Smart farming, nature and green tech in the RomeCup 2026 demonstration area
From robots that pick fruit without damaging it to smart greenhouses controlled by artificial intelligence, right through to IoT systems that monitor miniature ecosystems. At the demonstration area of the RomeCup 2026, taking place in Rome from 28 to 30 April, start-ups and innovators will present prototypes and technological solutions that illustrate how agriculture and our relationship with the environment are changing thanks to research and innovation.
RomeCup, the multi-event promoted by the Fondazione Mondo Digitale ETS and titled this year “What’s next? Intelligence and talent in dialogue”, explores the future of education, research and business through dialogue between the humanities and computational sciences, with a focus on augmented languages.
Within the event, the demonstration area serves as a meeting point for applied research, entrepreneurship and the public, where visitors can view and test prototypes developed by start-ups and innovation centres.
Among the projects presented in the area dedicated to smart agriculture, nature and green tech, the start-up Capio Robotics is showcasing soft robotics systems equipped with 3D vision and sensor fusion, designed to handle fresh fruit and vegetables without damaging them. The aim is to improve the efficiency of packaging lines and reduce waste in the agri-food supply chain.
RomeCup is also an opportunity to discover new models of sustainable cultivation. In the demonstration area, visitors can learn about H40, the world’s first patented system for organic hydroponic gardening and horticulture, which simplifies soilless cultivation through a hybrid solution designed to make domestic and urban production more accessible.
Innovation also extends to the greenhouses of the future. The start-up Agrisky presents solutions based on artificial intelligence and robotics to transform traditional greenhouses into Smart Greenhouses 4.0, capable of automatically monitoring and optimising key parameters such as temperature, irrigation and air quality.
Technology and nature also come together in environmental monitoring systems. With Terrario Evoluto, microelectronics enters a closed ecosystem: the prototype integrates IoT sensors within a terrarium and uses a 3D-printed smart lid that allows the microclimate to be remotely controlled and managed via Wi-Fi and a dedicated app.
Still on the subject of environmental wellbeing, the start-up AuraSystem is bringing Sphera to RomeCup, a breathable green wall designed to improve indoor air quality. The system functions as a natural biofilter, helping to make workplaces, schools and public spaces healthier.
Finally, the start-up Anostra is presenting a prototype agricultural retrofit for autonomous driving, which transforms a manual mulcher into a vehicle controllable via an app. The solution aims to increase operator safety and open up new prospects for the automation of agricultural activities.
From soft robotics to hydroponics, from IoT systems to smart greenhouses, the prototypes presented in the RomeCup demonstration area illustrate an increasingly connected, sustainable and data-driven agriculture, where technology and nature work together to tackle the environmental and food challenges of the future.
