Innovation grows when ideas are shared, synergies forged, and people with diverse expertise come together to share a common vision. Such a purpose brought together the European agri-food innovation community for Synergy Days 2024. A meeting place for discussing digital agriculture, sharing knowledge and building new connections.
Organised at the World Trade Center in Barcelona, the event attracted over 400 participants and highlighted more than 40 European projects. It was also one of the most significant gatherings for digital innovation in the European agri-food sector this year.
Building on the achievements of Synergy Days, an event initiated under the SmartAgriHubs project, this year’s conference united EU projects, policymakers, DIHs, farmers, researchers, start-ups, SMEs and other AKIS actors, creating excellent conditions for establishing contacts. In addition, the Farmtopia consortium had the opportunity to present this innovative initiative and learn about the experience of similar projects.
Synergy Days 2024: Farmtopia Showcases Its Vision
During the two-day event, Farmtopia participated in this year’s gathering of digital AgTech projects at the exhibition stand. Farmtopia’s stand was a popular point of interest for attendees, as it offered an insight into how the project supports the agri-food sector’s digital transformation. In particular, visitors were interested in information about the Farmtopia Open Call and the range of digital services that can improve different aspects of farm operations.
In the Farmtopia booth, researchers, innovators, start-ups, SMEs, and representatives of similar EU projects discussed current challenges in agriculture, as well as potential areas of cooperation. In addition, during the pitch presentation, the project’s goals were highlighted, which aim to contribute to the transformation of the European farming sector through the development and promotion of digital innovations.
Moreover, special attention was paid to the Farmtopia Open Call, which will support transnational cooperation between various types of actors in order to test and implement promising digital solutions.
Focusing on the Farmtopia Open Call Initiative
One of the highlights of visiting Synergy Days for the Farmtopia team was a joint workshop with the Future Systems Hub and the OpenAgri project, where the main aspects of the Farmtopia Open Call were discussed.
Dušan Pevac, Head of Finance at Future Systems Hub, provided participants with useful information about the Open Call, including its purpose, eligibility criteria, evaluation criteria, and support. In addition, applicants were given practical advice on developing proposals that meet all the requirements and highlight their strengths while maximising the benefits of using the Open Call.
The event was attended by more than 35 participants. During the discussion, the audience demonstrated great interest in the details of the application process, asking many specific questions about how to apply and what aspects to focus on. In addition, the attendees stressed that the event helped them better understand how to benefit from cooperation under the Open Call initiative, as well as provided answers to questions that arose during the preparation of the applications.
Strengthening Strategic Partnerships across the EU
Beyond presenting the Open Call and answering questions from potential applicants, Farmtopia also took advantage of the event to network with other Horizon Europe projects, stakeholders, policymakers, and DIHs. During the conference, the Farmtopia team learned about the experience of similar projects working in the sphere of precision agriculture, shared their own vision, and identified areas for future cooperation.
Notable among them were the meetings with the QuantiFarm project, with whom the cooperation is being established at the exhibition stand, and with the GUARDIANS project, an F2F sister project. In particular, the discussion focused on the topics of common interest, as well as ways to develop further cooperation.
Synergy Days 2024 once again showed that meetings of the European research and innovation community are critical to achieving transformation in any sector. While individual projects and initiatives work on specific goals, such events are important in order to share knowledge, experiences, and resources, and develop joint solutions for farmers, businesses, and policymakers.
Looking Ahead: As the Farmtopia team prepared to say goodbye to Barcelona and its delicious local products, they left with a sense of accomplishment having achieved some vital goals for the project. In particular, participation in Synergy Days allowed Farmtopia to promote the Farmtopia Open Call and communicate with a large number of potential applicants.
In addition, the event helped to establish valuable contacts with other Horizon Europe projects and various stakeholders from the agri-food sector. Above all, Synergy Days served as another step toward realising the vision of a collaborative partnership for driving the digital transformation of agriculture.
The Farmtopia consortium would like to take this opportunity to thank the organisers of Synergy Days for another inspiring event and all the visitors of the Farmtopia booth, as well as those who attended the workshop and expressed interest in the work of the project.