b'SEED INNOVATION DAYSSeed Innovation Challenge Winner Announced from Global FieldA patented 3D phenotyping solution has been chosen the 2023 winner of Seed Innovation Challenge. The real winner of the Challenge, however, is the entire global seed industry.Madeleine BaergTHE 2023 SEEDInnovation Challenge, which culminatedful, if we are not innovative, then also the success of the farmer is at Seed Innovation Days Nov. 16 and 17, 2023 in Korneuburg,limited at the end of the day.Austria, is a global search for the most innovative new seedUnlike many industry innovation events, the Seed Innovation industry solutions. Hosted by RWA Raiffeisen Ware Austria andChallenge is spearheaded by a private company: RWA and its the Agro Innovation Lab (RWAs innovation subsidiary), theindependent innovation subsidiary, the Agro Innovation Lab. Seed Innovation Challenge drew applications from 65 innova- Whereas many companies carefully guard new innovation, RWA tors from 24 countries. Nominees innovations spanned seedand the Agro Innovation Lab do exactly the opposite: not only industry priorities from breeding and portfolio management topublicly showcasing the innovation theyve discovered through field production/seed multiplication and from factory produc- the Seed Innovation Challenge, but even inviting competitors to tion/seed processing to distribution, logistics, quality manage- participate in the intensive discussion and collaboration of the ment and more.two-day Seed Innovation Days. Mayer says collaboration is criti-Of the many nominations, the field was cut to 12 finalists, eachcal to the health of the global seed industry. of whom was invited to Austria to present their solutions to a jury at the two-day Seed Innovation Days. Finalists included inno-vators from South Korea, the U.S., the Netherlands, Germany, Hungary, Switzerland, India, Serbia, England and France. TheThe Seed Innovation Challenge shows how easily finalists presented innovations that measured pollen cells, assessed in-field performance, employed AI solutions for theinnovative methods can be integrated into existing planning and processing of seeds, applied high-technology toagricultural systems and quickly bring benefits.sowing and measurement, and powered solutions through nano-particles, 3D measurements and plasma technology. Garlich von Essen65 applications and 12 finalists all presented pitches on innovations that could indeed change the seed industry. They named a winner, and that wasnt even the most exciting part. TheThis was for us a really good opportunity as RWA to bring most exciting part was that the connections, the networking, theall these playersglobal players, local actors public affairs, conversations that happened were powerful, says Shawn Brook,authorities: really all the stakeholders linked to seed have been Seed World Group president and moderator of a panel discus- present these last two days. I think this was the one-time oppor-sion at Seed Innovation Days.tunity to really talk together about problems, and issues, and The winner was awarded 10,000 EUR as well as exclusive col- challenges for the next couple years, and to find solutions to laboration discussions.that otherwise we will not face those challenges, says Mayer.In his keynote address at the event, Garlich von Essen, secre- Brook said he left the Seed Innovation Days feeling great tary general at Euroseeds, said, The Seed Innovation Challengeconfidence about the seed industrys future.shows how easily innovative methods can be integrated intoThe people I talked to [at the Seed Innovation Days] are existing agricultural systems and quickly bring benefits. excited, they are passionate, they are committed to growing Innovation across the seed value chain is about much morethe industry and expanding the opportunities that exist for the than an individual innovators success or a collaborating partnersglobal seed industry, says Brook. Im walking away inspired growth opportunity.myself on how we can further be innovative and how we canAt the seed industry level, [innovation] is very importanthave innovative thinking integrated into our entire lives.because we are the first on the field with the seed, says FlorianFor more information about the Seed Innovation Challenge Mayer, head of seeds at RWA. Thats why, if we are not success- and Seed Innovation Days, visit www.agroinnovationlab.com.SWJANUARY 2024SEEDWORLD.COM /15'