From Test to Field: Connecting AI, Robotics and Digital Services for Agri-Food SMEs
One ecosystem, one journey: validate with Testing and Experimentation Facilities (TEFs), deploy with European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs), and scale with the Digital Europe Programme (DEP).
From innovation to adoption: why this event matters
Across Europe, agriculture and food systems are undergoing rapid digital transformation. Artificial intelligence, robotics, and data-driven solutions are increasingly within reach, backed by major investments through the Digital Europe Programme.
Yet for many SMEs, technology providers, and public actors, the real challenge is not whether solutions exist, but how to access them, test them, and turn experimentation into operational deployment.
TEFs, EDIHs, data spaces, and advanced digital skills initiatives each support this journey. Too often, however, they are experienced as separate entry points rather than a single pathway, leaving potential users unsure where to start, which services are relevant, and how initiatives connect.
A single journey through the DIGITAL agri-food ecosystem
The core message is that adoption accelerates when services are connected and easy to navigate.
Testing and Experimentation Facilities provide shared infrastructures where technologies can be validated in real or realistic agri-food environments, helping solutions move closer to market readiness. European Digital Innovation Hubs, in turn, serve as trusted local entry points for SMEs and public organisations, offering “test before invest”, expertise, and deployment support that enables real adoption and scaling.
Combined with data spaces and digital skills initiatives, these elements form a complete service pipeline. Strengthening the links between them reduces duplication, accelerates uptake, and maximises the impact of public investment (by making the pipeline visible, understandable, and usable).
TEF ↔ EDIH connection as the practical bridge between validation and adoption, supported by data and skills initiatives.
What the event will explore
Two-hour online session combining practical insight with active collaboration.
Part 1 | Open webinar
what is available, who can use it, how to access it, and how it connects. The emphasis is on clarity and usability, not project promotion.
Part 2 | Interactive workshop
Project representatives and ecosystem actors will work through guided prompts to surface uptake barriers, identify alignment “quick wins”, and co-create materials for a Storytelling Package for participating projects.
Who should join
This event is for stakeholders directly involved in the development, deployment, and uptake of digital solutions in agriculture and food.
It is particularly relevant for SMEs and innovation managers exploring AI, robotics, or data-driven tools; technology providers seeking validation and deployment pathways; DIGITAL Programme beneficiaries working on TEFs, EDIHs, data spaces, skills, or deployment projects; and public administrations and agencies involved in agri-food, sustainability, and rural development. Policy stakeholders and implementing bodies focused on uptake and impact are also encouraged to participate.
What participants will gain
By the end of the event, participants will have a clearer picture of how the Digital Europe agri-food ecosystem supports the full journey from testing to adoption, what services exist, how to access them, and how initiatives complement one another.
Project representatives will also gain practical opportunities to connect across silos, align messaging and service pathways, and contribute to structured material to create a Storytelling Package for participating projects.
Agenda
Brief introduction to the webinar objectives and how the session contributes to strengthening collaboration between European AI infrastructures and the agri-food innovation ecosystem.
Speakers:
Gaspard Demur
Gaspard Demur works at the EU AI Office as Deputy Head of Unit 'AI Innovation and Policy Coordination'. This Unit leads the AI policy development with a strong focus on innovation to boost AI uptake and digital transformation of companies. It coordinates the network of European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs) and of Testing and Experimentation Facilities (TEFs), under the Digital Europe Programme, to foster a strong EU digital innovation ecosystem.
Deputy Head of Unit, AI Innovation and Policy Coordination - EU AI Office
Nicholas Ferguson
Nick Ferguson is a senior manager at Trust-IT Services. He coordinates the Digital Europe DEDEP.eu project, which aims at improving the dissemination and exploitation activities of the Digital Europe Programme, as well as Cyberstand.eu which supports cybersecurity standardisation.
DEDEP.eu
Trust-IT Services
This discussion will bring together user and infrastructure perspectives to explore:
- The innovation priorities and needs emerging in the agri-food sector.
- Key opportunities, barriers and challenges organisations face when adopting AI and digital technologies.
- The role of TEFs and EDIHs in supporting experimentation, validation, and deployment of AI solutions.
- How the Digital Europe Programme actions could better support organisations in accessing services and accelerating innovation. uptake
Speakers:
Alessio Bolognesi
As Secretary of the Agridigital Association within FederUnacoma, he is also the Federation’s point of contact for all sector standards and European regulations relating to digital technologies in the field of agricultural mechanisation. He has over a decade’s experience in the design and integration of ISOBUS systems and in the automation of field operations. He currently focuses on opportunities and regulations relating to issues such as data interoperability, AI, robotics and cybersecurity.
Digital Agriculture Technical Officer, FederUnacoma
Hazel Peavoy
Hazel Peavoy is a senior strategic leader at Walton Institute (SETU), driving EU partnerships and digital innovation. As Programme Manager of ENTIRE EDIH, she leads multidisciplinary teams delivering innovation services for SMEs and PSOs. She specialises in EU funding, stakeholder engagement, and building high-impact digital and AgriTech ecosystems across Europe. She is the Chairperson for the AgriFood TWG within the EDIH Network and sits on the SmartAgriHubs Board, hosting Synergy Days 2026 in Kilkenny, Ireland.
ENTIRE EDIH
Walton Institute
Juho Pirttilahti
Juho Pirttilahti is an RDI Expert at Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences (SEAMK) in Finland, where he leads and supports research, development and innovation projects. With a focus on applied collaboration between academia and industry, he brings a practical perspective on digital innovation needs and adoption challenges in the agri-food sector.
Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences (SEAMK)
Paola Scarpellini
Paola Scarpellini, Research Technologist at the Department of Agricultural, Food, and Agro-Environmental Sciences, University of Pisa, holds a Political Science degree and a PhD in Agricultural Economics and Policy. She leads research and project design focused on rural development, agroecology promotion, and the digital transformation of agriculture for sustainable innovation
AGRITECH EU
University of Pisa
Raffaele Bini
Mechanical Engineer with 18+ years leading and transforming industrial operations in large food companies, blending technical and Lean thinking with empathy. In 2024, he joined DATAlife as a Project Consultant, promoting digital transformation to build Sustainability.
EDIH Datalife
Raffaele Giaffreda
Raffaele is Chief Innovation Scientist in the OpenIoT Research Unit of FBK dealing with technology transfer activities in the digital agriculture sector. He is coordinator of the European project AgrifoodTEF which develops Testing and Experimental Facilities for validating innovative products and solutions based on Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, in the agri-food sector.
agrifoodTEF
Fondazione Bruno Kessler
Moderators:
Nicholas Ferguson
Nick Ferguson is a senior manager at Trust-IT Services. He coordinates the Digital Europe DEDEP.eu project, which aims at improving the dissemination and exploitation activities of the Digital Europe Programme, as well as Cyberstand.eu which supports cybersecurity standardisation.
DEDEP.eu
Trust-IT Services
Part 2 | Interactive workshop (15:45-17:00, Brussels Time)
Digital Europe Project Representatives will work through guided prompts to surface uptake barriers, identify alignment “quick wins”, and co-create materials for a Storytelling Package for participating projects.