BDI will lead the European AgTech Innovation Challenge, bringing together students from an agricultural and a technical school to develop innovative solutions for real-world challenges in agri-food logistics. The focus will be on improving post-harvest quality, storage efficiency, and logistics processes, facilitated by the experience acquired within the DODILog pilots. Students will identify topics and prepare a presentation of the issues involved

Objectives of the challenge 

-Getting students from different disciplines to work together (DODILog knowldge transfer focus)

-Develop advanced solutions to meet joint farmers' & storage operators' needs

-Introduce students to innovative project management

-Encourage students to take up careers in agriculture & related fields (logistics/digital/design/marketing, etc.)

During a 1-year training course, led by BDI, DODILog PP will play a key role in mentoring, providing real-world best practices and stimulating creativity:

* Port of Zwolle and CIRCOÉ will offer logistical challenges and guidance on integrating student solutions into Warehouse Management Systems (WMS), focusing on optimizing the flow of goods and storage management. 

* As for agricultural and technological innovation, ARVALIS will support with knowledge of crop quality monitoring; Javelot will support with AI-driven solutions for temperature and humidity control; Inagro will provide expertise in sustainable storage practices and smart sprout inhibition; Multitel will contribute with expertise on gas detection applications.

The challenge will include a kickoff workshop, mid-term evaluations by the partners and a final presentation at least 1 international event. BDI will secure participation at the SPACE event (September 2026) -with the exhibition of projects, preparation of pitches, presentation to the jury, awards ceremony and evening event, Innov'SPACE- and 1 event virtually (2027) to allow all the partner regions to join the contest. The awarded project will have the opportunity to visit Zwolle Port &/or Inagro to develop cooperation.

The events will raise awareness of the need to engage younger generations and future operators in the agri-food sector innovation process to ensure that the change in NWE´s way of storing/transporting raw potatoes/cereals can have long-term effects. 

As a whole, the AgTech Challenge will foster collaboration between students and industry, promoting cross-fertilisation of ideas in the agri-food value chain. BDI will exploit its CRAFT platform, creating connections between technology providers and sector users, as further tool during and after the challenge both to share its database with the students and as dissemination channel.