A few days ago, Málaga wrapped up the second edition of Expo AgriTech, the largest technology fair for agriculture, drawing 8,149 professionals and 412 international speakers. Based on the trends and market analysis conducted at the event, which is supported by the Junta de Andalucía and carried out with co-financing from the European Union through the FEDER European funds, ten focal areas have been defined that will shape the industry in 2026. Expo AgriTech, as the event noted, underscored a roadmap for the agricultural sector in the coming years.
Carbon credits become tangible: €40–€90 per hectare (roughly $44–$99 per hectare, about $18–$40 per acre)
Farmers applying regenerative agriculture are beginning to receive financial compensation based on the CO2 sequestered. As presented at Expo AgriTech, currently paying between €40-€90 per hectare is driving farmers’ profits. The challenge today is how the entire portfolio of farms can measure carbon absorption to benefit from credits. Likewise, thanks to this practice, large food companies are offering attractive remuneration when it is demonstrated that soil carbon has increased on the farm’s soil.
The lack of generational renewal will remain one of the biggest challenges in 2026. The average age of farmers in Spain is 62, and young people find it difficult to start due to barriers to investing, to land access, and to production resources.
To encourage new professionals to enter the sector, communities are developing various plans. This is the case of Murcia, which has launched a land bank to facilitate access for new farmers; the Community of Madrid, which proposes public-land auction processes for farming; or Castilla y León, which has promoted a digital extension program for agriculture. In fostering talent, the role of agro-influencers—who bring visibility to entrepreneurial farming efforts—stands out as well.
Regulatory pressure, foreign sales, and competition
The macroeconomic and geopolitical context will continue to shape the agricultural agenda in 2026. Three factors will keep impacting farmers’ day-to-day: European regulatory pressure, conditions in foreign markets, and the emergence of new countries with productions at more competitive prices. In this context, the agricultural sector also anticipates changes with the new CAP (Common Agricultural Policy), which is expected to provide less direct subsidy funding to farmers. At the same time, the EU-Mercosur agreement is moving closer to approval, which will bring important developments.
Data spaces, the technology revolution
Data spaces will become a key technology for the industry. This innovation consists of digital environments where relevant information for the sector is collected, stored, managed, and shared. The current challenge is getting farmers to share data and to perceive this ecosystem as a high-value strategic and economic opportunity. At Expo AgriTech, plans for the Data Space Demonstration Center for Agri-Food in Andalusia were presented, promoting the development of these infrastructures in the region.
Cybersecurity, automation, and robotics for a more competitive farm
Joining exponential technologies such as blockchain, virtual reality, and AI, which are already transforming the agri-food sector, are cybersecurity strategies. Experts at the gathering stressed the need to raise awareness among farmers about using tools to shield themselves from the rising tide of cyberattacks. Other factors that will continue to boost the sector’s competitiveness are automation and robotics.
According to the IFR, agriculture ranks in the top five professional applications for robots, with 19,500 units sold in 2024. Moreover, specialists have advocated relaxing European regulations on the use of autonomous machinery to ease its integration.
Soil, healthier
Recognizing that regenerative agriculture involves investment and financial risk, experts agreed that soil health, crop quality, and decarbonization will remain fundamental to the future of farming. Proposals such as nanotechnologies, nanobubbles, or microbiology will help reduce the farmer’s dependence on phytochemical products. Other approaches, such as pyrolysis — a process that decomposes organic matter using heat without oxygen to produce gas, oil, and biochar — are being explored as options to improve drought-affected soils, since biochar can help increase water retention and provide stable carbon to the soil.
In search of solutions to the water challenge, water management will remain a priority for the agricultural sector over the coming year. To increase efficiency and ensure supply, initiatives such as hydroinfiltration, led by the Hydrolivar Operational Group, have been presented — a new system that allows rainwater to reach the roots directly, preventing it from accumulating only on the surface. Similarly, virtual weather stations and smart-management tools have emerged as levers to optimize water resources, enabling more accurate decision-making.
New business models
Farmers are venturing into intermediary-free models, prioritizing direct contact with consumers. Online sales platforms are booming, ensuring fair prices for products and boosting profitability. Beyond this option, in retail there are pioneering payment models with farmers based on agreements among retailers, professionals, banks, and financial institutions. These models can help enable certifications that recognize the effort in improving impact.
Less waste, closing the loop
The agricultural sector is also betting on digital tools to promote a circular economy and reduce waste. An example is Biosasun, which uses biotechnology to transform the remaining olive by-products into raw materials used in other sectors such as cosmetics, probiotics, and prebiotics.
The important role of cooperatives
In collaboration with technology centers, cooperatives are stepping up to reinforce their competitiveness, profitability, and sustainability by embracing innovation. Expo AgriTech examined projects such as the use of monitoring sensors in crops or yield prediction via drone flights, though calls were made for greater public-private collaboration and training offerings to overcome the cultural barrier to digital adoption within these cooperatives.
