The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), in partnership with the German Agricultural Society (DLG), is inviting students, researchers, faculty members, startups, engineers, developers, and innovators across Southeast Asia to participate in the Agritechnica Hackathon and compete for the SEARCA AGRINNOVATE Farmer-First Award.
Set to take place during the AGRINNOVATE Southeast Asia Summit at Agritechnica Asia 2026, the event is scheduled for 20–22 May 2026 at the Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre (BITEC), Thailand. The summit will gather regional and global leaders in smart farming, digital agriculture, automation, sustainability, and agricultural innovation.
At the center of the summit is the Agritechnica Hackathon, organized in collaboration with the DLG Prototype Club, where participants will work onsite to design and develop practical, AI-powered solutions to address real-world agricultural challenges.
The hackathon is open to individual participants and teams from Southeast Asia, including students, researchers, teaching faculty, startup founders, developers, designers, young professionals, and agricultural and engineering innovators.
Participants will be challenged to solve four real-world agricultural technology use cases:
1. "Where's My Machine?" – Machine Tracker for Big Farms
Develop a real-time machine tracking and monitoring system that enables farm operators to track the location and utilization of agricultural machinery across large-scale operations.
2. Driver Monitoring – "Who Is Doing the Best Job?"
Design a system that evaluates and compares driver performance using data-driven insights to improve safety, efficiency, and operational accountability.
3. Master of Plowing – "Plow as Much as Possible Before the Rain"
Create an intelligent path-planning or optimization solution that maximizes field operations under time constraints and unpredictable weather conditions.
4. Surprise Box – "Get the Most Out of One Machine Interface"
Transform limited machine data into a practical and intelligent application that delivers actionable insights for farmers through innovative interface design.
Winning teams will receive the SEARCA AGRINNOVATE Farmer-First Award, recognizing AI-driven and technology-enabled solutions that deliver meaningful impact for farmers through practical, accessible, and human-centered innovation.
Submissions will be evaluated based on their contribution to four sustainability dimensions:
- Pocket – improving farmer income, productivity, and economic resilience
- Plate – strengthening food security, nutrition, and food systems
- Place – promoting environmental sustainability and climate resilience
- People – enhancing inclusion, community well-being, and quality of life
Award recipients will gain access to SEARCA's innovation ecosystem, including incubation and acceleration support, mentoring and capacity-building programs, networking opportunities with international experts, and linkages with universities, innovation hubs, and technology business incubators across Southeast Asia and beyond. These pathways are designed to help promising prototypes progress toward piloting, commercialization, and real-world deployment.
"Farmers must remain at the center of agricultural innovation. Through the AGRINNOVATE Southeast Asia Summit and the Agritechnica Hackathon, we aim to empower the next generation of innovators to develop solutions that are not only technologically advanced, but also practical, inclusive, and responsive to the realities faced by farming communities," said Dr. Emil John Cabrera, Program Head of SEARCA's Emerging Innovation for Growth Department (EIGD).
He added, "The SEARCA Agrinnovate Farmer-First Award reflects our commitment to supporting innovations that improve livelihoods, strengthen food systems, and contribute to sustainable agricultural transformation in Southeast Asia."
Participation in the hackathon is free. Selected participants will also gain access to AGRITECHNICA ASIA activities, networking sessions, and collaboration opportunities with international agriculture and technology stakeholders.
Interested participants may register and learn more via the following links:
About SEARCA
The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) is one of the specialist institutions of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO). SEARCA accelerates transformation through agricultural innovation in Southeast Asia by strengthening human, institutional, and knowledge capacities.
About DLG (German Agricultural Society)
The German Agricultural Society (DLG) is an internationally recognized organization promoting innovation in agriculture and the food sector through exhibitions, knowledge exchange, networking, and applied research. DLG organizes AGRITECHNICA, the world's leading trade fair for agricultural machinery and smart farming