Synergy Days 2026

20-21 October 2026 – Kilkenny, Ireland

The most important conference connecting the digital innovators of the European agri-food sector.

When

The 2026 edition of Synergy Days will take place on 20- 21 October in Kilkenny, Ireland!

For the sixth year in a row, the event will bring our community together to meet, debate, and exchange knowledge.

Contact: event@synergydays.eu

How can my project join?

Boost your project's visibility with 5 free tickets, logo placement on event marketing, GDPR-approved contacts, a project pitch, an exhibition spot, and opportunities for workshops!

Missed the project info session? See the slides here.

Are you an Irish national initiative? Get more info here.

Previous editions

Curious about the previous editions of the Synergy Days? Follow these links to find the agendas, participating projects and other related content of the previous years.

Synergy Days 2025
Synergy Days 2024

How can my company join?

Showcase your company with a premium package that includes three complimentary tickets, your logo featured across all event marketing (both EU-wide and national levels), GDPR-compliant access to delegate contact details, and a dedicated exhibition spot in our Synergy Market.

See the slides here for more details.

Registration form for SMEs is available here.

Speakers

Participating projects

Programme

Day 1, 20 October

Registration

Welcome

From research to land: How EU Innovation will boost European agriculture and farmers

Discover how AgData is turning EU innovation into real value for farmers and European agriculture. With expert insights, a farmer’s perspective, and an interactive panel, the session will spotlight how data-driven innovation can support a more effective and connected agricultural future. This will refer to current and upcoming results of the AgData partnership and explores how AgData connects with the Common European Agricultural Data Space (CEADS) and the Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System (AKIS) to strengthen policy uptake, stakeholder collaboration, and practical impact on the ground.

Speakers:

Jesper Stendal - AgData coordinator/ Danish Agency for Green Land Redevelopment and Aquatic Environment, Denmark

Project pitches 1

EU-projects and companies will pitch their achievements and future plans

Break

Visit the Synergy Market and meet EU-projects and companies working on digital innovations in agri-food

People at the Heart of Digital Agrifood: Skills, Inclusion and Entrepreneurship

Explore how the future of digital agrifood depends not only on technology, data and AI, but above all on people. This plenary highlights the vital role of skills, advisory systems, entrepreneurship and inclusive innovation ecosystems in accelerating digital adoption across the agri-food sector. Featuring perspectives on women, young entrepreneurs, advisors, startups, SMEs and new entrants, the session will showcase how human-centred innovation can build a more resilient, connected and inclusive agricultural future.

Speakers:

Laurence Claeys (TBC) - Product Manager at Sensolus & Guest Professor VUB, Belgium

Pitch session round 2

EU-projects and companies will pitch their achievements and future plans

Lunch break & Synergy market

Visit the Synergy Market and meet EU-projects and companies working on digital innovations in agri-food

Workshop round 1

Interactive workshops are searching for synergies between various projects and initiatives on data and digital technologies in agri-food.

Break

Visit the Synergy Market and meet EU-projects and companies working on digital innovations in agri-food

Workshop round 2

Interactive workshops are searching for synergies between various projects and initiatives on data and digital technologies in agri-food.

Day 2, 21 October

Registration

AI & the Valley of Death: EDIHs, TEFs and Regions as the Deployment Fast-Lane

Explore how promising AI solutions in agri-food can move beyond pilot projects and into real-world use. This plenary brings together SMEs, farmers, investors, EDIHs, TEFs and regional actors to examine the barriers between validation and adoption. Through real SME stories and a dynamic panel discussion, the session will spotlight what is needed to scale innovation faster, reduce risk, build trust and create stronger pathways from test to field across Europe’s agri-food sector.

Speakers:

Raffaele Giaffreda - AgriFoodTEF / Chief Innovation Scientist at FBK, Italy

Kiernan Sullivan - farmer, technologist and researcher, Ireland

Miran Bunderla (TBC) - DIH AgriFood / Head Of Development | Data Space Manager at ITC - Innovation Technology Cluster, Slovenia

Pitch session 3

EU-projects and companies will pitch their achievements and future plans

Designing integrated data systems that work for policymakers, administrators and farmers

Discover how integrated data systems can make agricultural policy more effective, practical and farmer-friendly. This plenary explores how data is being used to support CAP delivery, improve water quality and strengthen soil monitoring, while reducing administrative burden and turning policy into usable tools on the ground. Bringing together policymakers, sector experts and a farmer perspective, the session will examine how smarter data integration can build trust, close policy gaps and create better outcomes for both administrations and farming communities.

Break

Visit the Synergy Market and meet EU-projects and companies working on digital innovations in agri-food

Workshop round 3

Interactive workshops are searching for synergies between various projects and initiatives on data and digital technologies in agri-food.

Lunch break & Synergy market

Visit the Synergy Market and meet EU-projects and companies working on digital innovations in agri-food.

EU–Global South Data Bridges for Resilient & Fair Food Systems

Discover how the EU and the Global South can work together to build more resilient, fair and inclusive food systems through data, digital innovation and responsible AI. This plenary brings together global initiatives, policy voices and real-world innovation hubs to explore practical solutions that close the gap between research and impact. With inspiring keynote insights, concrete use cases and audience interaction, the session will spotlight new opportunities for collaboration, governance and action across regions and food value chains.

Speakers:

Charles Spillane (TBC), Chief Scientist at UN-FAO

Abhishek Sharma - IEI CoCE for Smart Agriculture, ABV IIIT&M Gwalior, India

Andre van Lammeren (TBC), Managing Director Environmental Sciences Group, Wageningen University and Research, The Netherlands

Where Data Meets the Factory Floor: Scaling Digital Food Processing in Europe

Discover why food processing is the missing middle in digital agri-food innovation. This plenary explores how data, AI and automation can deliver real impact on the factory floor by improving resource efficiency, addressing labour challenges and helping companies move from pilot projects to large-scale deployment. With practical industry examples, expert insights and an interactive discussion, the session will spotlight how digitalisation can strengthen sustainability, competitiveness and faster uptake across Europe’s food processing sector, including for SMEs.

Synergy Days 2026