale test track for tractors is also being built at the Bioeconomy Campus in Tarvaala.”
The ultimate goal of the project is to promote environmentally friendly agriculture by commercially viable means. In addition to companies and educational institutions, farms and agricultural contractors are participating in the practical project.
