About the Living Lab
In Central Ostrobothnia, the Living Lab will study the impact of digitalisation in the bioeconomy sector, by involving different stakeholders of the Kokkola Industrial Park. The Living Lab will focus on the sustainable transition from an agricultural-based rural society to a smarter-based rural environment through digitalisation and the use of the social capital of the area.
Farms in in this region are mainly specialized in dairy farming due to the natural conditions, agricultural support system and the regional strategies. There are some small local processing facilities for the local milk, however, most of the local production is not consumed nor processed in the region.
The degree of digitalisation varies across sectors, while precision agriculture is rather rare (or even inexistent), the forestry sector presents a higher degree of digitalisation. The sector uses a range of automated harvesting machines and uses data collected digitally on ownership, growth, soil, etc.
Living Lab coordinator: University of Jyväskylä
Domain: Rural, Agriculture
Focal question
How can digital systems contribute to circular economy in Central Ostrobothnia by 2030?
Objectives
- Build up a group of relevant stakeholders for future debate about bioeconomy, circular economy, digitalisation and digital technology, in collaboration with the existing projects (for example on digitalisation of agriculture).
- Understand, highlight and explore the perceived challenges by different stakeholders of the digital and circular economy technologies.
- Develop scenarios for addressing the challenges of a sustainable transition from linear production model to the circular business model.
Main stakeholders
Local public authority: City of Kokkola, rural municipalities in Central Ostrobothnia
Business sector: Kase ltd, Kosek ltd, Kokkola Industrial Park (KIP)
Digital technology projects: AFarCloud, Agroteknoa Jokilaaksoihin
Farmers’ organisation: MTK (agricultural interest group which represents farmers, forest owners and rural businesses)
Research: Luke (natural resources Finland), GTK (Geological survey Finland)
Non-government organisations: LEADER Local Action Groups
Education institutions: Central University of Applied Sciences, KPEDU (Federation of Education in Central Ostrobothnia)
State authorities: ELY Center
Key documents
Policy brief: Bioeconomy and digitalisation in Finland
National Policy Analysis: Finland
Practice Abstract: Biovalley Finland – Circular economy