Cooperation of farmers and local agrotechnology companies. Farmers network included in the development and testing process of agrotechnology machinery.
Cooperation of farmers and local agrotechnology companies: Agro Living Lab and eLiving Lab were EARDF projects where network of farmers was included in the development and testing process of agrotechnology machinery and digital solutions Cooperation benefits both parties and leads to better usability of new technologies.
The projects are targeted to improve user-centered design in agrotechnology and creating testing-network of end-users from food value chain in the region. It also gives the farmers an opportunity to tell about their thoughts and ideas about new machinery and digital solutions.
The projects cooperated with key agrotechnology industries in the area, and made pilot testings for machinery and digital solutions.
Model helps farmers to better understand new technology, and on the other hand, it helps the agrotechnology companies to design new technology easier for farmers to adapt.
Institutions involved are Into Seinäjoki Business Development, Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences, University of Helsinki: Ruralia-institute, University of Vaasa. Key stakeholders are local agrotechnology companies (Junkkari, Valtra, Suonentieto Oy) and local farmers (network of over 200 farmers), beneficiaries are other end-users.
Resources needed
EARDF funding, combined ca. 900 000€, for 3+2 years
Evidence of success
Developed solutions in production, better user-centred desing, existing network of farmers, model used in new projects and cooperation
Potential for learning or transfer
Developed solutions in production, existing network of farmers, model used in new projects and cooperation. Model helps farmers to better understand new technology, and on the other hand, it helps the agrotechnology companies to design new technology easier for farmers to adapt.
