The third Annual Meeting of the Climate Farm Demo project took place between 23–25 September 2025 in Finland, in the city of Seinäjoki. More than 90 partners from 27 countries attended the event, including farmers, advisors, researchers, and other key stakeholders connected to the project. The three-day event provided an opportunity for participants to share good practices, lessons learnt, and engage in knowledge exchange about the future of climate-smart agriculture.
The Climate Farm Demo project, which has been running for three years now (until 2029), aims to strengthen the capacity of European farmers to apply, demonstrate, and disseminate climate-smart agricultural practices. Through a network of 1,500 demonstration farms and advisors, the project works to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 35%, thereby contributing to the EU’s 2030 climate policy objectives. The project supports knowledge transfer and innovation and encourages farmers to adopt practices and methods that facilitate systemic transition, as well as to test appropriate reward schemes.
ÖMKi participates in the project as the Hungarian partner of its Living Lab network, with ÖMKi’s ’Soil building technologies’ Living Lab project with which it aims to co-design organic soil-improving, herbicide-free agricultural methods (reduced-till) together with farmers, advisors and machinery providers.
On the first and second days of the event, project partners gained insight into the operation of exemplary Finnish demonstration farms. Participants had the opportunity to visit two out of four farms, based on their preferences. Among them was Koskenojan Tila Oy, a modern dairy farm in Kurikka. With 350 ha of arable land and 370 animals, including 210 milking cows, the farm combines modern practices like robotic milking, precision farming, drought-resistant varieties, cover crops, and animal welfare measures such as barn cooling fans.
Participants also had the opportunity to visit Ala-Fossin Maatalousyhtymä, a modern family-run dairy and beef farm. With 372 ha of arable land, 570 dairy cows and 230 beef cattle, the farm also collaborates with Vacca Oy, which serves as an educational farm – together caring for nearly 800 animals. The farm is already taking steps to adapt to climate challenges such as drought, by installing cooling fans and showers for animal welfare, introducing drought-tolerant grass varieties, and diversifying crop rotations with winter and catch crops.
The third visit was to PP Farm Oy, an organic farm with 188 ha of arable land, the farm focuses on starch potatoes while maintaining a diverse rotation of barley, peas, rapeseed, grassland, and cover crops. This approach helps keep soils healthy, fertile, and resilient in the face of climate change.
As a fourth option, participants could visit Ala-Marttila Oy. This large, modern dairy and pig farm (700 ha, 170 cows + young cattle, 1,200 pigs) demonstrates climate-smart practices like biogas production, renewable energy, improved soil health, and crop diversification. In addition to the demonstration events, numerous workshops provided space for sharing experiences and good practices, as well as for joint reflection on the future among project partners.
In the coming period, special emphasis will be placed on strengthening cooperation between the Living Labs and other project actors, the wider adoption of climate-smart farming practices, more active involvement of farmers, and the dissemination of innovative solutions. The goal is to ensure that knowledge and experience reach a broad range of European agricultural stakeholders, thereby supporting the transition toward sustainable and climate-conscious agriculture.
Foto: Thomas Alföldi, FiBL
