Datatalouskasvattamo/ Dataeconomy Incubator

The Data Economy Incubator project aimed to promote the data economy in the Finnish agricultural sector by establishing a collaborative national competence hub. The project sought to strengthen the data capabilities of farmers, companies, research organisations, and other stakeholders, while accelerating the adoption of digital and innovative solutions in rural business activities. The initiative was driven by the fragmentation of data in the agricultural sector, which has limited the efficient use of data and hindered the creation of new business opportunities.

A key objective of the project was to support the transition from passive data production to active and strategic data utilisation. This requires not only technological solutions but also a change in operating practices, where data is recognised as a central business resource. The project developed practical tools, operating models, and experimental environments that enable stakeholders to learn how to manage, share, and utilise data securely, as well as to identify new value creation opportunities.

As a central measure, the project established the Datatalouskasvattamo.fi website, which provided target groups with information on data economy concepts, examples of data utilisation, and materials produced within the project. The website also functioned as a practical learning environment where users could explore the principles of data management and sharing. A specific tool developed was the data leakage test, which helps farmers assess their data-related agreements and identify potential risks.

Data Workshops and Co-creation

The project organised four workshops ('Data Workshops'), where participants deepened their understanding of data management, sharing, and utilisation. These workshops brought together farmers, companies, experts, and students, enabling the identification of key development needs and opportunities. The workshops emphasised the importance of data standardisation, data quality, cybersecurity, and clear rules of engagement. They also generated ideas for data-driven business models, such as analytics and data services, and highlighted the need for shared operating models that support data sharing and value creation across the entire value chain.

Business Cases and Concretising the Data Economy

The project collected and presented several business cases that illustrate the practical use of data in the agricultural and food value chain. These examples covered areas such as data spaces, traceability, analytics, drone technologies, and the development of data products. They demonstrated how data can be refined into services and solutions that create economic value, and how data utilisation can improve production planning, decision-making, and market positioning.

As part of the project, selected business models were also piloted and demonstrated in collaboration with the Tritom data intermediary service. Although the concrete results from the pilot phase are not yet fully available, these experiments improved understanding of practical data-sharing mechanisms as well as the functioning and prerequisites of data markets.

Communication, Interaction, and Stakeholder Engagement

The project invested significantly in communication, events, and stakeholder collaboration. Multi-channel communication campaigns reached a wide audience and increased awareness of the opportunities offered by the data economy in agriculture. Through events, fairs, and networking activities, the project enabled direct dialogue with stakeholders, gathered feedback, and strengthened collaboration networks.

A survey conducted among producer organisations showed that while data utilisation is already relatively active, data sharing remains limited. Key barriers include uncertainties related to trust, data governance, and rules of engagement, even though there is willingness to share data.

In addition, farmer interviews were conducted to gather feedback on the Datatalouskasvattamo.fi platform and insights into the potential of agricultural data spaces. The interviews revealed significant variation in interest and readiness for the data economy among stakeholders. At the same time, a large number of concrete development suggestions were collected, particularly concerning practicality, clarity, and the tangible benefits of data utilisation.

Impact and Future Outlook

The Data Economy Incubator project has increased awareness of the importance of the data economy, strengthened stakeholders' capabilities, and created new collaboration networks. It has brought the data economy closer to practical implementation by providing concrete examples, tools, and experimental environments that support data-driven business development.

In the future, the role of data in enhancing the competitiveness, sustainability, and innovation capacity of agriculture will continue to grow. The operating models, networks, and lessons developed during the project provide a strong foundation for further development. Key future actions include building trust, developing common rules and governance models, and further advancing practical tools and services to fully realise the opportunities of the data economy.