The Granada-based startup Hidroinfiltrador, a spinoff from the University of Granada, has been awarded the Most Sustainable Startup Prize thanks to its innovative groundwater infiltration system.
Granada played a key role in the European agri-food innovation event, Smart Agrifood Summit Fundão 2025, which, in its 8th edition, was held in Portugal. More than 5,000 attendees made this event a benchmark for the digital and sustainable transformation of the agri-food sector.
Granada was prominently represented by Juan Francisco Delgado, Executive Vice President of the European Foundation for Innovation and a native of Granada, who led the organization of the event and delivered the opening address entitled “Artificial Intelligence at the Service of Food and Entrepreneurship.” Delgado has been one of the driving forces behind this forum since its inception, which is now celebrating its 8th edition as a leading European event. In her presentation, she stated that “artificial intelligence will represent a significant advance in agricultural productivity and in solving structural problems such as the labor shortage. Technologies like virtual reality are already being used in vocational training for pruning fruit trees, vineyards, and olive groves, and the use of data as the fuel for AI is enabling improved agricultural decisions and reducing environmental impact.”
But she wasn’t the only prominent figure: the Granada-based startup Hidroinfiltrador, a spinoff from the University of Granada, was awarded the Most Sustainable Startup Prize thanks to its innovative groundwater infiltration system. This solution improves the efficiency of agricultural irrigation, reduces water consumption, and contributes to aquifer regeneration, making it an example of technology applied to real sustainability. The award was granted by an international jury composed of European experts in agri-food innovation.
Alongside Hidroinfiltrador, the international jury recognized two other startups: Biofarma Fly (Galicia), awarded Best European Startup for its innovative use of insects to transform organic waste into proteins and natural fertilizers, and Innogando (Galicia), awarded Most Scalable Startup for its intelligent livestock control system using GPS collars and sensors to track grazing animals.
The event, held within the framework of the European Agrosocial project (Interreg Spain-Portugal), brought together startups, researchers, companies in the sector, policymakers, and investors seeking to transform European agriculture in a digital, sustainable, and inclusive way.
Among the topics addressed were the use of artificial intelligence and robotics to improve productivity in the face of labor shortages, with appropriate machinery showcased; new precision agriculture tools for irrigation, reduced pesticide use, and pest prediction; the development of digital twins and IoT sensors; the role of biotechnology and agri-food genetics in adapting plants to climate change and extreme heat and cold; generational renewal; and female leadership in agriculture, with practical examples from across Europe.
The event also hosted the Women Leaders in Agrifood Awards, with significant participation from Portuguese and Spanish women. Particularly noteworthy were the speeches by Cátia Pinto (former director of SF Colab) and Sonia Marroyo, CEO of the Portuguese cheese factory Quinta do Pomar, which was awarded the title of best cheese producer in the world. Marroyo emphasized the essential role of family businesses in agriculture and livestock farming. Also recognized were Rosa Vañó, CEO of Aceites Castillo de Canena in Jaén, and Begoña Perez Villarreal of EIT Food, part of the European Commission.
The mayor of Fundão, Paulo Fernandes, closed the day with a moving speech, quoting the fable of the hummingbird as a symbol of how small actions can generate great changes, reminding everyone that Fundão, like Granada, “is that hummingbird doing its part to change the world.”
Source: IDEAL