Five students from the Agricultural University of Iceland represented the university at the UNIgreen SURES Innovation Challenge Grand Final, held at SupBiotech in Paris from 26-30 October 2026. The event brought together 15 finalist teams from across the eight universities of the UNIgreen Alliance, providing students with an opportunity to present innovative solutions addressing challenges in sustainable agriculture, biotechnology, environmental sciences, and food systems.

The SURES (Start-Ups for Research) Programme aims to foster entrepreneurship and support the development of innovative start-ups by encouraging students and young researchers to transform promising ideas into impactful solutions.

Representing Iceland were two teams selected through the local UNIgreen SURES Challenge Lab hosted by the Agricultural University of Iceland earlier this year.

The first team, Prince Addai and Salahuddin Noori, presented ArcticBioLoop: AI-Powered Bio-Digital Soil Intelligence System for Climate-Smart Agriculture. Their project proposes an innovative combination of artificial intelligence, connected soil sensors, biochar, and basalt-based soil enhancement technologies to support climate-smart agriculture in Arctic regions. The concept aims to help farmers make data-driven decisions, improve productivity, strengthen climate resilience, and contribute to more secure and sustainable food systems in Iceland and beyond.

The second team, consisting of Heiðrún Hrund Sigurðardóttir, Sigríður Ósk Jónsdóttir, and Svala Valborg Fannarsdóttir, presented Grænir Hagar, a sustainability-focused business concept that combines sheep farming, land restoration, and carbon offsetting. Through a sheep sponsorship model, the project seeks to support farmers while promoting responsible grazing management, ecosystem restoration, and increased carbon sequestration. The concept also aims to strengthen connections between consumers and agriculture through transparency and engagement.

Even though the Icelandic teams did not win the compeition, the participation proved to be a valuable experience. The participants attended workshops, inspirational lectures, and discussions with entrepreneurs and innovation experts, along with presenting their idea to an international jury. They also visited Genopole, one of Europe's leading biotechnology innovation hubs, and had the opportunity to network with students, researchers, and staff from across the alliance.

Participation in the Paris final highlights the creativity, ambition, and entrepreneurial spirit of students at the Agricultural University of Iceland. The event offered a valuable platform for developing international connections, gaining feedback from experts, and exploring how innovative ideas can contribute to a more sustainable future. The university congratulates Prince Addai, Salahuddin Noori, Heiðrún Hrund Sigurðardóttir, Sigríður Ósk Jónsdóttir, and Svala Valborg Fannarsdóttir on representing Iceland and the university with distinction at this international event.