Porto-based start-up optimizes the agrifood chain with blockchain, AI, and optical sensors for sustainable agriculture
Seedsight, a start-up incubated at the University of Porto’s Science and Technology Park (UPTEC), has been awarded the Born from Knowledge (BfK) Awards, presented by the National Innovation Agency (ANI). The award recognizes Seedsight’s innovative platform, which uses cutting-edge technology to enhance future food availability while addressing agricultural sustainability challenges.
The awards ceremony, held on November 20 in Santarém, celebrated innovations rooted in scientific knowledge.
Seedsight’s platform leverages blockchain, Artificial Intelligence (AI), optical sensors, and deep learning to validate biomolecular and biophysical characteristics of cereals at scale. This technological breakthrough enables the identification of optimal seed species, origins, and suppliers, offering 20% increased productivity, 89% faster seed selection, and an 8% reduction in grain sorting costs.
The Seedsight’s solution aims to improve production, reduce waste and therefore economic losses. Our solution is a crucial tool for global food security, which will enable more informed decisions throughout the value chain. With the support of organizations like ANI, we are transforming the way the agricultural world faces the challenges of waste and efficiency,” says Gonçalo Ramos, CCO of Seedsight
The BfK Awards, part of the Crédito Agrícola Entrepreneurship and Innovation Prize, honor projects that exemplify the practical application of scientific knowledge. In addition to the accolade, the award includes a €2,500 monetary prize, reinforcing ANI’s commitment to supporting innovation in strategic sectors.
“It is gratifying to award a start-up like Seedsight, whose work not only advances the agrifood sector technologically but also fosters sustainability and resilience in food systems,” said Silvia Garcia, ANI administrator. “This innovation has real impact and proves unequivocally that science and technology can go hand in hand to address global challenges.”
Seedsight has cemented its position as a transformative player in sustainable agriculture. The start-up has participated in international acceleration programs and contributed to key initiatives, such as studies on mycotoxins in Africa. It is also part of the European Epicentre project, was a finalist in the Global Entrepreneurship Center in Düsseldorf, Germany, and won the Women in Agriculture Award 2023 at Agritechnica, Europe’s leading agritech trade fair.
Through its involvement in the Crédito Agrícola Entrepreneurship and Innovation Prize, ANI reaffirms its commitment to promoting applied R&D and supporting initiatives with lasting economic and social impact.
