The Spanish government, alongside the regional governments of Navarra and La Rioja, has introduced Europe’s first AgriFoodtech Sandbox, designed to accelerate technological advancements in the agrifood industry. Managed by the National Center for Food Technology and Safety (CNTA), the initiative will offer a controlled environment where innovative products, processes, and technologies can be tested under regulatory oversight.
“This agri-food sandbox represents a key tool to accelerate innovation”
The sandbox will allow startups, companies, and industry groups to experiment with novel approaches in the agrifood value chain. These include new ingredients, food preservation methods, packaging strategies, and ways to enhance resource use and waste recovery.
Through this initiative, selected projects will gain access to CNTA’s scientific and technological resources, as well as regulatory support to validate and refine their innovations.
Spain takes the lead
The launch event took place in San Adrián, Navarra, with key figures from the Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities (MICIU), the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food (MAPA), and the regional governments of Navarra and La Rioja attending.
Juan Cruz Cigudosa, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation, and Universities, explained that: “agri-food has an unquestionable strategic value in our country, not only for its economic weight, but also for its ability to contribute to social cohesion.
Future-focused solutions
Begoña García Bernal, Secretary of State for Agriculture and Food, added that fostering innovation and digitalization is essential not only for improving the sustainability and profitability of farms but also for attracting younger generations and women to the sector.
She noted, “We must take advantage of and make the most of our strengths, and today we are talking about one of them: innovation in the agri-food sector. A sector that is strategic, modern, and competitive, which has demonstrated its resilience and its ability to adapt.”
The establishment of an agri-food sandbox places Spain at the forefront of a growing trend in Europe. Other countries, such as Singapore, the United Kingdom, and South Korea, have already implemented similar initiatives to align innovation with regulatory frameworks, attracting investment and talent.
Agility in agrifood tech
This sandbox is part of an effort to develop more agile regulatory frameworks that can keep pace with technological developments in the agrifood industry. Silvia García, Director of CNTA’s EATEX Food Innovation Hub, noted that the sandbox provides a direct bridge between the industry and regulators. This collaboration is expected to accelerate the adoption of key innovations and strengthen the sector’s competitiveness.
The sandbox will also facilitate dialogue between innovators and regulatory bodies, helping to shape the evolution of agri-food regulations in Spain and across Europe. As part of the launch, a call for projects has been issued, with applications open until May 23, 2025. Selected projects will benefit from access to CNTA’s expertise and resources, enabling them to test their innovations in a structured environment.
Cruz Cigudosa continued, “Together with investment in R&D, this agri-food sandbox represents a key tool to accelerate innovation and technology transfer in a sector that faces growing challenges, where technologies such as digitization, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and precision agriculture will be decisive for the future of food production and distribution.”
