Agrokomplex in Nitra celebrated half a century of its existence this year. From 3. – 7. September, the exhibition grounds were filled with farmers, students, families, and experts from across Slovakia and abroad. More than 92,000 visitors attended. This undoubtedly proves that it is the largest agricultural event of the year – also on an international scale. What did participation in this event bring to PEDAL Consulting?
A Place Where Tradition Meets Innovation
The ceremonial opening of the exhibition was attended by the President of Slovakia Peter Pellegrini and the Minister of Agriculture Richard Takáč. In his speech, the president emphasized the importance of food security and self-sufficiency.
The exhibition offered everything – from the largest showcase of agricultural machinery, live demonstrations from Slovak shepherd farms and food tastings to expert discussions on the future of the sector. Over five days, more than 500 exhibitors from nine countries presented their work.
The atmosphere was relaxed, friendly, and open. School excursions, seniors who once farmed themselves, families with children, foreign guests, and entrepreneurs all visited the exhibition grounds.
European support for food, bioeconomy, and sustainability
PEDAL Consulting booth could be found in the hall M2, which focused on research and innovation organizations. People stopped at our booth both out of curiosity and with clear questions. They wanted to know how European projects could help them directly.
Conversations often started with simple questions:
“What benefits can projects bring directly to me?”
“How can I use them at my farm or in school?”
We answered these and other questions by introducing several European projects from our portfolio:
ALFA project
What are the possibilities of using biogas in agriculture? The project focuses on how animal residues can serve as a source of energy, helping farms reduce costs and environmental impact.
ROSETTA initiative
ROSETTA tackles the problem of food waste – especially products that often end up in the bin simply because they don’t have the “perfect” shape or size, long before reaching store shelves. The project shows how such losses can be reduced, and food can be used instead of wasted.
CARINA project
CARINA presents two new oilseed crops – carinata and camelina. These plants grow even on less fertile soil and provide oil usable in biofuels or biomaterials, while also improving crop rotation.
SOIL2POWER initiative
One of our most innovative projects presents the so-called biobattery BIOOCELL, which can generate electricity directly from soil. This concept drew great interest from end users, who discussed its future practical applications with us.
INNOAQUA project
Through the theme of sustainable aquaculture, it shows how modern fish and algae farming can complement traditional food sources and provide new solutions for the food industry.
FOODCoST initiative
FOODCoST stresses the fact that the final price tag does not cover all costs. The project explains the concept of the “true cost of food,” which includes water, soil, energy use, and climate impacts.
ONE EARTH project
It demonstrates how residues from livestock production can be processed instead of ending up in landfills – turning them into energy or new products, supporting the circular economy.
RURALITIES initiative
How can rural regions in Europe and Africa learn from one another? The project emphasizes knowledge exchange and cooperation, bringing new opportunities also to smaller Slovak municipalities.
SKILLBILL project
SKILLBILL particularly appealed to teachers and students. It offers online courses and a Green Portal – easy ways to access education about renewable energy and its practical use.
GenB initiative
GenB attracted children and teachers with educational brochures and the „What´s Bioeconomy?“ book. Visitors also enjoyed the Bio Art Gallery, which showcased alternative uses of mushrooms, or manure. The project introduces bioeconomy to the younger generation, showing that nature-related topics can be explained in a playful and accessible way.
Visitors left our booth with new knowledge about the challenges and trends European research is tackling today. We were also pleased that many universities, research organizations, and companies expressed interest in cooperation. Agrokomplex thus proved to be a place where traditional agriculture also opens doors to the future.
New oilseed crops = New opportunities for Slovak agriculture
As a side event, we organized an expert presentation “Intelligent crops, stronger future – Discover carinata & camelina with the CARINA project.” It attracted many visitors – from the general public to research experts.
We presented CARINA project, which focuses on cultivating two lesser-known but promising oilseed crops – carinata and camelina. We explained why these plants are interesting:
The topic attracted great interest. The practical potential of carinata and camelina resonated strongly with many participants. Discussions about where these crops could be grown and what new opportunities they could bring for Slovak agriculture continued at our booth.
The presentation showed that the CARINA initiative has significant potential for Slovak agriculture – not only as a source of innovation but also as a practical response to climate and economic challenges.
Innovation makes sense when it’s for people
For us, Agrokomplex 2025 was not just about presenting projects. It was a space for awareness-raising, building trust, and seeking practical solutions – from small households to entire municipalities, from farmers to researchers.
We would also like to highlight that Agrokomplex paid attention to inclusivity. It was a pleasant surprise that even at such a large-scale event, visitors with disabilities were not forgotten. Accessible spaces, support services, and an open atmosphere made the exhibition a place where everyone could truly feel welcome.
We left the exhibition with many new contacts, fresh ideas, and the confirmation that innovation only makes sense when it is understandable and applicable for people in everyday life.
