Aggrator has received funding from the Akershus County Council for the main project «Better soil, cleaner fjord». The project aims to contribute to increased economic development based on new technologies in soil health, reduced runoff from agriculture, and circular value chains.
The project is a collaboration between Aggrator, NIBIO, Norwegian University of Life Sciences og Ard Innovation, and builds on a preliminary project carried out by Aggrator and NIBIO. The goal is to facilitate new developments based on research, as well as growth in existing companies that develop solutions for a more sustainable agriculture and a cleaner Oslofjord.
– This is an important project for us, because it connects strong research environments at Campus Ås with companies that can develop and commercialize solutions that the agriculture sector actually needs. If we are to succeed in improving soil health and reducing runoff, new knowledge must be translated into technology, new products, and new value chains, says Tone Blixøen, project manager
The project targets primarily companies and entrepreneurs that develop technology related to soil health, water quality and circular economy in agriculture. Throughout the project period, the actors will be brought closer together through research and innovation projects, workshops, knowledge seminars, idea competitions, and demo days aimed at farmers and other end users.
Leaving agriculture is an important challenge, both because nutrients and soil particles are washed out of the soil and because this contributes to poorer water quality in waterways and coastal areas. The project is therefore intended to help more farms develop and adopt solutions that can reduce nutrient losses, strengthen soil health, and contribute to improved conditions in the Oslo Fjord.
The project aims to contribute to new skilled jobs in Akershus, the establishment of new knowledge-based companies, and the development of circular value chains in the field of soil and fjord health. Additionally, the project aims to strengthen collaboration between the business sector, research, innovation environments, farmers, and authorities.
– Akershus has unique prerequisites for taking a leading role in this area. We have large agricultural areas, proximity to the Oslofjord, and some of Norway’s strongest academic communities in soil health, agriculture, and environmental technology all gathered at Campus Ås. This provides a very good starting point for developing solutions with both national and international relevance, says Blixøen.
The project will start in the autumn of 2026 and is scheduled to be completed by 2029.