Background
The background to this initiative is the digital revolution which is taking place in the agrarian segments. Digitalisation offers solutions to many of the challenges to efficient and sustainable food production, through automation, data collection, measurement methods, analysis and user-friendly decision support systems. Digitalisation represents the next step in precision farming. However successful digitalisation needs to be responsible and start from the users – not the technology.
We support the farms of the future
SmartAgri provides relevant and firm support to companies that want to develop their existing and future products and services through digitalisation and new technology, and so promote more profitable and sustainable farming. We also run seminars and demonstrations etc. to assist in implementing new technology in the industry.
Since 2018, SmartAgri has assisted more than 70 companies in developing their products and services. More than 30 of these companies have received more long-term support to refine their product and business ideas and to attract funding to develop and test new technological solutions for agriculture. In all, SmartAgri has helped to raise more than SEK 70 million for a large number of local innovation projects.
Continuing projects approved for the next three years
The Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth has granted renewed support from the European Regional Development Fund for the period 2023-2026. Other sources of funding are Västra Götaland Region and Skaraborgs Kommunalförbund. Agroväst manages the project with Science Park Skövde AB and RISE Reseach Institute of Sweden AB as project partners. Further expansion of the services offered by the innovation hub is consistent with the emphasis on European Digital Innovation Hubs from Digital Europe and the EU.
Our goal is to continue to support the implementation of new technology.
The new project, SmartAgri 2.0, is there to provide support free of charge to small and medium-sized companies in the agriculture sector in West Sweden, to increase their knowledge and awareness of the possible benefits of digitalisation, to be quicker in adopting and implementing new technology and to develop innovative digital solutions.
Along with knowledge support, match-making and coaching, SmartAgri will also intensify and target communication to farmers to support the adoption of new technology.