The AgriDataValue project was presented at the 32nd International Geographical Union – Commission on the Sustainability of Rural Systems (IGU-CSRS) Annual Colloquium, held in December 2025 in the Philippines under the theme “New Ruralities: Contestations and Iterations on Rural Spatialities”.

Researchers from the University of Lodz contributed to the conference within a panel session dedicated to Technology & Digitalisation, a core thematic strand of the colloquium programme. The session focused on how digital tools, data infrastructures, and technological innovation are reshaping rural systems, governance structures, and socio-economic relations in contemporary rural spaces. Papers presented within the panel addressed diverse dimensions of digitalisation, including smart village strategies, digital food heritage, storytelling, and the role of technology in shaping local development pathways.

The University of Lodz presentation focused on digitalisation as a locally embedded process, highlighting experiences from Poland that illustrate how data, digital tools, and community-driven strategies can support rural development initiatives. In line with the AgriDataValue project, the contribution emphasised the importance of data integration, accessibility, and practical usability for local actors, rather than technology adoption as an end in itself. The presentation situated digital solutions within broader socio-economic and institutional contexts, stressing that their effectiveness depends on governance structures, stakeholder engagement, and alignment with local development needs.

Together, the panel papers demonstrated that digitalisation contributes to “new ruralities” not through uniform technological models, but through context-specific configurations shaped by culture, knowledge, and local capacities. Participation in the IGU-CSRS colloquium provided a valuable opportunity to embed AgriDataValue within an international scientific debate on rural sustainability and digital transformation.