The Finnish Rural Network is organizing a pitching competition for agricultural innovations as part of AgriVenture Finland in Saarijärvi on 27-28 May 2025. Eight EIP-AGRI Operational Groups from four different countries will be represented.
In February, the Finnish Rural Network launched a call for applications for the international pitching competition for EIP-AGRI Operational Groups in the Baltic Sea Region. A total of 19 applications were received from six countries (Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Sweden).
The applications were evaluated by an international panel of experts and eight EIP-AGRI Operational Groups were shortlisted for the pitching competition.
The shortlisted EIP-AGRI Operational Groups are:
- Agrowe App – digital platform enhancing farm management (POLAND)
- Development of a Robotic Weed Control System (LATVIA) (cancelled their participation in the finals)
- Locally and functionally. Production of innovative functional juice products produced directly on farms, immediately after harvest (POLAND)
- Satagro – digital platform utilizing satellite data to optimize fertilization and irrigation (POLAND)
- Smart drinking bowl – monitoring water consumption of horses and cattle (FINLAND)
- Smart grain dryers – technology utilizing remote control and a machine learning model to optimize the drying process (ESTONIA)
- Wisecow – precision health monitoring system and farm management for cattle farms (ESTONIA)
- Wood2Biogas – state-of-art technology converting wood waste into biochar and clean syngas (FINLAND)
The jury assessed the applications based on the following evaluation criteria: the project has produced a definable output with scaling potential, the output is impressive and innovate and has the potential for wider use in the near future. There is a team capable of taking the output forward.
– Based on the applications submitted to this EIP-AGRI pitching competition there is a wide variety of projects at different development levels. It will be interesting to see the results from these projects. A pitching competition is a good opportunity for innovators to gain experience in presenting and driving innovations. A competition may also provide innovators with new connections and new perspectives that can benefit the development of an innovative idea, comments a member of the expert panel Arne Bergh, Business Development Unit, Swedish Board of Agriculture.
In April-May, the selected EIP-AGRI Operational Groups will have the opportunity to prepare for the pitching competition in training sessions organized jointly by the state-owned sustainable development company Motiva and the Finnish Rural Network.
The competition will culminate in the AgriVenture Finland event on 27-28 May 2025 in Saarijärvi, Central Finland, where the selected EIP-AGRI Operational Groups will pitch their solutions to the public and the jury. The winner of the competition will be awarded at the event.
Are you interested in hearing the EIP-AGRI Operational Groups’ pitches live? Register for AgriVenture Finland. AgriVenture Finland is the largest innovation and investor event in the Nordic-Baltic countries for agriculture and food technology, bringing together key players in the field.
What are EIP-AGRI Operational Groups?
An EIP-AGRI Operational Group is a group of people with complementary knowledge (e.g. practical, scientific, technical, organisational expertise, etc.) who co-create practical solutions for agriculture, forestry and rural communities in an innovation project. Throughout EU, the current Common Agricultural Policy (2023-2027) provides opportunities for preparing and implementing Operational Group projects via national CAP Strategic Plans. In the period 2014-2022, Operational Groups were funded through Rural Development Programmes.
More information about the competition:
Network coordinator Tuija Kallio, tuija.kallio(a)maaseutu.fi, +358 50 594 7993
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