TechCoach Innovation Camps – Tackling the Challenges of Smart Farming Technology Adoption
Smart farming technologies make agriculture more sustainable, efficient, and data-driven. Yet, their uptake remains low. Many farmers lack the necessary support and knowledge to adopt and make full use of these innovations.
The main goal of the TechCoach project is to provide farmers with opportunities to enhance their skills and make better use of smart farming techniques. The project will organise five national co-creation Innovation Camps, with a strong focus on co-innovation and multi-actor advisory systems.
An Innovation Camp is an intensive two-day event where a multidisciplinary group of participants – including agricultural advisors, farmers, representatives of EIP-Agri operational groups, AKIS actors, researchers, and technology providers – come together with a shared goal: to foster creativity and develop smart farming solutions.
The camps are expected to produce practical solutions to on-farm challenges, improve participants’ problem-solving skills, and enhance their ability to utilise smart farming technologies. Additionally, the camps provide participants with a powerful toolkit for future use and promote knowledge exchange and collaboration across different stakeholders.
Solving Local Challenges – Jamk operates as Organiser and Facilitator Trainer for innovation camps
The first Innovation Camp will be held in Finland in November 2025. During the camp, 4 – 5 groups consisting of different stakeholders will work to find solutions to one or more pre-defined local challenges.
Jamk has previously organised bioeconomy innovation camps through the BioBoosters Business Accelerator. In addition to the november camp, Jamk will train experts from other participating countries to facilitate Innovation Camps in their own regions. Since each country faces different challenges, each camp will address a uniquely defined issue.
Low Adoption of Smart Farming Technologies
Despite the significant benefits of smart farming technologies, their adoption remains relatively low. The camps aim to promote uptake by addressing perceived complexity, lack of information, and social factors influencing farmers’ decisions.
Need for Tailored Advisory Services
Farmers need impartial and independent advice, preferably from their peers. The camps promote multi-actor advisory systems, preferably peer-to-peer, that prioritise farmers’ needs and enable knowledge exchange among diverse stakeholders.
Complex On-Farm Challenges
Farmers face challenges such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving water and soil quality, and maintaining biodiversity. The camps help develop holistic approaches to solving these interconnected issues using smart farming technologies.
Fostering Collaboration and Innovation
The camps promote multi-actor collaboration, bringing together various stakeholders to co-create comprehensive solutions. This collaboration fosters innovation and facilitates the co-development and adoption of new technologies to improve productivity, resilience, and sustainability.
Building Capacity and Resilience
Through training and knowledge exchange, the camps enhance farmers’ capacity and resilience, supporting skill development and informed decision-making.
Addressing Communication and Resource Constraints
Multi-actor advisory systems may face communication challenges, power imbalances, and resource limitations. The camps aim to address these risks through careful planning, transparent governance structures, and inclusive methods.
Schedule
- 1 July – 11 August 2025: Challenge survey open
- 2 September 2025: Challenge announcement webinar – open to all interested
- 4 November 2025: Virtual Kick-Off – for camp participants
- 26–27 November 2025: Innovation Camp
The Innovation Camp will be held at the Korpirauha Camp Centre in Siuntio, with space for 20 participants. Travel costs within Finland will be reimbursed, and accommodation (1 night) and meals during the camp will be provided. Participant applications open in September 2025.
Join us on the journey to shape the future of agriculture – together!
More infromation
Gilbert Ludwig
Hanna Lampinen-Vilkkilä
TechCoach is an EU-funded, five-country project aiming to bridge the gap in support and knowledge for farmers in adopting and utilising smart farming technologies by strengthening the skills of agricultural advisors. Advisors play a key role as intermediaries between farmers, technology providers, and research institutions. Finland is represented in the project by JAMK Bioeconomy Institute and the ProAgria Centres Association. Other participating countries include the Netherlands, Italy, Greece, and Hungary.
For more information, contact:
Maria Suomela, ProAgria Centres Association, [email protected]
