As part of the Climate Farm Demo Annual Meeting in Finland, participants had the unique opportunity to visit Ala-Fossi Farm in Ilmajoki, South Ostrobothnia – a pioneering dairy enterprise that combines modern production with forward-thinking climate action. The demo event, hosted on September 23rd, welcomed over forty international guests who explored how innovative water management, farm energy efficiency, and animal welfare solutions are helping this Finnish farm adapt to changing climatic conditions.
A Modern Farm with a Climate Vision
Ala-Fossi Farm is a large, family-run operation managing 372 hectares of arable land and around 800 animals across two production units: Ala-Fossi, which includes both dairy and beef cattle, and Vacca Oy, which also serves as an educational farm. Employing nine people and supported by local contractors, the farm produces grass feed, wheat, and triticale for its livestock.
However, like many farms in northern Europe, Ala-Fossi has experienced firsthand the effects of climate change. Prolonged droughts have reduced crop yields and stressed animal productivity. These challenges motivated the farm to take concrete steps toward a more sustainable and resilient production system.
Climate Actions on Display
The demo event, structured around short thematic sessions, provided participants with a hands-on experience of climate-smart farming in practice. In a series of interactive 30-minute segments, participants learned about farm audit and Adaptation & Mitigation Plan (AMP), energy management and the Bovaer experiment – exploring strategies to reduce methane emissions and improve feed efficiency, water management and controlled drainage – presenting one of the farm’s flagship innovations, drainage and sub-irrigation demonstration – showcasing a practical model for improving soil moisture balance in varying weather conditions.
Innovation Beneath the Surface: Controlled Drainage and Cooling Systems
The star of the day was the farm’s controlled drainage system with sub-irrigation capability, a powerful example of how water management can enhance both yields and resilience. Using a control well model, the host farmer demonstrated how this system regulates water levels in the field, mitigating the effects of droughts and excessive rainfall alike.
Inside the barn, participants witnessed another innovation – automatic cooling showers installed to reduce heat stress in cows during warmer months. Together with cooling fans, this system has significantly improved animal welfare and productivity, demonstrating how relatively simple technological solutions can have far-reaching environmental benefits.
Looking Ahead: From Practice to Impact
The Ala-Fossi team continues to expand its climate plan with ambitious objectives – from improving soil fertility and diversifying crop rotations, to increasing energy efficiency and exploring the potential of a future biogas plant. Their results are already visible: according to the Cap’2er carbon counter, the farm achieves a carbon footprint of 0.84 kg CO₂e per litre of corrected milk, with 0.1 kg CO₂e sequestered per litre – a testament to the tangible progress of their mitigation actions.
The event concluded with a lively group reflection, where partners discussed lessons learned and how the Climate Farm Demo network can replicate such practices across Europe. Ala-Fossi Farm stood as a strong reminder that innovation on farms begins with farmers – and that sharing these practices is key to accelerating the transition toward a more climate-resilient European agriculture.
“It was inspiring to see how confidently the farmers explained their practices and the science behind them. You could feel their genuine commitment to innovation,”
said one participant during the closing reflection session.
