The River Vantaa Gypsum Project, launched in 2018, has so far treated 3,200 hectares of fields in 70 farms with gypsum; this procedure mitigates erosion and nutrient runoff. The treatment comprises of 4 tonnes of gypsum being spread out to the field in the autumn, after harvest. The treatment’s impact on the quality of runoff waters is monitored with automatic measurements and water sample lab analyses.

Yara’s Maanparannuskipsi soil improvement agent is manufactured in Finland, and used to prevent erosion and nutrient runoff.  The gypsum is transported from Siilinjärvi, where it is produced as a phosphoric acid by-product. Together with various stakeholders, such as ProAgria, Hankkija, Movere and Uudenmaan Koneurakointi, ordering, transportation and spreading chains have been established for the gypsum materials.

Yara has now made the decision to donate all the materials used by the gypsum project in 2020.“We at Yara are delighted to be able to support John Nurminen Foundation’s excellent work in Baltic Sea protection by donating the gypsum for the River Vantaa project also this year”, says Timo Räsänen, Commercial Director at Yara Suomi.

With the project cost savings achieved with the donation, gypsum treatment can be expanded. ”Yara’s donation allows us to treat more hectares of fields with gypsum than was originally planned. We are happy to scale up the project, at the same time increasing its protective impact on the waterways”, says Marjukka Porvari, Director of the John Nurminen Foundation’s Clean Baltic Sea projects.

The Vantaanjoki Gypsum Project is implemented by the John Nurminen Foundation, the Water Protection Association of the River Vantaa and the Helsinki Region, the University of Helsinki, and the Finnish Environment Institute. The project is funded by the Foundation’s commercial supporters Euroclear and Yara, the Ministry of the Environment as part of the measures presented in Finland’s water and marine resource management plans, and through the Ministry’s Key Project, “Breakthrough to a circular economy and adoption of clean solutions”.

More information:

Marjukka Porvari
Director, Clean Baltic Sea projects
John Nurminen Foundation
Tel. +358 41 549 1535

Timo Räsänen
Commercial Director
Yara Suomi Oy
Tel. +358 50 337 4514

John Nurminen Foundation – Baltic Sea protection and marine culture
Founded in 1992, the purpose of the John Nurminen Foundation is to save the Baltic Sea and its heritage for future generations. The Foundation has been awarded for its work as a communicator of information and producer of marine content. The goal of the Foundation’s Clean Baltic Sea projects is to improve the condition of the Baltic Sea with tangible measures that will reduce the load and environmental risks directed towards the sea. The work is steered by measurable results and impact. www.johnnurmisensaatio.fi/en

Yara
Yara is a global supplier of mineral fertilizers, industrial chemicals, and environmental solutions. The company has 15,000 employees in 50 countries. Yara has more than 100 years of experience in plant nutrition. Yara’s factory in Finland produces research-based mineral fertilizers, tailored to the challenges of Finnish farmland. In Finland, we employ 900 people directly, and have a total employment impact of more than 4,000 people. www.yara.fi