Helsinki, Finland – 29 May 2026 – The CANMILK consortium gathered in Helsinki, Finland, from 27 to 29 May 2026 for its ninth project meeting and final in-person meeting. The event brought together project partners to review progress, visit the proof-of-concept unit, and align on priorities for the project’s final phase.
The meeting was hosted by project coordinator VTT at its Bioruukki site in Espoo, one of Europe’s largest open-access pilot facilities for scaling up technologies from laboratory to pilot scale. The meeting combined strategic discussions with technical exchanges and site visits, underlining the collaborative efforts that have driven the project forward.
Day 1: Research progress & visit to VTT laboratories
The first day focused on scientific and technical progress across key project areas, including plasma modelling and diagnostics, adsorbents and catalysts, and activated gas–surface interactions. Partners presented their latest results and engaged in discussions on system optimisation and integration.
A central highlight was the ongoing testing of the proof-of-concept unit at VTT. Partners reviewed different process parameters and system configurations to identify optimal operating conditions for methane mitigation and providing a solid basis for the final phase of research and optimisation. As the project nears its conclusion, the lead team at VTT presented an overview of key figures from the development of the PoC, underlining the scale of the consortium’s joint effort: 7 partners have contributed to the design process, supported by 42 researchers across experimental work, material preparation and dissemination activities. Over the course of the project, 15 dedicated design meetings ensured alignment and refinement of the system. In parallel, 58 experiments were conducted using the PoC unit, 2 plasma technologies were investigated, and 2 barn air monitoring campaigns were completed, generating valuable data for the evaluation of the developed solutions
Participants also visited VTT’s laboratories, including the PoC unit, providing a direct view of the technologies developed within the project. The day concluded with a consortium dinner in central Helsinki, fostering informal exchange among partners.
Day 2: Techno-economic assessment and exploitation
The second day of the meeting took place at the premises of project partner Valio, Finland’s largest dairy company. A guided tour of Valio’s research facilities offered valuable insights into industrial application contexts and end-user perspectives.
Following sessions focused on techno-economic assessment, as well as dissemination and exploitation activities. Partners examined the economic feasibility of the CANMILK system, with particular attention to energy demand and its implications for large-scale implementation. The discussions highlighted the importance of combining technical performance with economic viability to ensure practical applicability.
The meeting concluded with a shared understanding of the next steps for the project’s final phase, reinforcing the consortium’s commitment to delivering robust, scalable solutions for methane emission reduction in the dairy sector.
