In water-scarce Jordan, farmers have become experts in precision irrigation. Their systems deliver exact amounts of water directly to plant roots. Similar improvements are happening through Central Asia, where old irrigation systems are getting modern upgrades with sensors that waste less water.

Climate change pushes this innovation forward. As weather becomes less predictable, Hungarian farmers rely on weather data for planting decisions, with nearly 75% now using monitoring systems to manage drought risks. In Serbia's raspberry farms, simple monitoring technology has doubled yields in some regions, helping farmers adapt to increasingly unpredictable rainfall.

What makes these improvements practical is how they work within existing farms. Technology adoption varies by farm size – only about 8% of small farms use digital tools, while over 60% of large operations have embraced comprehensive management systems.

This approach has created a wave of local agricultural startups that understand specific regional problems.

Latvia's Green Growth developed tools that collect data directly from farm machinery to track harvests and measure sustainability. Their system helps farmers cut fertilizer use by up to 30%, saving money and reducing runoff. Jordan's Algebra Intelligence created a platform that helps farms track and optimise water use in real-time, which is critical in a region where every drop counts.

These companies bridge the gap between global tech trends and local farming realities. They design solutions for specific soil conditions, climate challenges, and local markets rather than importing ideas from elsewhere.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development recently recognised these innovators at the World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit in London through its 2024 AgVenture competition, funded by Spain through the EBRD's High-Impact Partnership on Climate Action - HIPCA (also supported by Austria, Canada, Finland, the Netherlands, South Korea, Switzerland, the TaiwanICDF, the United Kingdom and the United States of America).

Hungary's Proofminder stood out with AI software that analyses drone images, giving farmers plant-level insights that help spot problems early and reduce chemical use. Serbia's BeeHold applies similar technology to beekeeping and monitoring hive health to protect these crucial pollinators. Turkey's Farmolog helps farmers gather and report data for certifications, while Egypt's Cropsa connects agricultural suppliers and buyers through a digital marketplace.

The innovations from this region matter beyond their borders. As farms worldwide face similar pressures from climate uncertainty and resource constraints, these practical approaches offer valuable lessons. Water-saving methods developed for Jordan might help California farmers during drought. Serbia's successful approaches to monitoring crops are already spreading to neighboring countries in the Western Balkans, showing how local solutions can work across regions.

By supporting locally developed farm technologies, the region builds stronger food systems while creating solutions that could help farmers everywhere adapt to changing conditions.

This article is part of "Beyond the Valley", an editorial series exploring how founders in emerging Europe and Central Asia are building crucial technology their regions need. From modernising Soviet-era infrastructure to creating digital services from scratch, we'll show you how local entrepreneurs are solving fundamental challenges. Published by Seedstars, supported by EBRD AgVenture.