Where Innovation Meets the Field: AgriFood4Future in Action Through the Open Innovation Test Farm Program

9 innovations already supported by the project

Introduction

As agriculture faces the twin challenges of sustainability and productivity, innovation has never been more essential. The AgriFood4Future project is paving the way for a more resilient agri-food sector through collaborative, cross-border innovation. At the heart of this effort is the Open Innovation Test Farm Program, which offers startups and SMEs the opportunity to test their technologies under real-life farming conditions.

Innovations Overview

Launched with a first call in early September, the program selected several promising solutions aimed at supporting the sector’s digital, environmental, and economic transformation. These innovations are now being piloted across diverse agricultural environments, with the goal of validating, refining, and showcasing tools that can help drive the sector toward greater digitalisation, decarbonisation, and sustainability.

Here’s a quick look at the innovations currently being tested:

Finapp – Measuring Soil Moisture with Neutron Technology

Finapp introduces an innovative system to measure soil moisture and water content using cosmic ray neutron sensing. This non-invasive method helps optimize irrigation and supports sustainable water use.

Where: FRANCE_Boigneville experimental site 

Test leader: ARVALIS

To know more about the innovation : La nouvelle génération de sondes CRNS 

 

Aptimiz – Smart Equipment Monitoring

With its Aptitrack connected device, Aptimiz offers a simple way to track and analyze the use of farm machinery. The system helps identify underused assets, reduce fuel consumption, and optimize workflows.

Where: FRANCE

Test leader: CUMA Ouest

To know more about the innovation : Aptimiz | Solutions de gestion du temps de travail pour les agriculteurs

 

Kemtag – Connected Equipment with OGO

Kemtag’s OGO device turns agricultural equipment into smart tools. By tracking machine usage and location in real-time, it helps farmers make data-driven decisions to improve efficiency and reduce downtime.

Where: FRANCE

Test leader: CUMA Ouest

To know more about the innovation : KEMTAG – Solution pour le suivi de flotte de matériel agricoles

 

Spotizi – Drone-Powered Agricultural Services

Spotizi delivers precision agriculture through a platform that integrates drone flights with crop monitoring services. The aim is to help farmers optimize inputs, detect issues early, and improve yields with targeted interventions.

Where: FRANCE

Test leader: CUMA Ouest

 

TouRoule – Safety for Isolated Workers

TouRoule offers a smart safety system designed to protect lone agricultural workers. With real-time alerts and monitoring, it enhances response times in emergencies and contributes to safer working conditions in rural areas.

Where: FRANCE

Test leader: CUMA Ouest

 

TrackenGo – Smart Operations with KROPEO

TrackenGo’s KROPEO platform enables better organization of field operations by managing tasks, routes, and driver schedules. It’s designed to improve logistics, cut idle time, and streamline large-scale agricultural work.

Where: FRANCE

Test leader: CUMA Ouest

To know more about the innovation : Kropeo – Organisation des chantiers agricoles et forestiers

 

Defruyt – Claydon direct seeding

Direct drilling improves soil structure because there is less mechanical disruption of the soil. The amount of surface runoff and erosion decreases as more water can infiltrate into the soil. In two trial fields, a comparison of the direct seeding machine with the ‘current way’ of seeding wheat will be carried out.

Where: Langemark, Belgium

Test leader: INAGRO

 

Napagro – vitalizer

Vitalizing refers to the process of restoring the molecular structure of substances. In a series of trials, the vitalization of shell lime will be tested. This process involves treating seeds and/or fertilizers using a vitalizer to assess whether it provides added value compared to conventional methods.

Where: Flanders, Belgium

Test leader: INAGRO

 

Drone seeding

Cover crops play an important role in improving soil health and farm sustainability, and their early establishment, ideally just before or immediately after harvest, is considered beneficial. This trial will explore the use of drone seeding to sow cover crops shortly before the wheat harvest. The objective is to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of this method in terms of seed emergence and establishment. Results will be compared with those obtained using the conventional post-harvest sowing approach.

Where: Roeselare, Belgium

Test leader: INAGRO

 

Interested in joining the program? The second call is now open

The Open Innovation Test Farm Program is continuing to grow. A second call is now open, inviting a new wave of innovators to join the initiative. This new edition expands the scope to include all countries involved in the AgriFood4Future project, and broadens the range of eligible innovations beyond digital farming. Startups and technology developers working in areas such as the green transition, business sustainability, and resilient food systems are now encouraged to apply: APPLY HERE