Spain Drives Global Food Innovation with Launch of Agrifoodtech Sandbox
April 14, 2025 - 3 min read
This groundbreaking initiative is led by EATEX Food Innovation Hub by CNTA to accelerate innovation in the agri-food sector
San Adrián (Navarra), April 14, 2025 – Spain takes a major step toward shaping the future of global food systems with the launch of the Agrifoodtech Sandbox, a pioneering initiative designed to accelerate innovation in the agrifood sector. Managed by EATEX Food Innovation Hub by CNTA (National Centre for Food Technology and Safety), the sandbox offers companies a controlled, forward-looking environment to test breakthrough technologies, products, and services operating at the edge of regulatory frameworks.
This initiative is the result of a strategic alliance between Spain’s Ministry of Science and Universities, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and the regional governments of Navarra and La Rioja, in close collaboration with CNTA.
With its participation in this initiative, CNTA continues to take steps towards transforming the future of food. According to Silvia García, Director of EATEX Food Innovation Hub by CNTA, “The sandbox establishes a direct bridge between innovators and regulators. By fast-tracking the adoption of key technologies, we are boosting the competitiveness of the agrifood industry and helping shape a more agile regulatory landscape for the challenges of tomorrow.”
With the launch of the AgriFoodTech Sandbox, Spain positions itself as a European leader in adopting this model—already tested in other strategic sectors—for the agri-food industry. The program will foster dialogue between industry and regulatory authorities, accelerating the entry of innovations into the market within a solid regulatory framework. It will also generate key regulatory insights, the conclusions of which will be shared with the relevant authorities, contributing to the evolution of agri-food regulations in Spain and across Europe.
Globally, countries such as Singapore, the United Kingdom, and South Korea have already developed agri-food sandboxes or experimental spaces designed to align innovation with regulation. These initiatives are successfully attracting investment and talent, reinforcing their positions as hubs for foodtech innovation.
Global call for projects now open
The sandbox’s first call for projects is now open, running until May 23, 2025. Startups, corporations, and industry associations from around the world are invited to submit innovative solutions aligned with the future of sustainable and healthy food.
Selected projects will gain free access to CNTA’s scientific and technological capabilities, as well as those of its external partners. In addition, they will receive regulatory guidance to carry out the necessary testing for the study and validation of their innovative product or process.
The priority innovation areas for projects in this first call include: the identification or development of novel ingredients; the creation of new food and beverage products that promote healthy eating; the development of advanced food preservation and packaging strategies; and the optimization of resource use through circularity and the valorization of waste and by-products.
By launching this sandbox, Spain not only creates a springboard for global agrifood innovation but also offers a collaborative model for aligning science, regulation, and entrepreneurship—building a more resilient, sustainable, and innovative food system.
