OatFrontiers: Exploring Northern Finland with stakeholders

The Oat Frontiers Study Tour, on 4th and 5th of August, brought together a vibrant international group of farmers, advisers, researchers, and industry stakeholders from Sweden, Norway, Ireland, and Finland. This unique gathering took place in Northern Ostrobothnia, Finland, where participants explored specifically Finnish pure oat farming and milling.

The tour featured insightful visits to two farms: Kauppi Farm in Tyrnävä and Nivala Farm in Raahe. At Kauppi Farm, located in Finland’s prime potato-growing region, participants learned about the farm’s crop rotation practices involving oats, potatoes, and peas (the photo above is from Kauppi fields, by Annaleena Ylhäinen). A local curiosity sparked interest—while cranes pose little threat to oat fields, they are a challenge for potato growers, as they peck at the tubers.

At Nivala Farm, participants gained a candid perspective on the realities of farming in northern latitudes. The visit included a tour of the farm’s organic pure oat fields and its newly installed grain dryer, showcasing innovation and resilience in northern agriculture.

The pure oat theme continued in Utajärvi, where the group visited 65 Oats mill, a strictly gluten-free pure oat mill. This stop highlighted the value-added potential of oats and the importance of maintaining purity throughout the production chain.

The tour also included a visit to the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke) at its 100-year-old research station in Ruukki, where participants learned about ongoing cereal research that supports the development of sustainable and high-quality oat production.

The Oat Frontiers Study Tour was more than just a journey—participants exchanged ideas, learned from one another, and had fun along the way! The tour demonstrated what it takes to build a successful oat value chain in the northern periphery—and proved that it’s entirely possible.