ÁGORA Datalab and the Demonstration Center for the Agri-Food Data Space of Andalusia

ÁGORA Datalab is an innovation and research center in Data Spaces at the University of Málaga that offers society its capabilities, services, and the necessary technological infrastructure to support the deployment of the data economy. It facilitates the discovery and validation of new business models in the data economy and their deployment on federated data space platforms through tools that support proof of concept and pilot project incubation. It also offers validation and certification of European standards, specialized consulting, and advanced training for companies and organizations that wish to integrate Data Space platforms into their digital strategies.

Data Spaces are technological platforms based on recent industrial standards that allow interoperability between different sources of information while guaranteeing digital sovereignty. Data owners maintain control over their use and access, promoting a trusted environment where multiple actors can collaborate securely. Agri-food companies, public administrations, universities, and technology providers will be part of this ecosystem, driving innovation and sustainability in the sector.

The digital transformation of the agri-food sector in Andalusia is taking a crucial step towards the creation of the Agri-Food Data Space of Andalusia (EDAAn). From ÁGORA Datalab, a project is being developed, promoted by the University of Málaga and funded by the State Secretariat for Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence (SEDIA), which seeks to transform the way farmers, cooperatives, and, in general, the agri-food industry manage and share information. The ultimate goal is to facilitate a secure, interoperable, and sovereign digital ecosystem that allows process optimization, the discovery and access to new opportunities and business models, and the creation of a digital services market that generates diversity and competition in the supply of these services, thus improving their quality/price ratio and enabling broader access to the application of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and big data analysis.

This initiative of ÁGORA Datalab arises in response to the need to structure a data exchange space in the agri-food sector, aligned with the European Data Strategy. Through the creation of a Demonstration Center, a testing and training environment will be provided where companies, administrations, and researchers can experiment with data technologies, ensuring their feasibility and compliance with European regulations. This Demonstration Center, initially managed by the University of Málaga, aims to generate the necessary experience to evolve into a regional and institutional federated Data Space, contributing to maintaining Andalusia as a benchmark in the digital transformation of the agri-food sector.

As part of the project, technological demonstrators based on previous projects from the University of Málaga will be implemented, which will show how to generate value from data in a secure and reliable data-sharing environment and, in general, will illustrate the innovation processes in the context of the data economy and how they are deployed on data space platforms. Among these demonstrators, notable examples include tools for crop yield prediction through the analysis of climatic and agronomic data, pest monitoring in crops such as olive groves, tracking water stress in Andalusian crops, and sustainable aquifer control with sensors and artificial intelligence.

In addition to its role as an experimentation environment, the Demonstration Center will have a strong educational vocation. Educational material will be developed on Data Spaces, regulations such as GDPR and the European Data Strategy, and key technologies such as IDS and Gaia-X. The University of Málaga will offer micro-credentials for professionals in the sector, including specific training for different profiles. This training will enable sector actors to adopt data space technologies more easily and maximize their potential in agri-food applications.

In this context, José Francisco Aldana, professor at the University of Málaga and deputy director of the Institute of Software Technology and Engineering, has participated in the Transfiere Forum, where he gave a presentation in which, in addition to presenting the work of ITIS UMA, he showcased these innovative initiatives. His intervention highlighted the importance of digitalization and data spaces as key tools.

This project represents a strategic opportunity to transform the Andalusian agri-food sector, promoting sustainability and competitiveness through digitalization.

For more info:
https://agora-datalab.eu/