Expocitros Tech Mapa Conecta receives registrations until August 15th

Professionals with projects, proposals and solutions for the citrus sector have until August 15, 2023 to register for the second edition of Expocitros Tech Mapa Conecta, an Agtech challenge that will bring together the best solutions for bottlenecks in the national citrus industry. This action is under the organization of the Citriculture Center “Sylvio Moreira” of the Agronomic Institute (IAC-Apta) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (Mapa), with support from Agrifutura Citros, Hub Cordeirópolis and the Agricultural Research Support Foundation ( Fundag). The projects selected in four strategic areas and indicated by the sector will be presented to a portfolio of investors held by Mapa. Participation is free and interested parties from all over Brazil can register on the website https://www.expocitros.com.br/expocitros-tech/, filling out the form available.

The objective of Expocitros Tech Mapa Conecta is to gather, share and disseminate selected technological solutions tailored to the needs of the citrus sector. The strategy also aims to connect investors and accelerators in the Brazilian innovation ecosystem, in addition to providing space for networking, visibility and business opportunities.

“This initiative will bring together the best solutions to the challenges of Brazilian citrus farming, sharing and disseminating ideas from those who make a difference. With Expocitros Tech, the IAC Citriculture Center promotes an environment of innovation required for the continued leading role of the activity in national agriculture”, comments Dirceu de Mattos Jr., researcher and director of the IAC Citriculture Center, from the Secretariat of Agriculture and Supply from Sao Paulo.

The action is carried out in the format of an Agtechs challenge, which must bring solutions to the issues highlighted by representatives of the citrus industry and opinion leaders in this segment. The strategic areas indicated are: biosolutions for phytosanitary treatment and soil fertility; drones for crop/production management, including sensing, harvest estimates, fruit size; localized sprays and consoles; digital intelligence/applications to track processes and support agronomic and agro-industrial decision-making and product certification in global and carbon credit markets; robotization/automation and harvest automation.

Participants must choose one of three modalities to register: Ideation, Operation and Traction/Scale. The evaluation will be carried out by multidisciplinary panels, made up of experts from the government, including the IAC and universities, civil society and other stakeholders in the sector. The selection will be carried out in three stages: pre-qualification on September 15th, interactive activities on September 22nd, pitch and final awards on October 06th.

The pre-selected startups will have an interactive space at a specific event to be held at the “Sylvio Moreira” Citriculture Center of the Instituto Agronomico, in Cordeirópolis, on September 22nd. “It will be a great opportunity to connect with the ecosystem and present the solution to the event’s audience”, comments Mattos Jr.

Project evaluation will be based on the following criteria: level of relevance of the proposed problem and solution; level of usability/applicability of the solution; level of innovation - originality of the proposed solution and the startup's level of experience in innovation in the citrus production chain.

“Relevant topics in citrus farming were considered in search of solutions. The notice calls for projects that can expand our collaboration arm. The idea is: 'there is a pain, the sector said that the solution to this pain is interesting and the Ministry takes this proposal and presents it to investors. This way, a solution will come, a business up front”, comments the director of the IAC Citriculture Center.