{"id":2476,"date":"2026-10-19T07:45:33","date_gmt":"2026-10-19T07:45:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/szeda.eu\/?p=2476"},"modified":"2026-10-19T12:53:31","modified_gmt":"2026-10-19T12:53:31","slug":"agriexcel-finland-study-visit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/szeda.eu\/en\/2026\/10\/19\/agriexcel-finland-study-visit\/","title":{"rendered":"Lower Costs, Better Decisions: Finnish Lessons for More Competitive Farming"},"content":{"rendered":"

High production costs, volatile farm-gate prices and an increasingly difficult struggle to stay profitable. How can farmers remain competitive? In September, the SZ REDA \u2013 Stara Zagora team visited Central Finland to explore local experience with smart farming and ways to use resources more efficiently, make better decisions and produce more sustainably.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The visit was organised by Jamk University of Applied Sciences<\/strong> in Jyv\u00e4skyl\u00e4, Finland, as part of the international AgriExcel<\/a> project, in which SZ REDA \u2013 Stara Zagora is a partner alongside six other European regions. The project is funded by the Interreg Europe programme and aims to support the digital transformation of agriculture and the agri-food sector <\/strong>by exchanging good practices and improving regional policies to promote innovation, efficiency and competitiveness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Good Harvest Does Not Always Mean a Profit<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For many farmers, rising costs for fuel, fertilisers, crop protection products, machinery and maintenance, combined with unfavourable farm-gate prices, are putting the profitability of production at risk. We learned during the visit that these concerns affect farmers not only in Bulgaria, but across Europe. Labour is another key challenge everywhere. This is especially true in Finland, a vast, sparsely populated country where labour costs are high. This places significant constraints on farms and makes hiring workers almost unaffordable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this situation, the question is not simply how to produce more, but how to produce more efficiently, with lower costs and fewer losses, without compromising on quality or sustainability.<\/strong> Digitalisation is an essential step\u2014not an end in itself or necessarily an expensive upgrade, but a tool for better production management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Farmers in Finland face high production costs due to the country\u2019s high labour costs.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Sensors, Drones and Talking Tractors: How Technology Works in Practice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The visit focused on smart farming and the practical application of digital technologies. The programme included demonstrations at the Institute of Bioeconomy in Saarij\u00e4rvi<\/strong>, participation in the BioBoosters Demo Days<\/strong> event and a visit to HRV Farm<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Finnish hosts presented practical solutions that can support farm management:<\/p>\n\n\n\n