Spain launches Europe's first AgriFoodtech Sandbox to boost agrifood innovation
Description
The Spanish Government (MCIU and MAPA) , together with the autonomous communities of Navarra and La Rioja , have launched Europe's first AgriFoodtech Sandbox , a pioneering initiative aimed at accelerating innovation in the agri-food sector.
This experimental space will be managed by the National Center for Food Technology and Safety (CNTA) , in collaboration with the Eatex technology hub, and will allow companies, startups and entities in the sector to test new technologies, products and processes in a regulated and safe environment , thus facilitating their arrival on the market.
What does this sandbox allow?
- Validate innovations at the technical and regulatory level.
- Accelerate technology transfer.
- Promote learning that contributes to updating agri-food regulations.
- Free access to the scientific and technological capabilities of the CNTA and its collaborators.
Priority areas of innovation:
- New ingredients and healthy foods.
- Innovative conservation and packaging strategies.
- Optimization of resource use and circular economy.
The AgriFoodtech Sandbox is part of the Complementary Agrifood Plan , within the Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience Plan, financed with European funds, and places Spain at the forefront of agrifood innovation at the European level.
This model, already used successfully in strategic sectors and in countries such as the United Kingdom, Singapore, and South Korea, is now a key tool for the Spanish agri-food industry to successfully address the challenges of sustainability, digitalization, and competitiveness.