From Test to Field: a shared European effort, featuring agrifoodTEF
6 May 2026
On 15 April 2026, the webinar “From Test to Field: Connecting AI, Robotics and Digital Services for Agri-Food SMEs” addressed one of the key challenges in European agri-food innovation: transforming the potential of AI and robotics into solutions that are concretely adopted by businesses.
This challenge is closely aligned with the mission of agrifoodTEF, which supports the transition from technological validation to operational deployment.
Organised by DEDEP.eu, CoordinaTEF and the Digital Transformation Accelerator (DTA), the event brought together over 60 stakeholders from European projects, SMEs, start-ups, industry and research. A clear message emerged: the ecosystem already exists, the priority now is to make it more operational, accessible and coordinated.
Moderated by Nicholas Ferguson (Trust-IT), the discussion highlighted how tools such as data spaces, EDIHs and TEFs are no longer standalone elements, but parts of an integrated innovation pathway.
In the opening keynote, Gaspard Demur (Deputy Head of Unit, AI Innovation and Policy Coordination - EU AI Office) emphasised that Europe already possesses a comprehensive AI ecosystem across the entire value chain, from data infrastructures to deployment mechanisms, and that the real challenge now is making these tools more accessible.
What still needs to happen
From an industrial perspective, Alessio Bolognesi (FederUnacoma) noted that AI and robotics are already present in real-world applications, although further consolidation is needed in business models, regulation and interoperability.
At the same time, Hazel Peavoy (Walton Institute) described EDIHs as key gateways to innovation, supporting companies from “test-before-invest” through to deployment. Juho Pirttilahti (Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences) added that the structure of the European agri-food sector — dominated by micro-enterprises — requires flexible, accessible solutions, often based on open-source approaches or retrofitting.
Data also emerged as a major European strength. Jürgen Vangeyte (ILVO) highlighted both Europe’s capacity to generate data and the shift towards more application-oriented data spaces, with the key challenge being the transformation of data into tangible value.
Beyond technology, Paola Scarpellini (AGRITECH EU) pointed to the importance of new hybrid skills and training models, while Raffaele Bini (EDIH Datalife) presented EDIH DataLife as a one-stop shop supporting organisations from needs definition to implementation.
agrifoodTEF: Innovation and Real-World Solutions
Within this ecosystem, Testing and Experimentation Facilities (TEFs) play a decisive role. Raffaele Giaffreda (Fondazione Bruno Kessler) presented agrifoodTEF as a key operational pillar for the adoption of AI and robotics in the agri-food sector.
He emphasised that, through its Catalogue of Services, agrifoodTEF provides access to infrastructures, advanced expertise and harmonised testing and validation methodologies, acting as a concrete enabler of the transition from innovation to adoption. In other words, as Giaffreda highlighted, agrifoodTEF accelerates the adoption of AI and robotics in European agriculture, transforming several prototypes into market-ready solutions that improve sustainability, food security, and economic efficiency.
The TEF was represented also in the final workshop, that translated discussion into action, focusing on real challenges, existing services and collaboration opportunities, with the aim of making adoption faster, simpler and more effective.
Overall, the event highlighted a European ecosystem that is mature, dynamic and ready to scale. In this context, agrifoodTEF stands out as a key actor capable of turning technological potential into tested, reliable solutions ready for deployment in the field.