Research projects

FORI promotes research projects with different organizations. Our main fields of research are organic primary production, organic production and the environment, organic food and nutrition and organics in society and on the market.

The institute conducts research to produce information about organics for the business sector, consumers and society. FORI promotes organic food production and consumption throughout the Finnish food chain through research, education and development projects.

FORI coordinates the Research Programme for Organic Food and Farming in Finland 2021-2024.

All Research Projects

Organic primary production

Ongoing projects

Diversifying organic crop production to increase resilience (DIVERSILIENCE) (Luke, University of Helsinki) 2021-2024

IPM – productivity and responsibility in food production (Itua ja vastetta) (Luke) 2022-2025

Improving yield stability and climate sustainability of organic farming by mixed cropping and autumn sown protein crops (LuoVaMix) (Luke and University of Helsinki)

Network – Sustain Nordic soil health (NetSH) (Luke and University of Helsinki) 2021-2023

Sustainable intensification of food production through resilient farming systems in West & North Africa (SustInAfrica) (Luke) 2020-2025

Poultry and Pig Low-input and Organic production systems Welfare (PPILOW) (Luke) 2019-2024

Optimising bio-based fertilisers in agriculture – Providing a knowledge basis for new policies (Lex4Bio) (Luke) 2019-2023

Weed survey in spring cereal fields 2020-2022 (Luke) 2020-2023

Soil biodiversity enhancement in European agroecosystems to promote their stability and resilience by external inputs reduction and crop performance increase (SoildiverAgro) (Luke) 2019-2023

Organic 2.0 – Regenerative methods in organic farming (University of Helsinki) 2020-2022

Sustainable soil management and carbon farming through extensive use of research findings and advisor practices (SOILADVICE) (University of Helsinki) 2019-2022

Northern organic production – demos and networks (POLVE) (Luke) 2019-2022

More know-how to the organic vegetable production by education (KOULU) (Luke) 2019-2022

Crop diversification and low-input farming across Europe: from practitioners’ engagement and ecosystems services to increased revenues and value chain organisation (Diverfarming) (Luke) 2017-2022

Completed projects

The future sustainable forage options (University of Helsinki) 2019-2022

Applying and combining disturbance and competition for an agro-ecological management of creeping perennial weeds (Luke) 2019-2022

Good Yield Recycling Fertilizer 3 (University of Helsinki) 2021-2021

Enhancing biodiversity in Finland through cattle grazing: a social-ecological inquiry (University of Helsinki) 2020-2021

New diversified cropping systems for vegetables (SUREVEG) (Luke) 2018-2021

Improved Fusarium management with new biocontrol concepts (BIOTEHO) (Luke) 2018-2021

Strengthening the comprehensive competitiveness of Finnish animal production (University of Helsinki) 2018-2020

Plant nutrition and plant health management strategies in strip-cropping systems of vegetables utilizing waste derived soil-improvers and fertilizers – (FERDISVEG)(Luke) 2018-2020

Endomycorrhizas: Optimization Toolbox (AMFTOOLBOX) (Luke) 2018-2019

Competitive ability for crop farms (KIPAKKA) (University of Helsinki) 2015-2019

Knowhow and tools for resource-efficient soil health management in a collaborative network (University of Helsinki) 2015-2019

Sustainable Organic and Low-Input Dairying (FORI) 2011-2016

Chemical Composition of Birch Wood Slow Pyrolysis Products (FORI) 2008-2016

Improved Contribution of Local Feed to Support 100% Organic Feed Supply to Pigs and Poultry (ICOPP) (FORI) 2011-2014

Organics in society and on the market

Ongoing projects

Towards Sustainable Tourism in South Ostrobotnia (University of Helsinki) 2020-2022

Optimising bio-based fertilisers in agriculture – Providing a knowledge basis for new policies (LEX4BIO) (Luke) 2019-2024

Developing customer orientation in short supply chains (ASKEL) (University of Helsinki) 2019-2022

Sustainability, competitiveness and appreciation for agriculture by community supported agriculture (KUMAKKA) (University of Helsinki) 2019-2022

Participatory Pathways to Sustainable Intensification. Innovation platforms to integrate leguminous crops and inoculants into small-scale agriculture and local value chains (LEAP-Agri project) (University of Helsinki) 2018-2022

Pakuri (Inonotus obliquus) and the mushroom specialties in the forests (University of Helsinki) 2017-2022

Completed projects

Eco-Inndusrial Symbioses for Food Production Chain – Feasibility for South-Savo (ETES) University of Helsinki) 2020-2021

Eco-innovation and business potential of circular economy in South Ostrobothnia (University of Helsinki) 2019-2021

Understanding and improving the sustainability of agroecological farming systems in the EU (UNISECO) (Luke) 2018-2021

Enhancing the competitiveness of Finnish organic production in the changing policy environment (ECOMOPPE) (Luke) 2018-2020

Benefiting the added value of organic in tourism business of Etelä-Savo (University of Helsinki, Luke) 2017-2020

AES-Network (University of Helsinki, Luke) 2017-2020

Enabling the potentials of green growth: Stigmatization/destigmatization dynamics in green business development (ELPIS) (University of Helsinki) 2016-2020

Towards responsible tourism (University of Helsinki) 2017-2019

Cereal renaissance in rural Europe: embedding diversity in organic and low-input food systems (CERERE) (University of Helsinki) 2016-2019

Healthy growth: From niche to volume with integrity and trust (Luke) 2013-2016

Mainstreaming green economy – legitimation of organic production and consumption (MainGreen) (University of Helsinki) 2012-2016

Finnish Organic Reseach Institute (FORI) goes to the grassroots 2013-2015

Elaboration of the best practice models of the knowledge transfer from science to practice in the organic farming sector (LOVEt II) (FORI) 2012-2014

SUSFOOD ERA-net – Sustainable Food (FORI)

Organic production and the environment

Ongoing projects

Cultured meat in post-animal bioeconomy – changing relationships between humans and farmed animals (University of Helsinki) 2019-2023

Transforming agriculture with agroecological symbiosis combined with cellular agriculture – Environmental impacts and perceptions of farmers and consumers (University of Helsinki) 2018-2023

Stacking of ecosystem services: mechanisms and interactions for optimal crop protection, pollination enhancement, and productivity (EcoStack) (Luke) 2018-2023

Environmentally Friendly Smart Organic Agriculture (EFSOA) (Luke) 2020-2022

Assessing the potential of novel food production technologies to improve the environmental sustainability of food systems (University of Helsinki) 2019-2022

Eating and Energy Use Reconfigured? Disruptions and Novel Transition Pathways in Food and Energy Systems (University of Helsinki) 2018-2022

Completed projects

Tools for assessing environmental sustainability of organic cropping systems and products (Luke ) 2020-2021

Mapping, management and resilience of ecosystem services for food security and response to climate change in Ethiopia (SOILMAN) (Luke) 2013-2016

Transition towards sustainable nutrient economy (Luke) 2012-2015

Bioavailability of phosphorus in sewage sludges (Luke) 2011-2015

Adaptation of the food sector and socio-economic impacts of climate change in North-East Europe (Luke) 2012-2014

Assessing limits of adaptation to climate change and opportunities for resilience to be enhanced (Luke) 2011-2014

Expert network

FORI’s expert network consists of more than 190 experts from the University of Helsinki and the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke). In case you work or study at the University of Helsinki or at Luke and would like to be part of our network, please contact our coordination team using the form behind the link below.

FORI’s expert network