trans4num INSPIRE hackathon 2026

Design the Future Landscape of the Limfjord

Dates: 22–23 October 2026

Format: Hybrid / In-person (Aarhus, Denmark) & Online Collaboration

Organisers: Plan4all, trans4num Consortium, Aarhus University (Department of Agroecology)

Target Audience: Researchers, GIS & data specialists, developers, farmers, agronomists, policy experts, and students

About the Hackathon

What could the agricultural landscape around the Limfjord look like in the future?

As part of the EU Horizon Europe trans4num project (Transformation for sustainable nutrient supply and management), Plan4all and Aarhus University invite researchers, technology developers, regional planners, and agricultural practitioners to the trans4num INSPIRE Hackathon 2026.

In Denmark’s Limfjord catchment, agricultural communities are working under ambitious environmental and climate targets, including national commitments under Denmark’s Green Tripartite Agreement and the EU Zero Pollution Action Plan. Achieving these targets requires reducing nitrogen losses while safeguarding farm profitability and rural vitality.

This hackathon focuses on systems thinking: exploring how Nature-Based Solutions (NBS), perennial biomass cropping, circular nutrient flows, digital tools, and geospatial data can transform intensive farming landscapes.

Our Goal: The hackathon is not about finding a single rigid solution. It is about exploring what could work, analyzing trade-offs, and co-designing realistic pathways toward resilient, sustainable agriculture.

Key Thematic Areas & Challenges

Participants will work in interdisciplinary teams addressing core challenges at the intersection of agroecology and digital innovation:

1. Landscape-Scale Nutrient Balances & Nitrogen Abatement
   
   • Integrating field-level farm decisions with regional catchment models to minimize nitrogen runoff into vulnerable aquatic ecosystems.

1. Decision Support Tools (DST) & Geospatial Scenarios
   
   • Testing and extending the trans4num Decision Support Tool (DST) & JackDaw Geo AI Chat Agent to optimize crop rotations, cover crops, and land-use allocation across dynamic spatial datasets.

1. Circular Biomass & Nature-Based Solutions (NBS)
   
   • Exploring business and operational models for circular value chains (e.g., perennial grass-clover rotations, green biorefineries, and organic amendments).

1. Data-Driven Policy & Regulatory Sandboxes
   
   • Designing collaborative frameworks that bridge the gap between regulatory compliance, financial incentives for early adopters, and transparent environmental monitoring.

How It Works

• Phase 1: Team Formation & Preparation
  Teams form around specific challenges, supported by mentors and domain experts from Aarhus University, Plan4all, and the trans4num consortium. Preparatory datasets, toolkits, and briefing materials are distributed in advance.
• Phase 2: Collaborative Hacking (22–23 October 2026)
  Over two intensive days, teams work collaboratively on data workflows, scenario modeling, interactive visualizations, or policy blueprints. Online/In-person participation.
• Phase 3: Presentation, Pitching & Evaluation
  Teams pitch their results to an international jury of experts in agriculture, environmental modeling, and open geodata.

Why Participate?

• Real-World Impact: Your solutions will directly inform ongoing trans4num pilot initiatives and regional stakeholder dialogues across Europe.
• Network with Experts: Collaborate with international leaders in agroecology, geoinformatics, bioeconomy, and European rural innovation.
• Publication & Recognition: Top-performing teams will have the opportunity to publish summaries, policy briefs, or contribute to trans4num scientific deliverables and open-access resources.

Schedule at a Glance