People

Professor

I got my MSc and Doctoral degree from the University of Helsinki, majoring in Crop Science. My interest towards crop production comes from my background as I grew up in farm which I now run. My doctoral thesis was related to exogenous glycinebetaine application and its role in plant stress tolerance. Since that I have been working with topics related to plant nutrition, cropping sequences, secondary metabolites and their utilization in plant production. Lately, my interest has mainly been forage maize cultivation, mixed cropping as well as glycinebetaine.

Pirjo's profile in the University of Helsinki research portal

Pirjo's Research Gate profile

University lecturer, adjunct professor

I am an Estonian who, while growing up in my grandparents' farm, grew more interested  in solutions increasing the sustainability of agriculture. After completing my BSc degree with distinction at Estonian University of Life Sciences, I started MSc studies here at University of Helsinki. 

My research interests include ways to improve nutrient recycling, soil fertility, organic farming and recycling fertilizers and biochars as ways to improve the sustainability of crop production. The main focus of my doctoral thesis was to study the effects of biochar use as a soil amendment on soil fertility, earthworms and cereal and legume yield formation in boreal soils. My postdoctoral research continued along these lines and currently my AgriChar research group is focused on exploring the mechanisms of the long-term effects of biochars in boreal soils, nutrient recycling from waterbodies and organic fertilizers.

I am involved also in two Estonian Innovation Cluster projects (together 1.6 M EUR)  that focus on novel ways to protect soils and fertilize crops in organic farming systems.  The HYKERRYS2 project that I lead focuses on developing best practices for using recycled fertilizer and soil amendment products. Most recently, together with Aalto University, we started also EIT C-KIC project CarbonLane where we develop concept designs and principles of urban carbon fixing parks and lanes.

 

AgriChar research group website

Priit's profile in the University of Helsinki research portal

Priit's Research Gate profile

University researcher

My research journey has taken me from Japan to the USA, Germany, and now Finland. I have always been fascinated by the question of why some plants grow faster than others, and I have explored this using various omics approaches. Currently, I am part of the GreeNTrans project, which focuses on reducing the use of synthetic nitrogen fertilizers. One of our key strategies involves utilizing legume plants to replace synthetic nitrogen with biologically fixed nitrogen. You can follow our progress through the webpage https://greentransproject.blogspot.com/. 

Hiro’s profile in the University of Helsinki research portal 

Hiro’s Reseach Gate profile.

Doctoral student

I am a horticulture scientist interested in primary production of horticultural crops, plant nutrition and crop quality. I have studied Agricultural Science in the University of Helsinki, and I received my MSc degree (2022) in plant production science majoring in horticultural crops. Currently, I study in the doctoral programme in Sustainable Use of Renewable Natural Resources (AGFOREE). In my PhD project, I study how root-applied osmolytes affects on lettuce physiology and commercial quality.

Jenni's profile in the University of Helsinki research portal

Jenni's Research Gate profile

Doctoral student

My interest towards agriculture and agronomy specifically relates to my background, since I come from a farm directed at crop production. In my PhD project I investigate how genotype, cutting and availability of nutrients affect the root growth and root activity of grass swards. I have received Bachelor's and Master's degree from the University of Helsinki majoring in Plant Production Biology. During my studies I have worked among research in several companies.

Kati's profile in the University of Helsinki research portal