Finland is often described as a global benchmark for well-being. It consistently tops the World Happiness Report, leads the World Press Freedom Index, and performs strongly in international democracy rankings. It is therefore no surprise that Finland also scores highly when it comes to sustainable development.
Yet behind these impressive results lies a more complex reality. While Finland enjoys clean air and reliable public services, pressure on the environmental is high.
Carbon sinks – ecosystems that absorb more carbon from the atmosphere than they release – have stagnated, and waste generation remains considerable.
Change, however, is already under way. Finnish public and private bodies have taken active steps towards the sustainability transition.
The European Union supports this shift through targeted funding that helps convert former peat extraction areas into clean-energy sites, co-create climate solutions with farmers and foresters, and develop alternative protein sources for aquaculture.
Honkisaarenneva PV Solar Park – clean energy from restored land
The Honkisaarenneva photovoltaic solar park demonstrates how renewable energy can be developed in challenging environments. Located on a former peat extraction site in Kuortane, the project will install 33 megawatts peak solar power plant using modern photovoltaic technology. To put it into perspective, this means powering more than 1,500 electrically heated houses every year.
By repurposing a peat bog for clean energy generation, the project contributes to lower carbon emissions and demonstrates the potential of solar power in northern regions. It also shows how previously exploited land can be transformed into a long-term renewable energy asset.
The project, coordinated by Honkisaarenneva Solarpark Oy, benefits from €4.13 million in support from the European Union’s Renewable Energy Financing Mechanism (RENEWFM).
Strengthening climate resilience in Boreal agriculture and forestry
Representing 27% of all forests worldwide, boreal forests are the planet’s "second lung" after tropical forests. However, climate change affects Boreal regions more rapidly than most parts of the world, with temperatures rising three times faster than the global average.
Farmers, foresters, landowners and local authorities must adapt quickly to protect harvests, forest health and rural livelihoods. The Precilience project, funded with almost €10 million under Horizon Europe within the EU Mission for Adaptation to Climate Change, addresses this challenge by helping local actors test and apply practical solutions for climate resilience.
Precilience brings together collaborative teams from northern Europe to co-develop practical solutions with eight themed demonstrations in Finland, Denmark, Estonia, Norway and Sweden. These include diversified crop production, sustainable water management, soil improvement, assessing vulnerable forest types and improving forest regeneration in drought-prone areas.
One demonstration site is in Jokioinen, a city in southern Finland, where partners are testing different soil improvers from agrifood residues (fibre and pulp mill sludge). The scope is to check how these affect soil pathogens and fertility, greenhouse gas emissions, nitrate and carbon.
Another demonstration is in the Kymenlaakso region, also in southern Finland. Here, researchers will assess the causes and consequences of a bark beetle infestation, which can cause severe damages to forests. Knowing this will help foresters make more informed decisions about forest regeneration.
Sustainable alternative to soy protein for aquaculture feed
Aquaculture is one of the world’s fastest-growing food sectors, and the demand for aquafeed continues to rise. Today, most protein in aquafeeds comes from fish by-catches or imported soy, both of which carry major environmental impacts. The AquaPekilo project, coordinated by eniferBio Oy and funded under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF), aims to offer a more sustainable alternative.
With €1.17 million in EU contribution, the project helped bring to market PEKILO®Aqua, a protein produced from agriculture and forest industry by-products. This fungi-based protein can replace soy protein concentrate while remaining cost-competitive. It is also locally produced in Kantvik, Finland.
The project builds on a bioprocess previously validated at industrial scale, reducing risk as production expands.
Joosu Kuivanen, Chief Innovation Officer at EniferBio Oy, highlighted:
"In 2021, the EU funding we received roughly doubled the company’s financial resources. This unlocked the first production scale-ups and the possibility to test the product with leading aquafeed manufacturers. The funding also boosted significantly the company’s credibility among various stakeholders – not least investors".
The company explained they are currently working on trials for shrimps, after having successfully proved that the protein is suitable for carnivorous fish, boosting their growth and health.
By creating a new value chain for aquafeed, the project supported sustainable aquaculture, improved the use of residual products and reduced Europe’s reliance on imported protein.
Conclusion
Across Finland, EU-funded projects are helping to restore land, strengthen climate resilience and support more responsible food systems. These initiatives demonstrate the added value of European funding and research.
By investing in innovation and practical solutions, the EU helps communities adapt to environmental change, diversify local economies and build more sustainable value chains — ensuring benefits for citizens, businesses and future generations.
These examples show how the EU programmes managed by the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) translate European ambition into concrete results and impact.
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Details
- Publication date
- 15 January 2026
- Author
- European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency