Welcoming 2025: Reflecting on Progress and Strengthening Collaboration

As we step into 2025, it is a time to reflect on the milestones achieved in 2024 and reaffirm our collective commitment to advancing the agrifood value chain through innovation, collaboration, and strategic alliances.

The past year has been a pivotal period for the Traceability & Big Data Thematic Partnership. We continue on the strengthen of our position and our regions as a driving force for the digitisation of the agrifood sector, unlocking the potential of data and digital tools to address challenges and seize opportunities across the value chain. This journey would not have been possible without the dedication and cooperation of the diverse network that compone the EU agrifood sector, which spans EU regional bodies, national and regional governments, ICT companies, agrifood stakeholders, Digital Innovation Hubs (DIHs), competence centers, clusters, academic institutions, and civil society.

Highlights of 2024: Achievements That Inspire

2024 was a year of tangible progress and impactful highlights:

• Expansion of Working Groups
  Our Working Groups —focusing on Interoperability, Circular Bioeconomy, and the T&BD Road Map—made substantial advancements that will allow concrete developments in 2025. Through collaborative research, data analysis, and focused planning, these groups are developing actionable strategies to address specific challenges. Furthermore, the S3 Community of Practice has delivered critical support to our Working Groups through the Funding and ReScoping Services. Their insights gleaned from this process have laid a strong foundation for actionable projects in 2025.
• Cross-Regional Collaboration
  In 2024, the spirit of collaboration was exemplified through the submission of a joint proposal to a Horizon Europe Cluster 6 call, uniting all Agrifood Thematic Partnerships under a shared vision. Despite receiving a high evaluation, the project remains on the waiting list for EU funding.

As Simon Maas, Chair of S3P Smart Sensors for Agrifood, emphasized during the S3 Conference, we must persist in advocating for financial support for this pioneering initiative. This project represents an unprecedented collaboration among Thematic Partnerships, aiming to drive innovation and deliver tangible benefits to the entire EU agrifood community. By actively lobbying for the Commission approval and showcasing its transformative potential, we need to continue working toward securing the resources necessary to bring this visionary project to fruition.

• Strengthening Networks Across Europe and Beyond
  During the S3 Conference in Rimini, we fostered dialogue and exchange among regions, enabling new alliances and sharing best practices for scalability. These discussions reinforced the importance of knowledge sharing as a cornerstone for innovation. Following the words of Cecilia Gañán (International Consultant) during the Agrifood Steering Committee, new alliances for collaboration have to be defined on a multilevel, multiactor and multisectorial perspective, by fostering collaborative leaderships with a new role for the public as a facilitator of innovation networks.

Looking Ahead: Opportunities for 2025

As we enter the new year, our focus remains steadfast: enhancing traceability and big data applications within the agrifood value chain. The challenges ahead require coordinated action and a shared vision, and we are optimistic about the potential of our growing community to deliver meaningful change.

One of the defining moments of 2025 is the release of the T&BD Mapping Report, expertly prepared by our colleagues of Fondazione Agrifood & Bioeconomy FVG, as leaders of the T&BD Road Map Working Group. This report will provide a comprehensive overview of the activities underway across our regions, highlighting shared goals, opportunities for future collaboration, and alignment of expectations. It will serve as a valuable guide for fostering synergy and amplifying our collective impact.

In addition, the year will bring the launch of the third Service provided by the S3 Community of Practice, set to begin in the second quarter of 2025.

Another exciting development is the introduction of the I3 Support Facility. Designed to enhance stakeholder engagement and capacity building, this new framework will include an I3 Observatory, a Matchmaking Platform and a Policy Lab. The I3 Support Facility will also offer a diverse range of networking and engagement activities, including the Annual I3 Forum, topic-focused webinars, national and regional workshops, and the launch of the “Capacity Building Heroes Initiative,” designed to spotlight and empower individuals driving transformational change.

The Power of Partnerships

We recognize more and more that the agrifood and tech sectors cannot operate in silos. Building alliances that bridge these domains is essential for unlocking innovation and achieving the digital transformation we envision. Whether through enhanced data sharing, pilot projects, or joint initiatives across regions, 2025 will be a year where collaboration takes center stage.

One of the most compelling insights from our discussions in Rimini has been the remarkable breadth of common topics we collectively address—many extending beyond the Agrifood Platform itself. By leveraging Thematic Partnerships, we are able to pool our resources, ideas, and expertise effectively. While overlaps naturally exist, at the core of our mission is the belief that meaningful progress happens when we work together. The challenges facing the agrifood value chain—climate change, food security, resource efficiency, sustainability, circularity and much more—are complex and interconnected. Addressing them demands solutions that are equally integrated and cooperative.

Our efforts must be focused on amplifying our collective impact and ensuring that the benefits of digitisation and traceability reach all stakeholders, from local farmers to global markets.

In 2025, we call on all members of our community to continue building bridges within and beyond their networks. By doing so, we can accelerate innovation, enhance resilience, and create value for all.

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