Biotechnology, Traceability and Biosecurity in Agriculture: Safe-Agri Workshop with UPL Bulgaria in Sofia
How will biotechnology in agriculture change the way we grow, protect and trace our food? Agriventures, together with UPL Bulgaria and TraceGround, is hosting the next Safe-Agri meeting: an interactive workshop in Sofia on biotechnology, agricultural inputs, biosecurity and traceability across agri-food systems. The event takes place on Tuesday, 27 October 2026, from 16:30 to 20:30, Bulgaria, Sofia. Places are limited and registration is required.
Why biotechnology in agriculture matters now
Farming faces pressure from several directions at once: climate change, new pests and diseases, stricter rules on the use of plant protection products and growing consumer demand for transparency. Genomic tools, precision biological solutions and new generations of crop protection and plant nutrition products open real opportunities for more sustainable and more productive agriculture.
Every powerful technology also raises new questions. Who controls genetic resources and seeds? How should the dual-use risks of biological agents and genomic technologies be managed? How can we make sure innovation strengthens, rather than weakens, food security in Europe and in Bulgaria? These are the questions at the heart of the workshop.
What we will discuss
The programme covers the role of biotechnology, innovative crop protection products and genomic tools in modern agriculture, along with practical advances in crop protection, biological solutions and plant nutrition. Particular attention goes to biosecurity and dual-use risks, to sovereignty over genetic resources and seeds, and to the strategic dependencies the sector often builds without noticing.
The second major theme is food traceability: from soil and plant health, through production, to innovation in food itself. The common thread is the balance between innovation, safety and responsible research.
Speakers and programme
The first part of the event features short expert talks.
Eleonora Markova, UPL Corp, will present innovation in agricultural inputs and responsible biotech solutions, offering an inside view of how one of the world's leading crop protection companies approaches new technologies.
Dilyana Kutsarova will speak about the development of innovation and biotechnology in agriculture and the path new solutions take from the lab to the field.
TraceGround will show how traceability and farm management systems work in practice. TraceGround is a decentralised smart system that tracks the origin and quality of food from planting to the table. Through a QR code, consumers get full information on seed origin, growing conditions, the exact farm location, transport, storage and the specific shop where the product is sold. The platform serves both consumers and businesses along the entire food chain.
Workshop: three scenarios for agriculture in 2050
In the second part, participants will work in groups on three scenarios for 2050. They explore the uptake of new biotechnologies and innovations in the supply chain, strategic dependence on seeds and genetic resources, biosecurity management along the supply chain, and building a responsible innovation ecosystem in agri-biotech. Together we will identify risks, opportunities and concrete recommendations for the responsible governance of future innovation in agricultural inputs.
The session also looks at what current and upcoming legislation on biotechnology, agricultural inputs and biosecurity will require of the farming sector, which makes it useful for companies planning products and investments for the coming years.
What is Safe-Agri?
Safe-Agri is an Agriventures initiative that aims to develop a practical tool for assessing and governing innovation in the agri-food sector through the ORRI framework (Open Responsible Research and Innovation). The previous Safe-Agri workshop focused on digitalisation, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity in agriculture. This meeting continues the conversation with a focus on biotechnology, traceability and biosecurity, and its scenario results will feed into the tool under development.
Who should attend
The workshop is designed for researchers and universities, startups, companies in agricultural inputs and crop protection, farmers, public institutions, investors and anyone interested in the future of biotechnology, agricultural inputs and food. The mix is deliberate: the best ideas come when the farmer, the scientist, the regulator and the investor sit at the same table.
Practical information
Date: Tuesday, 27 October 2026
Time: 16:30 to 20:30
Venue: Sofia, Bulgaria
Organisers: Agriventures and UPL Bulgaria, with TraceGround
Registration: required, subject to approval, via Luma
The workshop is followed by networking with one of the best views in Sofia, a great opportunity to build new partnerships between science, business and practice.
Frequently asked questions
When and where is the event?
On Tuesday, 27 October 2026, from 16:30 to 20:30, in Sofia.
How do I register? Registration is through Luma and is approved by the organisers. Places are limited.
Do I need a technical background in biotechnology? No. The talks are accessible, and the workshop draws on participants' experience across farming, business, research and public administration.
What will I gain from attending? An up-to-date view of innovation in crop protection and traceability, a clearer picture of upcoming regulatory requirements, hands-on experience in scenario planning and connections with key people in the sector.
Register now
The future of food is being decided today, in labs, in fields and around the table where the people shaping it meet. Join the conversation. Register for the Safe-Agri workshop on Luma.
Check out our guides for funding opportunities
https://projects.agriventures.co/resources
Agriventures Connect 3.0 is coming on 20th of April 2027 in Sofia, Bulgaria
https://connect.agriventures.co/
The role of Agriventures in supporting agrifood innovation
As the agritech startup ecosystem grows across Europe, initiatives such as Agriventures are helping connect entrepreneurs, researchers, investors, and policymakers working in agriculture and food innovation.
Agriventures focuses on supporting agrifood startups, biotechnology innovation, and access to European funding for agriculture, while also helping entrepreneurs navigate the complex landscape of startup financing, venture capital, and research commercialization.
By strengthening connections between startups, research institutions, investors, and farmers, Agriventures contributes to building a stronger agricultural innovation ecosystem that can accelerate the transition toward sustainable agriculture and resilient food systems.
Through knowledge sharing, events, and ecosystem building, Agriventures helps ensure that promising agritech innovations can scale and reach farmers, food producers, and global markets.
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