Agriculture

Across the Nordic-Baltic region, agriculture faces multiple threats from both a warming climate and unsustainable farming practices. Increasingly unpredictable growing seasons, drought, flooding, crop monocultures, intensive tillage and over-dependency on chemical fertilisers are contributing to declining soil health, nutrient and biodiversity loss and weaker yields. To address these interrelated challenges, Precilience is testing different approaches to soil management, crop diversification and water management, aiming to promote both ecosystem recovery and a more climate resilient sector. Explore the demonstrations below to see what we’re testing and where.

Soil Management

Lead partner: Estonian University of Life Sciences

Soil is a living system, and its health is essential for resilient ecosystems and long-term agricultural productivity. Across the Nordic-Baltic region, we’re testing how different tillage practices and soil improvers affect soil structure, yields, biodiversity, and fertility. Our aim is to identify region-specific solutions that restore and protect soil health in the face of climate and environmental pressures. Why not take a closer look at what we’re doing in each location?

  • Foulum Experimental Station: soil improvers

    This demonstration is studying the effect of liquid biochar to test its ability to quickly deliver nutrients to plants. Biochar studies were undertaken in Denmark in the past and we want to compare new and historical data.

  • Pärnumaa: soil improvers

    Nordkalk AtriGran, wood ash, and limestone ash are being tested on heavy clay soil to improve structure, water retention, and resistance to compaction.

    Pärnumaa: tillage

    This demonstration compares minimal vs. conventional tillage on heavy clay, focusing on soil properties and soil microbial diversity (pathogens & symbionts) .

    Viljandimaa: tillage

    This demonstration compares minimal vs. conventional tillage on fertile, organic soils, with a focus on soil properties and microbial diversity (pathogens and symbionts).

    Jõgevamaa: cover crops & tillage

    This location has some of the best soil in Estonia. This demonstration is testing direct seeding, minimal tillage & conventional ploughing with cover crops (sunflower, silage, maize, phacelia, common vetch).

  • Jokioinen: soil improvers

    This site is testing how different soil improvers from agrifood residues (fibre sludge, lime-stabilised pulp mill sludge, composted pulp mill sludge) affect soil pathogens, soil fertility, greenhouse gas emissions, nitrate and carbon.

    Lieto: soil improvers

    This site will apply pulp & paper mill sludge, structure lime and gypsum improvers and test how they affect soil properties, structure and pathogen presence. This site is near the river Savijoki and so the water quality is also going to be monitored downstream of the testing site.

  • Kjelle: tillage & cover crops

    Norway has recently introduced policies favouring spring ploughing. This site is testing four tillage approaches: autumn ploughing with spring cereal; autumn ploughing with autumn cereal; spring ploughing with spring cereal; spring cereal with autumn grown cover crops.

    Øsaker LT: tillage

    This site was established in 1975 and provides a long term view of different practices. This site will test autumn ploughing with stubble cultivation and spring harrowing and; spring harrowing without ploughing. Soil properties at various depths will be analysed.

    Øsaker: soil improvers & cover crops

    This location is known for its grain production. On this site, we are testing: spring-sown cover crops; autumn-sown cover crops; biochar and structure lime, looking at plant yield, disease occurrence, soil moisture, temperature and properties (carbon, nitrogen, pH, bulk density, aggregate stability).

Crop Diversification

Lead partner: Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke)

Long-term cereal monocultures, nutrient leaching and declining soil fertility are placing growing pressure on agricultural systems across the Nordic region. Crop diversification and cover crops offer promising solutions for improving soil structure, reducing nutrient losses and enhancing resilience to drought and flooding. Through trials in Finland, Norway and Sweden, Precilience is exploring region-specific strategies to support more sustainable and adaptive cropping systems.

  • Somero

    Luke will demonstrate the restorative potential of diversifying crops (e.g. grain legumes instead of imported soy) on a Somero farm. Results will be compared with parcel-level data (2016–2023) and the performance of the top 10% of farms in the region.

  • Østfold

    In Østfold, cover crops sown in both spring and autumn are being studied for their impact on soil water dynamics, crop performance, and overall soil health.

    Akershus

    This site focuses on how cover crops influence nutrient losses in both surface and subsurface runoff. Their effect on crop production is also being assessed.

    Trøndelag

    In Trøndelag, cover crops are being trialled under northern growing conditions to better understand their role in maintaining soil health and supporting resilient cropping systems.

  • Lilla Böslid

    At the Lilla Böslid experimental farm, cover crops are being tested using different mixtures and sowing methods (spring undersowing vs. August sowing). This approach aims to reduce nitrogen leaching, improve soil fertility, and build resilience against climate-driven nutrient losses.

    Borgeby

    Testing at Borgeby will explore flower fields or cereal plus cover crop combinations in 2025, with a vegetable crop being tested with or without tillage in 2026.

Water Management

Lead partner: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

Latest Updates

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  • Blog: Biotic Stress in Nordic Forests

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