The companies revolutionising the Spanish agricultural sector

The Spanish agri-food sector is facing fundamental challenges that will condition its survival: digitisation and a lack of generational replacement. To overcome these challenges, this sector requires innovative tools that can increase productivity, automate processes and improve sustainability. The sector also requires young, adequately trained people, with an entrepreneurial vision and skills. The companies included in this article are widely knowledgeable on this topic, as they are pioneering companies that are transforming the Spanish agricultural sector.

Support for Innovation

These companies all have in common that they have been selected by one of the largest innovation initiatives launched for the agri-food sector in Spain. This is the AgroBank Tech Digital INNovation programme, driven by CaixaBank via AgroBank. Created in 2022, with the support of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA in Spanish) and focusing on identifying the most innovative startups in order to help them grow and digitise the agri-food sector.

The programme has been structured in a particular manner: posing a series of challenges for the companies to solve in line with the main problems that will affect the sector in the coming years: precision farming; efficient use of water; circular economy; process automation and new sales platforms.

The 15 Winning Startups

Of the 217 companies that registered, 15 startups that have been selected to access a tailored acceleration programme. These are Agerpix, Altavitis, Bisari, Bumerania, Ikos Advanced, Ingredalia, Ixorigue, Lucas Biotech, Neoradix, Keep Cool, Protiberia, RawData, Bihox, Nomad Solar Energy and Odins.

 

Highlighted innovations

• Odins: This technological company develops software and hardware that, based on photographic evidence, enables farmers to detect and control plagues. This not only helps in predicting and managing plagues more efficiently, but it also reduces the use of pesticides, thus fostering a more sustainable agriculture. (Picture 13: María Hernández - Project Office).
• Altavitis Technologies: Uses artificial intelligence, proximal sensing and computer vision to offer early, precise and geolocated diagnosis of the state of vines. This technology allows winegrowers to make informed decisions on how they can best handle their vineyards, improving the quality and yield of their harvests. (Picture 2: Javier Tardáguila - CEO).
• Ikos Advanced: Combines IoT (Internet of Things) and AI (Artificial Intelligence) to offer solutions that can help farmers to manage the use of water and fertilisers for their crops in a more efficient manner. This not only optimises resources but also contributes towards environmental sustainability. (Picture 6: Joaquín Soriano- CEO).
• Bihox: Manufactures oxygenation equipment that, by means of a photocatalysis process, treats water for different agricultural processes, especially irrigation water. This allows farmers to reduce the amount of water and nutritional resources used, increasing the efficiency and sustainability of agricultural holdings. (Picture 3: Pelayo Fernández - Co-CEO).

Cutting-edge business ideas

• Ixorigue: Has developed a solution for extensive meat farming, allowing breeders to monitor the location and state of their animals in real-time. This facilitates the management of herds and improves the well-being of the animals. (Picture 8: Alfredo Poves - Director).
• Raw Data: Has designed an ERP system (Enterprise Resource Planning) that centralises basic aspects such as monitoring the growth of crops, planning harvests and administering resources. This allows for optimising efficiency across agricultural holdings. (Picture 15: Albert Duaigües - CEO).
• Nomad Solar Energy: Has launched a mobile photovoltaic generator that can be deployed in under two hours, providing a sustainable and flexible alternative to traditional diesel fuel generators. This solution is ideal for agricultural holdings that require power in remote locations. (Picture 12: Lorenzo Jourdain - CCO).
• Agerpix: Uses Big Data and Artificial Intelligence to optimise decision making within the field of agriculture, helping farmers to better manage their crops and resources. (Picture 1: David Francés - CEO).

Impact on Agri-food Innovation

• Neoradix Solutions: Works on automation solutions for the sector, focusing on the traceability of seeds. This helps to improve transparency and efficiency across the agricultural supply chain. (Picture 11: José Ángel Noguera – Innovation director).
• Bisari: Is innovating in the field of assisted pollination via electrostatic atomisation, which aims to improve efficiency in agricultural output and increase the yield of crops. (Picture 4: Eva Sánchez - Tech director).
• Keep Cool: Has developed an ecological technology to prolong the shelf life of fruits, vegetables and flowers, decreasing waste and improving their conservation during transport. This is crucial to reduce post-harvest losses and guarantee the quality of fresh produce. (Picture 9: Juan José Caravaca - CEO).
• Ingredalia: Recovers healthy ingredients from agri-food by-products to create new food products, promoting the circular economy and reducing waste. (Picture 7: Miguel Ángel Cubero- CEO).
• Protiberia: Specialised in biotechnology, it turns organic waste into valuable raw materials, contributing to the sustainability and efficiency of the agri-food sector. (Picture 14: Ana González - CEO).
• Lucas Biotech: Focuses on the creation of fertilisers and biostimulants through biotechnological processes, improving the health of the soil and the productivity of crops. (Picture 10: Javier Lucas - CEO).
• Bumerania Robotic: This startup has created an autonomous robot which runs on solar and wind power that can navigate through fields carrying out a variety of tasks such as weeding vegetable farming fields. This innovative solution reduces the need for manpower and use of weed killers, fostering a more sustainable agriculture.  (Picture 5: Isidro Fernández, CEO)

These solutions not only showcase the potential of innovation in agriculture, but also anticipate a coming edition full of proposals that will continue to revolutionise Spanish agriculture by means of disruptive technologies.