AgriVentures Update

Commission hosts hackathon to develop forward-looking tools to support the farmers of the future

October 18, 2026
3 min read
Commission hosts hackathon to develop forward-looking tools to support the farmers of the future

The European Commission is hosting its first ever EU Agri-Hackathon, which will take place over the course of three days.

The EU Agri-Hackathon will see participants developing practical and forward-looking digital tools to support the farmers of the future, responding to their concrete needs.

Hackathons are collaborative events where people work intensively to build a functioning software or hardware prototype.

This event will bring together over 110 participants, including farmers, developers, researchers, students, entrepreneurs, and agri-food professionals. The participants will work together towards a more sustainable, resilient, and innovative agricultural sector in Europe. They will face three tasks to address common challenges EU farmers face.

These include saving time by improving efficiency, simplifying how they manage and use the data their farm generates, and simplifying the sharing of information and engagement with value chain partners. The teams will work to provide concrete benefits to farmers to save them time and reduce their administrative burden. Participants will benefit from mentorship from experts in the fields of agriculture, technology, research, and policymaking to design practical, farmer-centred digital solutions.

Commissioner Hansen said:“I am delighted to see so many applicants for the first ever EU Agri Hackathon. This shows the commitment of EU citizens, whether that be farmers, developers, researchers, to shaping a more innovative and resilient future for agriculture. I look forward to seeing how our participants harness technology and fresh ideas to develop practical solutions that can make farmer's work simpler, more efficient and more sustainable.”

The winning teams will have the opportunity to showcase their solutions to policymakers, industry representatives and key stakeholders from across the European agri-food sector at the EU Agri-Food Days 2026 in December.


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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News Sustainable & Circular Agrifood Digital Farming Carbon farming
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