The faculty’s DiAGRI project develops controlled cultivation facilities for research communities in the Uusimaa and Helsinki region, utilising sensor-based artificial intelligence and machine learning solutions. The facilities enable automated data collection on plant responses as well as the control of environmental parameters, advancing smart agriculture and the development of sustainable food production.
State-of-the-art climate control systems will be established on the University of Helsinki’s Viikki campus and on the Vantaa campus of Metropolia University of Applied Sciences. DiAGRI will also build collaboration networks to promote novel technologies and data-driven farming.
“DiAGRI combines advanced smart sensing, networking, and AI technologies with controlled environment agriculture, creating a unified R&D infrastructure across the University of Helsinki and Metropolia campuses. It enables both fundamental and applied research in plant, agricultural, food, and computer sciences, and supports the development of new crops, production systems, and innovations for sustainable urban farming. By connecting universities, indoor farm producers, technology companies, and public actors, DiAGRI contributes to the green and digital transition of Finnish society,” says Associate Professor Xiang Su from the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry and the Faculty of Science, University of Helsinki.
Altogether, the Research Council of Finland granted nearly €15 million to ten research infrastructures comprising a total of eighteen subprojects across Finland. The projects will launch on 1 January 2026 and will run for three years.