Sustainable Cultivation of Truffles in Rural Regions of Finland

Summary

Truffles are rarely found in Finland, in spite of recent breakthroughs. In 2006, we initiated an effort to explore the possibility, and feasibility of truffle cultivation in Finland. This effort started by establishing the first truffle orchard in Juva. By 2016, we planted roughly 10 000 tree seedlings in 33 orchards. The results of our work indicated that even a boreal Finnish area is suitable for the sustainable organic production of truffles, and it appears that Tuber aestivum is a promising truffle species for future truffle orchards in northern conditions. Our results also show that restrictions caused by the Finnish winter climate and low soil temperatures can be overcome with proper soil and winter protection management. In conclusion, the selection of proper tree species and provenances is needed to obtain positive results from cultivating truffles in Finland as a future, sustainable and organic crop for the benefit of rural Finnish areas economic and activity.