To encourage more people to register, organisers have extended the registration deadline to 28 February 2014. Shortlisted people will be invited to present their ideas in Prague during June 2014, and winners will be presented as part of the international Space Solutions Conference taking place there. The prize is an initiative of the European GNSS Agency (GSA), the EU agency responsible for European satellite navigation activities, and is sponsored by CLAAS, a leading manufacturer of agricultural engineering equipment, and crop protection experts Bayer CropScience.

The aim of the competition is to promote the use of satellite navigation in agriculture and its benefits to end users. Entrants must be under the age of 32 and can take part as individuals or as a team. They can submit case studies of trials, or new ideas and innovations, particularly those relying upon European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS), the forthcoming GALILEO system and COPERNICUS (the European Earth Observation Programme).

Gian-Gherardo Calini, Head of Market Development at the GSA says: “We are looking for imaginative solutions that employ ‘free' satellite technology that can help all the world's farmers. We anticipate entries from commercial teams as well as students of agriculture, horticulture and life sciences. This is a fantastic opportunity for young people to get great exposure for their ideas with leading companies and academics.”