The Agricultura, Ramaderia, Pesca i Alimentació department (DARPA), in collaboration with the Eurecat technology centre, has awarded the Ruralapps 2025 prizes to four technological and innovative solutions that promote digital transformation in the agri-food, forestry and rural sectors.
The AG-X robot created by AGRINPULSE, fully electric and autonomous with the aim of reducing costs and addressing labour shortages in the countryside, and the nanosatellite system promoted by the company Sateliot, which guarantees global coverage in areas without terrestrial networks, were the winners of the Ruralapps-Professional and Ruralapps-Citizen Science categories respectively, each receiving a prize of €5,000.
In addition to the winning initiatives, two nominations were granted, each endowed with €2,000, to an advanced digital solution for sustainable forest management by KPSDRONS, and to a digital platform for reducing food waste through automatic calculations in the digital environment by PROPPOS.
In total, €14,000 have been awarded this year through prizes promoted by the General Directorate of Agri-food Enterprises, Quality and Gastronomy of DARPA, in an edition that received a total of 21 applications: 14 for the professional category and 7 for the citizen science category. The technological solutions presented, both the award winners and finalists, contribute to improving production and management, increasing efficiency and safety, strengthening traceability, optimizing commercialization and enhancing market presence from the field to the consumer.
Over these 12 years, including the current call, 296 applications have been submitted to these awards, of which 166 were in the professional category and 130 in citizen science.
The event was chaired by the councillor of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food, Òscar Ordeig. In his welcome address, he stated that “Catalonia is a country that innovates, and the primary sector is one of its best examples. The projects awarded today at the Ruralapps 2025 Awards show us that technology is not only a tool, but a lever for the future to guarantee a vibrant, strong and competitive rural world. From autonomous robots to nanosatellites that connect areas without coverage, all these solutions have a direct impact on the lives of people who work the land, manage forests and process food. We will continue working to ensure that digitalization reaches all farms, all territories and all generations. The rural world has a future, and it has it thanks to innovation.”
In addition to the presentation of the awards by the councillor and brief individual presentations by the finalists and winners, the event featured a welcome performance and a round table discussion with the awardees on the future of the agri-food industry.
For his part, the Director of the Applied Artificial Intelligence Unit at Eurecat, Xavier Domingo, delivered the keynote speech “The future of technology applied to agriculture, livestock and food.”
Hosted and moderated by the head of Singular Food Projects at Eurecat, Ignasi Papell, the event concluded with remarks by the director General of Agri-food Enterprises, Quality and Gastronomy, Joan Gòdia: “The Ruralapps 2025 Awards are an example of the talent, creativity and innovative drive that we have in our country. I would especially like to congratulate the awarded projects and all the applications submitted, which demonstrate that digitalization is already a key element in strengthening sustainability, traceability and the modernization of the agri-food sector.”
The Ruralapps 2025 awards ceremony took place within the framework of Novembre INNOVA, a cycle of activities organized by the Department of Agriculture with the aim of fostering collaboration and accelerating the transition towards a more sustainable, digitalized and efficient productive model. Digital transformation in the sector increasingly requires tools and systems throughout the entire value chain, and this process is accompanied by the growth of companies developing digital solutions based on data and emerging technologies. The awards therefore aim to encourage this innovation and the development of new technological solutions.
About the winners and nominees
Winner: AG-X, electric and autonomous robot by AGRINPULSE 2024, SL (Ruralapps Professional)
The robot created by Agrin’pulse is 100% electric and autonomous and does not require a driver. The machine can perform tasks such as spraying, mulching, harvesting fruit or working in vineyards with row spacing of up to 1.5 meters, thereby automating agricultural tasks and addressing labor shortages in the countryside. The system allows the attachment of tools already used by farmers, making the robot a flexible and cost-effective alternative to conventional tractors. With this agricultural robot, operating costs have been reduced by up to four times thanks to energy savings, lower maintenance and the elimination of fossil fuels.
Winner: NB-IoT satellite connectivity service for the digitalization of the agri-food and rural sector (Ruralapps Citizen Science)
The infrastructure consists of a constellation of nanosatellites in low Earth orbit that act as mobile towers in space. This system, promoted by the company Sateliot, enables the connection of NB-IoT sensors in remote areas without terrestrial coverage, guaranteeing global connectivity. In this way, it eliminates the need for physical infrastructure and facilitates the digitalization of agricultural, livestock and environmental activities. The tool, which integrates artificial intelligence to optimize data and processes such as irrigation, crop monitoring or livestock control, reduces costs and opens up new opportunities for companies and research centres.
Nominee: KPSDRONS, radical transformation of the forest inventory process with LiDAR technology (Ruralapps Professional)
The technological solution enables forest inventories using drones and advanced sensors. The combination of aerial and terrestrial LiDAR technology with multispectral and thermal cameras makes it possible to obtain comprehensive forest data with high precision and speed, reducing reliance on traditional manual methods. The innovation lies in the integration of structural and physiological data: 3D models to calculate heights and volumes, detailed information on undergrowth and vegetation health indicators. The tool achieves a positive impact through more efficient management, cost and time savings, and the creation of new professional opportunities in rural environments linked to forest digitalization.
Nominee: PROPPOS, technology to measure and reduce food waste (Ruralapps Citizen Science)
PROPPOS is a digital tool created by Marta López Poch with the aim of measuring food waste in facilities with food services. The solution has two versions: one with a smart scale to automatically record leftover food, and another using artificial intelligence to automatically calculate wasted food and intake. In this way, it enables facilities to comply with regulations, improve food efficiency and reduce costs. In addition, the tool contributes to sustainability and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
