Farmers' Communities of Practice
Peer and small groups of MAA-akatemia members and network partners bring together farmers who share aligned goals and ideas.
Each group has its own theme related to developing production or farm business operations.
Opportunities and Themes for Communities of Practice
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Practical questions. As farmers know, farms face a wide variety of questions to solve. Groups discuss challenges across the board, from small details to large strategies.
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Innovation and field trials. In the group, new practices can be tested, their effectiveness studied, or new on-farm services innovated.
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Support with work strain. Farming can be mentally and physically demanding. Dealing with uncertainties is often easiest among peers.
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Profitability. Through what diverse means can farm economics improve and operations become more efficient? In MAA-akatemia's toolkit and small groups, holistic regenerative farming methods take center stage.
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Community building. A professional community forms most naturally among like-minded practitioners.
What do you gain from a farmers' group?
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Peer learning and sharing. In a group, you can share experiences and hear how others solve similar challenges and problems.
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Expert support. Experts from MAA-akatemia and our partners actively participate in small-group activities. As a group member, you receive direct access to expert knowledge to develop your own farm.
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New perspectives. A forward-looking small group also serves as an incubator for new ideas. Everyone can take home the best ideas and newest thinking for their own operations.
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Impact. Through small groups, you have the opportunity to influence and advance industry practices.
How do groups operate and is participation subject to a fee?
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Each group has its own operating method and cost structure.
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Some peer groups operate purely on a voluntary basis and some are supported through projects or government grants.
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Check out our currently active groups and get in touch if you are interested.
Plant Nutrition Pilot Group
In the pilot group, members explore effective crop nutrition, SAP analyses, and foliar feeding through practical trials supported by advisors.
The 2026 group is fully booked. You can register on the waiting list for 2027.
The participation fee (2026) is €300 / year + VAT.
The fee includes three group meetings, expert assistance with test result interpretation, and 2–3 hours of farm-level advisory.
Contact persons: Andrei Girz and Kimmo Englund
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry supports the group's activities with a government grant.
Pasture-Raised Poultry Peer Group
In the pasture-raised poultry peer group, members share experiences on production development, novel ideas, and quality standards. The group connects in its own Google Chat group.
The group is preparing the establishment of a producer organization during 2026–2027.
Dedicated online sessions are arranged for new producers and those planning to start.
Participation in the group is free of charge. You can register by sending an email.
The Centre for Economic Development of Central Finland has supported producer organization preparation and supports activation through the Rural Fund.
Sustainable Value from the Field Data Pilot (KAP)
An innovation group of farmers, technology experts, and business developers explores how sustainability actions on the farm can best be monetized.
The group is building a framework where farmers own their data and decide who uses it and for what purposes.
You can read more about the activities and register for the group here. Participation in the group is free of charge.
Involved among others: MAA-akatemia, BSAG, and Gofore
Contact person: Antti Luomala
The Centre for Economic Development of Central Finland funds the pilot preparation
RELIEF Regenerative Living Community
Our partner, the farmer-led RELIEF community, provides a nationwide network for everyone interested in a regenerative lifestyle. At its core is regenerative farming and cultivating regenerative thinking as the foundation for regenerative action.
Central to this are regenerative decision-making and nature partnership, developed collaboratively. In RELIEF, regenerativity is seen as a multidimensional, balancing way of living that encompasses social, economic, ecological, and spiritual dimensions. The community's activities are co-created with its participants.
Everyone interested in the topic is warmly welcome to co-create a regenerative future together.
You can read more about the activities here.
Participation in the RELIEF community is free.
Contact persons: Soja Sädeharju and Sirkku Puumala
