Brussels, 22 April 2026 At a webinar organised by the EU Commission 19 March 2026, participants discussed how to improve interoperability, build trust in AI tools, reduce administrative burdens, and help farmers and innovators benefit from more accurate, sector-specific solutions. The 1st part of the 5th Apply AI webinar showcased the potential of Artificial Inteligence (AI) in Europe’s agri-food sector. Representatives from Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG Connect) and the Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development (DG AGRI) discussed how AI can enhance sustainability, efficiency, and competitiveness in agriculture and tackle challenges that hinder the adoption of AI-based solutions across the EU. AI already supports precision farming, automation, and reduced administrative burdens, uptake of digital technologies in the EU is slower than in other parts of the world. Factors such as a lack of trust, lock-in effects, cost-effectiveness, and interoperability issues often discourage farmers and start-ups from using new technologies. Besides, innovative solutions frequently do not reach or sustain on the market. To address these issues, the Commission has launched a number of measures. Two initiatives particularly foster AI adoption: a marketplace for AI-based agri-food solutions and capacity building for agriculture-specific foundation models. A Digital Marketplace for Smart Farming The proposed AI marketplace will act as a central hub where farmers, advisers, and agri-food businesses can discover and compare AI-enabled tools. By providing independent reviews and a search engine interoperability standards, the AI Marketplace aims to facilitate seamless switching between vendors, building trust and a level playing field for applications. The marketplace will make it easier for innovators and startups to bring their solutions to the market, boosting healthy competition and innovation. Strengthening Data Foundations High-quality agricultural data is key to reliable AI – yet access across Europe remains fragmented. The Common European Agricultural Data Space (CEADS)