This Tuesday, the “Andalusian Conference on Data Spaces” was held at the former Teacher Training College in Jaén, where it was reaffirmed that data is the essential asset for ensuring the future and competitiveness of the agri-food sector. Under the slogan “From Soil to Crop,” this event brought together government agencies, companies, and federated data spaces with the goal of promoting the creation of digital services and business models based on the intelligent exchange of knowledge and capabilities.
This conference was organized by the University Institute of Research on Olive Grove and Olive Oils (INUO) at the University of Jaén, through the Soil Data Space project, in collaboration with the Ministry for Digital Transformation and the Civil Service and the Regional Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development of the Regional Government of Andalusia.
Speakers at the opening ceremony included Nicolás Ruiz, rector of the University of Jaén; Isabel Bombal Díaz, director general of Rural Development, Innovation, and Agri-Food Training at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food (participating online); Antonio Alcolea, Deputy Director General for Programs, Governance, and Promotion at the General Directorate of Data within the Secretariat of State for Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence, under the Ministry for Digital Transformation and the Civil Service; Soledad Aranda, Regional Delegate for Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development for the Regional Government of Andalusia in Jaén; Isabel Uceda, Deputy for the Environment and the Fight Against Climate Change; and Juan Manuel Jurado, full professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Jaén and coordinator of the Soil Data Space project, among others.
In his remarks, the Rector highlighted the leading role that the UJA plays in the paradigm shift brought about by the green and digital transition in the agri-food industry, “a process in which data architecture stands out as the fundamental critical asset.” “At the UJA, we are committed to ensuring transparent governance, safeguarding data sovereignty and security, and generating real economic value in our region. And we do this because we are a university rooted in our region. We could not limit ourselves to theory when the agri-food sector faces structural challenges in which even its survival is at stake,” he stated.
Furthermore, he notes that, for years, information on soils has been scattered and fragmented. “That is why the UJA decided to take the lead, as the organization promoting the ‘Soil Data Space’ initiative, to establish a secure, interoperable infrastructure that, above all, belongs to those who generate it.” In this regard, he noted that this project is supported by a multidisciplinary team, with researchers from seven scientific fields, ranging from computer scientists and geomatics specialists to experts in environmental sciences and sociology. “Our goal is to turn isolated data into a reusable asset; therefore, we’re talking about transforming information into smart decisions that generate real economic value,” he explained. Likewise, Nicolás Ruiz told the companies participating in the conference that “participating here is not a cost; it is a strategic competitive advantage and, therefore, the key that will allow you to enter the highly competitive and comprehensive global market with greater insight,” while also noting to government agencies that “integrating this land data means, at last, making decisions based on scientific evidence.”
For his part, Juan Manuel Jurado highlighted the enormous effort made in Spain—and specifically in Andalusia—through collaboration among government agencies to facilitate the exchange of data that enables the development of new, innovative services. “Andalusia is making an effort to deploy data hubs tailored to the sector. We see the need to deploy collaborative data infrastructures that enable the exchange of data between private and public entities. We are facing a unique opportunity to establish a series of synergies and collaborations so that we can use all this data to address the challenging scenarios we face—such as droughts and floods—and develop solutions based on increasingly robust and reliable conclusions,” he stated.
Program
The first presentation was given by the Secretary of State for Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence, whose office oversees the Data Spaces Reference Center (CRED). During her remarks, she analyzed the growth of the data economy as a driver of competitiveness and detailed the opportunities offered by the Data Spaces Kit, designed to accelerate the technological transformation of the business sector.
Next, the organizing entity, Soil Data Space, presented three use cases designed to address agricultural and environmental challenges, demonstrating the potential of large-scale information sharing. First, AGRI applies precision agriculture by analyzing soil fertility and nutrient balances in real time to maximize productivity in a sustainable manner. Meanwhile, CLIMA focuses on digitizing and quantifying carbon sequestration in agricultural and forest soils, paving the way for certified credits and new green business models. Finally, HIDRO uses predictive modeling to optimize water management and prevent erosion, with a primary focus on olive groves and vulnerable areas.
The next session focused on data spaces in the agri-food sector, analyzing the current state of the Andalusian ecosystem and the role of demonstration centers in integrating new entities. Presentations in this section included EDAAn from the University of Málaga, which focused on practical demonstrations; CROPDATASPACE from the University of Almería, which emphasizes resilience and open collaboration; and RuralDATA from the University of Castilla-La Mancha, which focuses on rural development. At the same time, specialized solutions were presented for the citrus value chain with CitriData from the University of Córdoba; the fertilizer industry with FERTIDATA from Hispatec; and DATOCOLOR from Coexphal, which promotes predictive agriculture and sustainable digital transformation.
After the coffee break, the event resumed with a hands-on workshop focused on the strategic, technical, and economic benefits of joining federated data spaces. During the workshop, various external entities linked to these ecosystems presented their success stories, demonstrating the competitive advantages of their participation through tangible results. In addition, live demonstrations of data usage and analysis were conducted, allowing attendees to visualize the operational potential of these tools in their day-to-day work.
Finally, a roundtable discussion was held in which high-level experts analyzed the importance of federated data spaces in light of the sector’s current challenges. The discussion featured leading organizations such as Esri España, Cooperativas Agro-Alimentarias de España, Ihub La Vega Innova, BALAM Agriculture, and the CIIAA Chair at the University of Córdoba, and was structured around four strategic areas. During the session, the speakers delved into the journey from data to real-world impact in the field, the transition from pilot projects to large-scale interoperability solutions, and the fundamental pillars of data trust and sovereignty. Finally, they explored the new business models that are transforming the agri-food value chain.
Soil Data Space
The national “Soil Data Space” project, officially launched in October 2025, is a major initiative coordinated by the University Institute of Research on Olive Grove and Olive Oils (INUO) at the University of Jaén. With a budget exceeding one million euros, funded by European funds from the Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience Plan of the Spanish Government’s Ministry of Digital Transformation and Public Administration, and coordinated by the Data Spaces Reference Center promoted by the Secretariat of State for Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence. “Soil Data Space” aims to improve the health of agricultural soils, assess their carbon sequestration capacity in agricultural and forest environments, and advance the analysis of hydrological and erosion processes to promote smarter and more sustainable land management.
The government has allocated more than 11 million euros to the agricultural sector in Andalusia. Of this amount, 7.5 million euros come from public funding provided by the Ministry of Digital Transformation and Public Administration, representing 57% of the funds mobilized under the “Plan to Promote Data Spaces” in the autonomous community. This plan funds 24 projects in the region, 11 of which are in the agricultural sector.
Source: Universidad de Jaén Digital Newspaper (03/03/2026)
