Hack Core 2026: Google, IIT Ropar and Syngenta seek AI solutions for farming

ANNAM.AI has launched HACK CORE 2026 with Syngenta and Google to develop AI solutions for agriculture. The initiative links field-level innovation with sustainability, digital agriculture and support for farmers.

In Short

• The hackathon covers crop health, pest control and soil intelligence
• Climate-resilient farming and biological products are central tracks for participants
• Shortlisted teams will attend a 36-hour Build Sprint at IIT Ropar

ANNAM.AI, India's first Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Artificial Intelligence in Agriculture, hosted at IIT Ropar under the Ministry of Education, has launched HACK CORE 2026, a national AI hackathon in collaboration with Syngenta and Google. The initiative invites students, researchers, developers, startups, and innovators to build AI-based solutions for challenges in agriculture.

The hackathon focuses on crop health, pest management, soil intelligence, climate-resilient farming, and the adoption of biological products in agriculture.

HACK CORE 2026 aims to support the development of practical solutions that can be tested and implemented at the field level.

The winning team will visit Syngenta's Research Centre in Atessa, Italy, to gain exposure to biologicals research. Winning teams will also receive Google Cloud credits to access cloud infrastructure, AI tools, and software for further development of their projects.

Participants will receive mentorship from experts at ANNAM.AI and Syngenta and will have opportunities to engage in field research and knowledge-sharing sessions with agronomy specialists.

Registration for the hackathon is open to participants across India. Applications will close on July 21, 2026. Details on challenge tracks and registration are available on the ANNAM.AI website.

Dr. Pushpendra P. Singh, Project Director, ANNAM.AI at IIT Ropar, said biological products are becoming an important alternative in sustainable and climate-resilient agriculture. He said AI can help farmers improve productivity while supporting environmental sustainability.

He added that the collaboration with Syngenta will provide innovators with an opportunity to develop technology-driven solutions for challenges faced by farmers.

A key feature of the hackathon is a 36-hour Build Sprint at IIT Ropar, where shortlisted teams will work with researchers, industry experts, and educators to develop working prototypes. The programme is designed to help participants create scalable solutions with practical applications in agriculture.

According to the organisers, HACK CORE 2026 supports the Government of India's vision of promoting digital agriculture through the use of artificial intelligence.

The initiative seeks to encourage innovation that improves farm productivity, strengthens decision-making, and supports sustainable agricultural practices.

The Alliance for Next-Gen Nourishment through Agriculture Modernization (ANNAM.AI) is India's first Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence for Agriculture.

Hosted at IIT Ropar under the Ministry of Education's national AI mission, it works on AI, the Internet of Things (IoT), remote sensing, weather intelligence, and advanced analytics to improve agricultural productivity, sustainability, and climate resilience through collaboration with academia, industry, and policymakers.

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