NANDO is tackling the complex challenges of excessive fertilization, which require innovative solutions. Developing sustainable agricultural practices and introducing eco-friendly alternatives to traditional nitrogen-based fertilizers are crucial steps. These solutions aim not only to reduce the environmental impact of fertilizers but also to promote the long-term health of ecosystems and communities.
NANDO invites you to create an innovative solution to address the issue of over-fertilization caused by excessive fertilizer use on European farms. Depending on the maturity of the idea, NANDO offers hackathon participants the opportunity to collaborate with businesses, launch a joint project, or conduct pilot testing to bring their idea to life.
What is the essence of the challenge?
NANDO is tackling a pressing issue in European agriculture—excessive fertilization, which poses a serious threat to both environmental and agricultural sustainability. The company develops and offers biostimulants, surfactants, and chemical products designed for use in crop cultivation, livestock farming, and various industrial sectors. By leveraging innovation, it integrates advancements in biotechnology, chemistry, and engineering.
Uncontrolled use of fertilizers, particularly nitrogen and phosphates, has led to numerous interconnected problems across the Baltic Sea region and the European Union. One of the most critical issues is water pollution. Excessive fertilization results in nutrient runoff into water bodies, contaminating them. This pollution triggers eutrophication, causing algal blooms that deplete oxygen levels in aquatic ecosystems. As a result, fish and other marine life suffer, and water quality deteriorates significantly.
We collaborate with:
JAMK – Jyväskylä University of Applied Sciences, which has extensive experience in organizing hackathons. BioBoosters by JAMK is a bioeconomy business accelerator aimed at fostering new enterprises and globally significant solutions to combat climate change within the international bioeconomy landscape. The accelerator’s main objectives include developing businesses in the bioeconomy sector, creating sustainable ventures driven by innovation, leveraging new technologies and digitalization, enhancing skills and knowledge, and building business networks and ecosystems.
The BioBoosters project network contributes to the Nando Hackathon by providing communication and marketing support. This network unites nine key bioeconomy innovation hubs across the Baltic Sea region, including Finland, Sweden, Germany, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland. As part of its mission, the BioBoosters project aims to organize a total of 18 hackathons to support bioeconomy businesses in achieving their sustainability goals. The project is co-funded by the Interreg BSR program and the European Regional Development Fund.
