{"id":37485,"date":"2025-04-15T11:27:00","date_gmt":"2025-04-15T09:27:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sandboxagrifoodtech.es\/nace-el-sandbox-agrifoodtech-una-iniciativa-para-acelerar-la-innovacion-en-el-sector-agroalimentario-que-gestionara-eatex-food-innovation-hub-by-cnta\/"},"modified":"2026-03-18T17:40:30","modified_gmt":"2026-03-18T16:40:30","slug":"spains-agrifoodtech-sandbox-is-launched-an-initiative-to-accelerate-innovation-in-the-agri-food-sector-managed-by-eatex-food-innovation-hub-by-cnta","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sandboxagrifoodtech.es\/en\/spains-agrifoodtech-sandbox-is-launched-an-initiative-to-accelerate-innovation-in-the-agri-food-sector-managed-by-eatex-food-innovation-hub-by-cnta\/","title":{"rendered":"Spain\u2019s AgriFoodTech Sandbox is launched, an initiative to accelerate innovation in the agri\u2011food sector managed by EATEX Food Innovation Hub by CNTA"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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A pioneering initiative in Spain, the Sandbox arises from the collaboration between the Spanish Government\u2019s Ministry of Science and Universities (MCIU), the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA), the regional governments of Navarra and La Rioja, and CNTA.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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At Friday\u2019s presentation, the first call for projects of the Sandbox was also launched, enabling companies to test technologies, products, services or innovative approaches that operate at the regulatory frontier.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

CNTA\u2019s headquarters (National Centre for Food Technology and Safety) hosted the official presentation<\/strong> of this groundbreaking initiative, created to accelerate innovation in the agri food sector. Spain\u2019s AgriFoodTech Sandbox<\/i><\/b> will offer companies a safe environment to test technologies, products, services or innovative approaches operating at the regulatory frontier<\/strong>, generating regulatory learnings and insights on the added value of innovations compared with current practices. EATEX Food Innovation Hub by CNTA<\/strong> will be responsible for managing the Sandbox.<\/p>\n

The initiative has been jointly developed by the Ministry of Science and Universities (MCIU), the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA), the regional governments of Navarra and La Rioja, and CNTA. Representatives from all administrations and from the technological centre took part in the presentation event, highlighting its relevance and the international positioning it offers the Spanish agri food sector.<\/p>\n

By participating in this initiative, CNTA continues to advance its commitment to transforming the future of food<\/strong>. As Silvia Garc\u00eda, Director of EATEX Food Innovation Hub by CNTA, stated, the Sandbox \u201ccreates a direct bridge between industry and regulators.\u201d<\/strong> She added: \u201cBy accelerating the adoption of key innovations, we strengthen the sector\u2019s competitiveness and lay the groundwork for a more agile regulatory framework, better suited to upcoming challenges.\u201d<\/p>\n

With the launch of the Spain\u2019s AgriFoodTech Sandbox,<\/i> Spain positions itself as a European leader in adopting this model<\/strong>\u2014already tested in other strategic sectors\u2014for the agri food industry. The program will foster dialogue between industry and regulatory authorities,<\/strong> accelerating the arrival of innovations to the market under a solid regulatory framework. It will also generate essential regulatory learnings, with conclusions that will be shared with competent authorities, contributing to the evolution of agri food regulation in Spain and Europe.<\/p>\n

Globally, countries such as Singapore, the United Kingdom and South Korea have already developed agri food sandboxes or experimentation spaces to align innovation and regulation, attracting investment and talent.<\/p>\n

First call for projects<\/strong><\/p>\n

Coinciding with the presentation of the Sandbox, the period for submitting proposals to the first call for projects has opened and will remain active until 23 May.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Startups, companies and associations<\/strong> from the sector may submit their initiatives and, if selected, will access an experimentation environment where they can test their innovations in products and processes across the agri food value chain.<\/p>\n

Selected national and international projects will have free access to the scientific technical capabilities of CNTA and its external collaborators. They will also receive regulatory guidance to carry out the necessary tests aimed at studying and validating their innovative product or process.<\/p>\n

Priority innovation areas for this first call include:<\/p>\n