Excursions

There will be three excursions: Russia, Eco and Biotech

Russia-Excursion

Itenary 7 September 2001

6:30am 
Depart Savonlinna. Guide will join us at Tohmajärvi.

8:00am 
Niirala. Border formalities (9:00am Russian time). We have allowed 1-1.5 hours for customs due to the various nationalities in the group.

11:30am 
Visit Stora Enso stand marked for felling.

2:00pm 
Sortavala. Tour of city.

2:45pm 
Lunch at Volna restaurant.

4:30pm 
Haapalammen Sovhoosi and private farm.

6:30pm 
Värtsilä-Niirala border station (5:30pm Finnish time).

8:00pm 
Savonlinna.

Eco Excursion to Southern Savo

PROGRAMME

Tuesday 11 September 2001

1:00pm
Depart Savonlinna

2:00pm
Järvikylä Manor, Joroinen

Potted lettuce and potted herb greenhouse production, utilizing state-of-the-art technology. Järvikylä Manor is Finland’s largest producer of potted lettuce. The farm also produces sod. Järvikylä manor maintains 2,000 hectares of forest and has a long history.

3:30pm
Depart Järvikylä

4:30pm
Muumaa, Juva

The milking shed, co-owned and operated by three farms, is a production facility for organic milk housing over 100 dairy cows. Milk is delivered to the local organic dairy. A quality management system is currently under development.

6:00pm 
Depart Muumaa

7:00pm
Järvisydän Holiday Village, Rantasalmi

8:00am
Depart hotel

9:30am
Finnish forest tract, Anttola

Forest owner Pentti Jormanainen presents Finnish forest management, renewal and the forest certification system.

10:30am
Depart forest tract

10.45
Stellac Oy, Mikkeli

A wood processing company that has discontinued the use of poisonous impregnation agents and replaced them with a heat treatment process. Production capacity: approx. 100,000 m3 per annum; exports to Central Europe, among other regions.

11:30am
Depart Stellac

11:45am
Lunch at Kenkävero in Mikkeli

The former rectory has a demonstration garden, handicrafts and arts exhibition, and a gift shop. There will be time for shopping both before and after lunch.

1:30pm
Depart Kenkävero

2:00pm
Partala Agricultural Research Centre, Ecological Production, Juva

At the Research Centre, we will be introduced to ecological production methods and research being conducted in Finland, and visit the facility’s 26 hectare organic farm. MTT Agrifood Research Finland operations will also be presented.

4:00pm
Depart Partala

5:00pm
Arrive hotel in Savonlinna

Biotech excursion to Northern Savo

PROGRAMME  

Tuesday 11 September 2001

12:30pm
Depart Savonlinna  

2:00pm
Osuuskunta Maitomaa, Suonenjoki

Osuuskunta Maitomaa produces ‘night milk’, which is high in melatonin. Night milk is used in the treatment of sleep disorders and colicky children. The dairy cows are milked at night, so that the melatonin content of the milk is as high as possible.

3:30pm
Depart Osuuskunta Maitomaa  

4:00pm
Berry Know-How Centre, Suonenjoki

Coffee break

The municipality of Suonenjoki in Northern Savo is renowned for its strawberries, producing the majority of Finland’s strawberry crop. We will be visiting the Berry Know-How Centre, which researches strawberry cultivation and consults berry farmers. While in Suonenjoki, we will have the opportunity to sample freshly picked strawberries.

6:00pm
Depart Berry Know-How Centre

6:30pm
Elämysten ja ystävyyden kartano Oy (Mansion of Experiences and Friendship Ltd.), Rautalampi

At the Mansion of Experiences and Friendship, we will learn about the farmstay business, take a sauna in a traditional Finnish smoke sauna and enjoy an evening snack.

10:30pm
Depart Mansion of Experiences and Friendship

11:00pm
Arrival at the hotel in Kuopio

Wednesday 12 September 2001

8:30am
Depart hotel

9:00am
University of Kuopio, Institute of Applied Biotechnology, Kuopio

The University of Kuopio will present its research in Nutrition and Food Biotechnology. The level of biotechnical expertise at the University of Kuopio is among the world’s highest. The university is also involved in the cultivation of arctic berry varieties, such as the Arctic bramble.

University of Kuopio Rector, Matti Uusitupa, will welcome us to the facility, and Professor Sirpa Kärenlampi will present research being conducted in Nutrition and Food Biotechnology

10:00am
Depart University of Kuopio  

11:00am
Presentation of Finnish forest management in Siilinjärvi

Forestry industry corporation Stora Enso will present Finnish forest management practices and forest certification scheme. A Finnish-made forester machine will be working at the site. Then, we will grill sausages for a morning snack in the forest.

12:30pm
Depart forest site

1:00pm
Anna and Jussi Lappalainen farm, Siilinjärvi

At the Lappalainen farm, we will learn about embryo transfer techniques used in animal husbandry in Finland, which is among the world’s most advanced.  

2:00pm
Depart farm

2:30pm
Lunch in Puijo Tower, Kuopio

The rotating restaurant atop Puijo Tower will afford us breathtaking views over the forested lands of Northern Savo. Puijo is also a cross-country skiing and ski jumping centre, where World Cup events are held.

3:30pm
Depart for Savonlinna

5:00pm
Arrival at the hotel in Savonlinna