The revolution in the agri-food sector: Nanobubbles, predictive algorithms, and smart robotics

The Spanish agri-food sector is undergoing a true technological revolution. In a world where efficiency and sustainability are essential for the survival of companies, technology has become an indispensable ally for transforming the way food is produced, distributed, and consumed.

For example, precision agriculture is allowing farmers to use data and advanced tools to optimize the use of resources like water and fertilizers, reducing costs and minimizing environmental impact. Startups such as the Seville-based Agrointel are at the forefront of research in this field: the use of sensors, predictive algorithms, and smart robotics are their tools to optimize each phase of the agricultural cycle. “The future of the field lies in digitization, and that path needs strong support,” argues Máximo Bourdette Ibáñez, co-founder of the company.

The circular economy is also gaining ground in a world increasingly aware of sustainability and environmental care, promoting practices that reduce waste and reuse agricultural by-products. A new wave of engineers, biologists, or chemists, among other fields that the countryside draws upon, are developing and betting on new ideas that can provide the agri-food sector with the shift it needs to remain sustainable, profitable, and healthy.

The sector needs three key things: funding geared towards innovation, technical training focused on real profitability, and, above all, confidence in new technologies that provide measurable results.

Alberto Fuentes -  CEO of Biogreen Road

The Voice of Entrepreneurs

The adoption of advanced technologies and collaboration between companies and other sector actors are key to addressing the major challenges of the agri-food sector. In this scenario, startup acceleration programs play a crucial role in driving digitalization and innovation, providing the most innovative companies with the tools and support they need to grow.

“The agri-food sector needs all the support possible, both in economic resources and innovation, to face the challenges posed by climate change, the lack of labor, and economic pressure on the value chain,” opines Françoise de Valera, co-founder and CEO of Pack2Earth. This Barcelona-based company has made a decisive commitment to sustainability by developing plant-based compostable materials to replace contaminating plastics in food packaging.

I am an organic farmer and beekeeper in my spare time, so I experience firsthand the pollution caused by fossil plastic in the fields.

Françoise de Valera - co-founder and CEO of Pack2Earth

In this context of innovation, the AgroBank Tech Digital INNovation program has become a fundamental pillar. This startup acceleration program, driven by CaixaBank through AgroBank and with the support of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food (MAPA), is helping companies develop technological solutions in key areas such as precision agriculture, sustainability, circular economy, e-commerce, and process automation.

“The sector needs three key things: funding geared towards innovation, technical training focused on real profitability, and, above all, confidence in new technologies that provide measurable results,” assures Alberto Fuentes, CEO of Biogreen Road, a Murcia-based startup dedicated to improving water and nutritional efficiency in crops. They, like the rest of the startups participating in this report, are winners of the third edition of the AgroBank Tech Digital INNovation initiative, which ranks them among the 15 most transformative startups in the Spanish agri-food sector.

The program not only provides access to advanced tools but also offers the necessary support for companies to integrate these solutions into their daily operations. This is crucial at a time when the agri-food sector faces significant challenges, such as climate change and resource scarcity. Companies that manage to adapt and adopt these technologies will be better positioned to thrive in an increasingly competitive market.

Being selected for AgroBank Tech Digital Innovation is a huge boost for our team. It represents recognition of a technological proposal with real impact in the agri-food sector, particularly in viticulture, and allows us to connect with a network of mentors, experts, and key entities to accelerate our growth and provide sustainable and transformative solutions to the Spanish wine sector

Lara Neira - CEO of Nova Industria Galega

Companies Transforming the Sector

Agrointel (Seville): Offers advanced solutions for agricultural decision-making through the use of sensors, predictive algorithms, and intelligent robotics. Their approach combines soil, climate, and crop analysis with yield prediction to optimize every phase of the agricultural cycle. The company has developed autonomous robots capable of performing tasks such as mechanical weeding with high precision, reducing the use of chemicals and environmental impact.

