The many faces of nettles
If the cooperative spirit of nettles can be trusted, Samica Sadik will be submitting her doctoral thesis for pre-examination in the spring of 2026. It talks a great deal about nettles.
“Everyone has a story about nettles, and everyone knows the plant. But nettles have always been used in the same way, even though the plant could serve many more purposes. I’ve been on this path for a long time. Back in my bachelor’s studies in agricultural economics, I became interested in the potential of nettle fibre.”
Sadik is especially fascinated by nettles because of their versatility and perennial nature. The plant combines production and circularity, making large-scale cultivation possible.
“Through nettles, you can examine a wide range of fields. Industry, food, and even societal questions about food production and global growth can all connect back to nettles.”
Sadik is pushing for large-scale change. In addition to textile production, nettle fibre can be used in product development, with new material applications.
Life as a nettle researcher
Before embarking on her doctoral research, Sadik worked in industry. Although employers in production plants, factories, and machinery companies are open and aware of development needs, there are no resources for research.
“Research on processing plants won’t be done anywhere outside a university. That’s why I’m especially glad to be able to carry out research with a grant.”
The daily life of a nettle researcher is a blend of office work and long days in laboratories or on the road.
“My academic calendar looks nothing like my friends’ work calendars. Nettle research involves a lot of field trips because the Nordic textile industry is modest in scale.”
Since Sadik wants to influence how nettle fibre is used in the future, she needs to step outside her office in Kruununhaka, beyond the laboratories, and go where the knowledge resides.
“I’ve visited factories, spinning mills, and trade fairs to gather knowledge you simply can’t find in the literature.”
Experiments and challenges
Laboratory tests, however, also play a key role. Fibre separation experiments are crucial for her doctoral research, as she is currently developing an analytical method to assess nettle fibre for textile use. The hope is that her work will improve cultivation and help on-farm processing of fibres.
“Nettles have been used for ages, but in Europe fibre extraction from the stems is a bottleneck, and that applies to all natural fibres.”
Sadik notes that Asia is much further ahead in processing nettle fibre, but they use a different species of nettle. Their textile industry is also on a completely different scale.
“Now we have the chance to develop something from scratch. In general, textile production is extremely wasteful. Now we can maybe do things in a smarter way.”
Independent funding brings freedom
When travelling abroad, the conversation often turns to funding.
“At conferences, colleagues are amazed that I have private funding from outside industry or individual companies.” She says that abroad, researchers often work under professors, and independent research of this kind isn’t possible in the same way. Independent funding enables more marginal research. It’s wonderful that Finland’s grant system makes research possible, even when there’s no similar earlier work to build on.”
For two years, the KAUTE Foundation has supported Sadik’s research. While grant applications can sometimes feel laborious, she also finds them useful.
“Writing an application sharpens your thinking and supports the research. It also helps you understand the production of research itself and makes it more concrete.”
So how does it feel to receive a positive grant decision?
“Of course, it feels fantastic. It tells me that the value and importance of my research are recognised outside the academic community as well.”
What or who has broadened your perspective?
The professors I’ve met through my doctoral research. They may not be experts in this specific topic, but they understand the nature of research. That is truly inspiring.
If money was no object, what wild dream would you pursue in your research?
I’d love to bring researchers and practitioners together with current machinery manufacturers and mechanical engineering students. Collaboration is essential to develop, for example, new spinning methods.
Want to learn more?
Good old Facebook is popular among Asian professionals and Finnish hobbyists alike. Examining fabric swatches on clothes can also reveal surprising information about fibres and manufacturing.
The KAUTE Foundation’s general grant call will open again on January 2, 2026. Read more about our call here.