ÁGORA Datalab is a center for innovation and research in Data Spaces of the University of Malaga that offers society its capabilities, services and the technological infrastructure necessary to support the deployment of the data economy. Facilitates the discovery and validation of new business models in the data economy and their deployment on federated data space platforms through proof-of-concept support tools and pilot project incubation. It also offers validation and certification of European standards, specialized consulting and advanced training for companies and organizations wishing to integrate Data Space platforms into their digital strategies. Data Spaces are technological platforms based on recent industry standards that enable interoperability between different information sources, while guaranteeing digital sovereignty. Data owners maintain control over data use and access, promoting a trusted environment where multiple stakeholders can collaborate securely. Agri-food companies, public administrations, universities and technology providers will be part of this ecosystem, driving innovation and sustainability in the sector. The digital transformation of the agrifood sector in Andalusia is taking a crucial step towards the creation of the Agrifood Data Space of Andalusia (EDAAn).

ÁGORA Datalab is developing a project, promoted by the University of Malaga and funded by the Secretary of State for Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence (SEDIA), which seeks to transform the way in which farmers, cooperatives and the agri-food industry in general manage and share information. The ultimate goal is to facilitate a secure, interoperable and sovereign digital ecosystem that enables the optimization of processes, the discovery of and access to new opportunities and business models, and the creation of a digital services market that generates diversity and competition in the supply of these services. Thus raising their quality/price ratio and allowing wider access to the application of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and big data analysis. This initiative of ÁGORA Datalab arises in response to the need to structure a space for data exchange in the agri-food sector, aligned with the European Data Strategy. Through the creation of a Demonstration Center, a testing and training environment will be provided where companies, administrations and researchers will be able to experiment with data technologies, ensuring their viability and compliance with European regulations. This Demonstration Center, initially managed by the University of Malaga, aims to generate the necessary experience to evolve to a regional and institutional federated Data Space, contributing to maintain Andalusia as a reference in the digital transformation of the Agri-Food sector. As part of the project, technological demonstrators will be implemented based on previous projects of the University of Malaga, which will show how to generate value from data in a secure and reliable data sharing environment and which, in general, will illustrate the innovation processes in the context of the data economy and how these are deployed on data space platforms. These demonstrators include tools for crop prediction through the analysis of climatic and agronomic data, pest monitoring in crops such as olives, monitoring of water stress in Andalusian crops and sustainable control of aquifers with sensors and artificial intelligence. In addition to its role as an experimental environment, the Demonstration Center will have a strong educational vocation. Educational material will be developed on Data Spaces, regulations such as GDPR and the European Data Strategy, and key technologies such as IDS and Gaia-X. The University of Malaga will offer micro-credentials for professionals in the sector, including specific training for different profiles. This training will enable industry players to more easily adopt data space technologies and maximize their potential in agri-food. In this context, José Francisco Aldana, professor at the University of Malaga and deputy director of the Institute of Technology and Software Engineering, has participated in the Transfiere Forum, where he gave a presentation in which, in addition to presenting the work of ITIS UMA, has exposed these innovative initiatives. His speech highlighted the importance of digitalization and data spaces as key tools. This project represents a strategic opportunity to transform the Andalusian agri-food sector, promoting sustainability and competitiveness through digitalization.