The SmartAgrifood Summit ’24, held in Seville (Spain) from 13-15 March, comprised a comprehensive programme of discussions, interactive workshops, and informative presentations, serving as a focal point for industry stakeholders. The event attracted a diverse array of participants, including esteemed experts, influential leaders, pioneering innovators, and delegates from startups across Europe, fostering invaluable exchanges and collaborations within the sector.
The 7th edition of this Summit focused on technological development, innovation applied to processes, advanced agronomic training and the promotion of entrepreneurship.
This event likely served as a platform for stakeholders to exchange ideas, showcase innovative solutions, and form partnerships aimed at driving transformation in the industry. BEATLES was represented by Blanca Casares, Policy Expert and project manager at AEIDL (European Association for Innovation in Local Development).
This year edition included a platform crafted to underscore the increasing significance of women within the agri-food sector with the aim of establishing an international forum to recognise and strengthen the influence and participation of women in the agri-food sector, encouraging innovation, collaboration and sustainable development, and highlighting the role of women in the transformation and progress of the global agri-food industry.
The Tech Transfer represented the environment for the generation of new ideas and entrepreneurship, as well as presenting research work, project results, patents, prototypes, etc.
In addition, 15 meetups were organised with groups of professionals to facilitate the exchange of knowledge, experiences and the creation of a community around a specific theme. AEIDL was part of the demographic challenge meetup where she articulated ideas emphasizing that the key to addressing demographic challenges effectively lies in implementing long-term structural measures. She highlighted that projects like BEATLES, focusing on behavioral change in the food system, confront this challenge. The demographic dynamics in rural areas, the absence of generational turnover, and the scarcity of young voices in decision-making spheres pose barriers to investment in farms and sectors, thus impeding progress toward green and digital transitions.
While this problem is much wider than the scope of the BEATLES, this project will be preparing a set of EU policy recommendations to make value chains, particularly at farm level more sustainable and adapted to climate-induced changes in food production.
Author: Blanca Casares (AEIDL)