Hareas (Madrid): A technology platform that enhances decision-making in the agricultural sector through advanced data analysis. Their focus is on helping landowners better understand and leverage the value of their plots using prediction, analysis, and geospatial visualization tools.

Weif Agrotecnia (Alicante): Under the WEITEC brand, they develop biotechnological solutions for soil regeneration and improved agricultural productivity, all from a sustainable and ecological perspective. Their main innovation is Biosoil, a biotechnological product formulated with specific microorganisms that work to restore degraded soils, increase fertility, and stimulate plant growth.

Agrodevices (Valladolid): A startup that has developed SmartAgro 360, a comprehensive smart agriculture platform aimed at resource optimization and productivity improvement. The solution combines IoT sensors, LoRa technology, weather forecasting, drone imagery, and artificial intelligence systems to provide real-time insights into crop conditions.

Melmak Technologies (Murcia): An emerging company specializing in the development of artificial intelligence and computer vision systems to optimize industrial processes, especially in the agri-food sector. Their technology enables real-time analysis of large volumes of images and data, applying advanced machine learning algorithms for tasks such as product classification, quality control, and anomaly detection.

EcoSoilSanna (Zaragoza): A startup focused on transforming organic waste into high-value-added products for the agricultural and environmental sectors. Their approach combines environmental sustainability and economic efficiency, enabling more responsible waste management and substantial improvement in soil quality.

Nova Industria Galega (Lugo): NIGAL is a startup developing artificial intelligence and IoT solutions to optimize industrial processes, especially in the agri-food and wine sectors. Their system allows real-time monitoring of critical production parameters such as temperature, humidity, ripening, or evaporation. The goal is to reduce losses, increase energy efficiency, and improve the quality of the final product.

Isoren (Madrid): A company focused on improving quality of life through technology applied to environmental control in agricultural and industrial spaces. They use IoT sensors to measure real-time parameters such as air quality, temperature, and humidity, helping reduce respiratory illnesses among field workers and improve the performance of animals and crops.

Fibsen (Valencia): Specializes in the development of smart sensors based on fiber optic technology for sustainable water management in agriculture, industry, and cities. Their solution enables real-time monitoring of critical water parameters such as pressure, flow, temperature, pH, or presence of contaminants, helping reduce losses, optimize irrigation, and improve decision-making. This system requires no power supply or frequent maintenance and is designed for direct installation in water networks, even under extreme conditions.

Bioferric (Alicante): A startup focused on developing advanced solutions for wastewater treatment, especially in the agri-food sector. Their main technology involves the use of low-cost hybrid adsorbents, such as Bioferric Adsorbent™, designed to efficiently remove emerging contaminants, heavy metals, and persistent organic compounds.

Tecnoalgae (Seville): A biotechnology company working on the development of microalgae-based solutions for applications in agriculture, cosmetics, and food. Their proposal for the agri-food sector focuses on formulating agricultural biostimulants based on microalgae, specifically designed to improve soil health, crop resilience, and agricultural yield.

Enoengineering (Albacete): A company specializing in the development of digital solutions for the wine industry. Their main product is ENOControl, a quality control and traceability system that combines sensors, big data, and cloud analytics to monitor critical wine parameters in real time. The solution enables more informed decision-making, cost reduction, and improved winery efficiency.

Intecsa Renovables (Madrid): Proposes innovative solutions to integrate agricultural production with photovoltaic energy generation, promoting energy efficiency and reducing climate change impact. Their approach is based on installing agrivoltaic systems that allow shared land use for crops and solar energy. Thanks to their smart shading technology, crop quality is improved by reducing excessive temperature and evaporation.

Pack2Earth (Barcelona): Develops plant-based compostable materials to replace polluting plastics in food packaging. Their bioplastics are made from plants, minerals, and agri-food by-products, complying with food contact and home compostability regulations.

Biogreen Road (Murcia): Transforms organic waste into sustainable materials for road infrastructure, such as highways or rural paths. Their innovative technology enables the development of eco-friendly bituminous mixtures from biomass and organic waste, partially replacing fossil-based bitumen, one of the main pollutants in this type of construction.