From June 3 to 6, 2025, a team of our students participated in the prestigious international event Green Hackathon, held at the Faculty of Logistics of the University of Maribor in the Slovenian city of Celje – a city beneath a castle with a rich history dating back to ancient Roman times. The Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra was represented at the event by Assoc. Prof. Ing. Martin Mariš, PhD., and Ing. Marián Kováčik, PhD., along with students Samuel Bacho, Richard Derlich, Ivan Hádek, Nora Horváthová, Filip Krištof, Filip Majerčák, Richard Otiepka, Paulína Schreková and Erika Striežencová.
Teams from other prestigious universities also took part in the event: the University of Maribor (Slovenia), Corvinus University of Budapest (Hungary), Juraj Dobrila University of Pula (Croatia), University of Belgrade (Serbia), and Széchenyi István University (Hungary).
The main goal of the Green Hackathon was to find innovative and sustainable solutions that would enable direct connections between local fresh produce growers and consumers, thereby eliminating intermediaries, reducing costs, minimizing food waste, and lowering environmental impact. The teams were tasked with creating a viable business model that would be eco-friendly, economically sustainable, and transferable to other regions.
The students from the Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra presented a model based on the use of existing local infrastructure and collaboration with local producers and suppliers. Their solution emphasized practicality, low costs, and the potential for immediate deployment in real-world settings, distinguishing it from many theoretical proposals.
The hackathon was preceded by intensive fieldwork, during which the students analyzed local conditions, mapped available infrastructure, and established contacts with local producers. The results of this preparatory phase formed the foundation for the final solution, which was then presented in Celje.
The presentation was conducted in English before a panel of experts composed of faculty members from the participating universities. In addition to the competition itself, we had the opportunity to establish new contacts, gain valuable experience, and draw inspiration from ideas from other countries.
Participation in the Green Hackathon was not only a challenge but also an opportunity for personal and professional growth. We met new people, learned to work as a team under pressure, and gained valuable insights into sustainable entrepreneurship. The winner of the competition was the team from Corvinus University of Budapest, which impressed the jury with their innovative model “Feasty – The Feasible Solution.” Their proposal combined practical solutions with the implementation of modern technologies such as digital platforms for direct ordering, smart logistics systems, and demand prediction tools, significantly increasing the efficiency and sustainability of the entire model.
