Åland holds a special place in Finnish agriculture. With its favorable climate and long tradition of cultivation, Åland’s vegetable and fruit production is an important part of Finland’s food supply. Particularly notable is apple cultivation, which has deep roots in the region and where Åland today accounts for more than 70% of the domestic apple harvest. Vegetable cultivation, often small-scale but high-quality, has also grown in importance – not least thanks to skilled growers and a sustainability-certified production according to IP standards.
In this context, Ålands Hushållningssällskap plays a central role. The organization, located at Ålands Landsbygdscentrum, was founded to support rural development and today has a broad range of activities aimed at Åland’s growers. Through advice, education, trial cultivation, and collaboration with other actors, it is a hub for sustainable and modern agriculture on Åland.
One area that has become increasingly important is plant protection and weather data. To meet high quality and sustainability requirements, especially within IP certification, growers need to act correctly – at the right time. Here, weather forecasts and disease warnings are crucial tools.
To further strengthen support for growers, Ålands Hushållningssällskap has chosen to invest in a network of modern weather stations, delivered by Mtech Digital Solutions Oy. The implementation has been led by Fredrik Svanberg, advisor at Ålands Hushållningssällskap, who has ensured an efficient establishment of the new weather stations.
The weather stations collect local weather data in real-time and are directly connected to digital decision support models, which help advisors and growers make informed decisions about combating diseases and pests. This means that treatment efforts can be optimized – both economically and environmentally.
“Access to local weather data and plant protection models has become a crucial component in our advice. Through collaboration with Mtech and the introduction of the new weather stations, we can give our growers better, more accurate recommendations – and contribute to both higher yields and reduced environmental impact.”
– Jenny Enbär, CEO, Ålands Hushållningssällskap
Looking ahead, there is a clear desire to further develop the collaboration. Opportunities are being discussed to integrate weather data into digital portals like WisuPro+, to eventually create an even more seamless user experience for growers and a platform for traceability. By connecting data, advice, and decision support in one system, the benefits increase further – and strengthen Åland as a leader in smart and sustainable food production .
With a focus on digitization and collaboration, Ålands Hushållningssällskap is well-equipped to meet future demands – and continue to support the growers who uphold Åland’s green heritage.