BalticReed
The objective of the BalticReed Project is to recycle nutrients from eutrophicated coastal waters of the Baltic Sea to land. At the same time, the project promotes the sustainable utilisation of reed biomass as a raw material for diverse purposes.
A thick reedbed binds significant amount of nutrients: a hectare of reedbed can contain 10 kg of phosphorus, 100 kg of nitrogen, and more than 2 tonnes of organic carbon. When the reeds are mowed and the reed biomass is utilised in e.g. growing media, soil improvement, or bedding materials, large amounts of nutrients are removed from the coastal waters. Thus, reed harvesting, when planned in synergy with nature conservation needs, provides a cost-effective measure for reducing nutrient reserves in Baltic Sea coastal ecosystems, and supports and supplements other ongoing activities aiming at improving the state of the Baltic Sea.
Results
The aim of the BalticReed project was to remove nutrients from eutrophicated coastal areas of the Baltic Sea by harvesting reed beds and promoting an ecologically sustainable reed value chain in order to bring new reed products to the market.
In total, the project operated at 24 harvesting sites, covering approximately 250 hectares of harvested reed beds. The activities were carried out with a total project budget of €3 million and involved a wide network of 103 cooperation partners, including local stakeholders, companies, authorities, researchers, and other organizations. In addition, the project supported the development of 14 new products, including applications in biocomposites, disposables, construction materials, and garden products.
BalticReed has been selected as a Strategic Project, recognizing its key role in showing the tangible impact of EU funding. The project has produced five key reports to increase the sustainable utilisation of reed. The project also organized Reed to Revenue – BalticReed Fair in January 2026 to highlight the importance of visibility and co-operation between all actors in the sector. Over 150 visitors, exhibitors and speakers attended.
Infographics
The project’s key findings and results presented as infographics.
Project video
The project also produced a video with two alternative endings illustrating reed harvesting, its ecological benefits, and the potential of reed as an environmentally friendly material.
Policy Recommendations for Industrial scale reed cutting
This policy recommendation presents legal solutions to enable industrialscale harvesting of reed in water areas. Well-planned harvesting can improve the biodiversity of coastal areas, help in nutrient removal, and provide sustainably produced raw material for the production economy.
Policy Recommendations for Industrial scale reed cutting (English)
Policy Recommendations for Industrial scale reed cutting (Finnish)
Policy Recommendations for Industrial scale reed cutting (Swedish)
Logistic guidelines
This guide provides practical instructions for planning and implementing the logistics of reed harvesting. The focus is on how harvesting, temporary storage, and transportation of reed can be organized efficiently and cost-effectively in reed bed sites that are typically characterized by limited road access, low load-bearing capacity, and seasonal variations in accessibility due to weather conditions.
Currently, reed is mainly harvested for nature conservation purposes, such as removing excess nutrients and restoring habitats. However, the growing interest in reed as a biomaterial is creating increasing demands for well-functioning logistics chains.
Ecological guidelines for sustainable reed harvesting
Before starting reed mowing or harvesting, it is essential to clearly define the main objectives for the harvest. These may include controlling reed growth, restoring or managing habitats, removing nutrients, and utilizing the reed biomass. Optimally, a single project can serve several of these purposes simultaneously. Clear objectives guide the key planning decisions: whether mowing a site is sensible, where and when it should take place, how it will be carried out, and how the harvested biomass will be used. Well-defined goals also support the best ecological outcomes.
Ecological guidelines for sustainable reed harvesting (English)
Ecological guidelines for sustainable reed harvesting (Finnish)
Ecological guidelines for sustainable reed harvesting (Swedish)
BalticReed Value chains report
This report has been developed within the EU Interreg Central Baltic project BalticReed, which aims to unlock the potential of reed as a sustainable resource for the Baltic Sea region. It presents a value-chain analysis mapping of current reedbased production in Finland, Åland, and Sweden, identifying key bottlenecks as well as opportunities for innovation and growth.
By examining existing operating conditions, market structures, and practical challenges, the report highlights concrete development needs and solutions to strengthen reed-based value chains — from harvest to product. It is designed for entrepreneurs, policymakers, researchers, and regional actors interested in advancing bio-based materials, circular economy, and coastal restoration in the Central Baltic area or elsewhere.
The value-chain findings and recommendations in this report are derived from project pilot results, stakeholder consultations, interviews, workshops, event discussions, and complementary research conducted by the project consortium. They represent the project’s collective interpretation and may not fully capture all regional variations or future developments.
Expected results
Although the project focuses on nutrient removal, recycling and sustainable use of reed, financial sustainability of reed-based value chains is also essential for achieving the long-term nutrient reduction targets.
By engaging companies, communities, and environmental authorities in the participating countries into the development of concrete pilot value-chains, BalticReed seeks to accelerate the utilization and further processing of the reed biomass; to boost harvesting entrepreneurship; and to build business models that allows us to utilize reedbeds sustainably and in a market-driven manner.
In addition to nutrient removal, harvesting of thick reedbeds helps to enhance biodiversity by restoring the valuable, endangered coastal biotopes like the seaside meadows, coastal wetlands and submerged habitats, that are deteriorated by eutrophication and reed overgrowth. Opening up the impenetrable reed thickets also adds to the recreational use options of the seashore.
Duration 01.05.2023 - 30.04.2026
Total budget
Programme priority
Improved environment and resource useProgramme objective
PO4 - Improved coastal and marine environmentLead partner
John Nurminen FoundationProject News
Project Events
Project Stories
Gallery
Managing Authority
Joint Secretariat
c/o Regional Council
of Southwest Finland
Visiting address: Linnankatu 52 B, Turku, Finland
Mailing address:
P.O. Box 273,
20101 Turku, Finland
E-mail: info@centralbaltic.eu
Phone: +358 40 550 8408
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