The AgriNext Summit 2026 brought together more than 150 agri-startups from across the country at the Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) campus, highlighting technology-driven solutions aimed at addressing critical challenges faced by farmers.
Held under the theme “Technology to the Fields, Transformation to the Harvest,” the Kochi Agri Innovation Expo is organised by KSUM in association with the Kerala Agriculture Department and the World Bank.
The event seeks to bridge the gap between lab-based innovation and real-world farming by taking advanced technologies directly to farmers and offering a comprehensive look at how innovation is reshaping agriculture.
Diverse Agri-Startup Innovations on Display
Kochi Agri Innovation Expo reflected the diversity and dynamism of India’s agri-innovation ecosystem.
The exhibition featured a wide variety of products – from vacuum-fried jackfruit chips developed in Wayanad to a robotic grafting machine prototype for nurseries, AI-driven robotic crop monitoring systems, and banana fibre-based leather alternatives crafted into bags and shoes by a Jaipur-based startup.
By bringing these innovations under one roof, Kochi Agri Innovation Expo demonstrated how startups are transforming agriculture through automation, artificial intelligence, sustainable materials, and value-added processing.
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Kochi Agri Innovation Expo: Coconut-Harvesting Robot ‘Cocobot’ Draws Attention
A major attraction at Kochi Agri Innovation Expo was Cocobot, a coconut-harvesting robot developed by Altersage. The prototype, expected to hit the market within six months, is designed to address the growing shortage of skilled coconut tree climbers.
“Cocobot is the world’s first commercially viable coconut-harvesting robot—mounting a tree in seconds, climbing in under a minute, harvesting in minutes, and eliminating risky human tree climbing. Shortage of labour to fetch coconuts led us to come up with the idea,” said Gokul Krishnan, CTO of Altersage.
The unveiling of Cocobot at Agri Innovation Expo Kochi underscored how robotics and automation are being leveraged to solve real-world farm labour constraints.
Wildlife Deterrent Technologies and Smart Farming Tools
Kochi Agri Innovation Expo also featured innovative wildlife deterrent technologies that use controlled sound, light, and spark-based systems to safely keep animals such as monkeys and wild pigs away from fields.
A wide array of digital platforms and smart applications were showcased to support farmers in their day-to-day operations.
These included tools for weather forecasting, soil assessment, AI-powered crop health monitoring, and precision aerial spraying systems designed to target only affected plants.
Through such practical applications, Kochi Agri Innovation Expo highlighted how technology can enhance productivity, reduce input costs, and improve farm resilience.
Also Read: Bartronics India to Launch Voice-First AI Agritech App for Rural Farmers
AI Platforms Empowering Farmers
Among the digital initiatives showcased at Kochi Agri Innovation Expo is the Kerala Farmer Confidence Copilot, developed in collaboration with Digital University Kerala. The platform functions as a one-stop advisory and support system for farmers.
Another notable platform, Canopy, is an AI-driven solution enabling coffee growers to monitor yield, detect diseases, and manage plantations in real time.
By integrating AI and real-time analytics into agriculture, Kochi Agri Innovation Expo demonstrated how digital transformation is empowering farmers with data-driven decision-making tools.
Value-Added Farm Products and Direct Market Access
Kochi Agri Innovation Expo also featured a range of value-added farm products, including ginger and fruit wines, cassava-based textile care sprays, fish-waste-derived organic fertilizers, and banana plant-based biodegradable products such as organic tea cups.
Several farmer-focused e-commerce platforms were showcased, helping producers directly market their value-added goods and strengthen farm-to-market linkages.
By bringing together innovators, policymakers, investors, and farmers under one roof, Kochi Agri Innovation Expo is aimed at catalysing a new wave of technology-led transformation in Indian agriculture, empowering farmers to become modern, resilient, and future-ready.
