GOAT 2026
Welcome to GOAT 2026! For the motivations behind GOAT, see the About GOAT page.
This fourth in-person gathering will reconvene the open ag tech community to meet, learn, share, and formalize our common vision for creating open technologies for our food system, and learn from and with the land stewards of the South Eastern United States.
Conference dates: 12/7-12/11/2026
Location: St. Christopher’s Camp and Conference Center, Seabrook Island, SC 29455
Application: To attend you must first apply. Please apply early! The conference organization team is made up of volunteers and late applications and registrations are increasingly difficult to manage.
Applications deadlines:
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Application Review Begins: Early September
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Early Acceptance: Mid September
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Rolling Acceptance: October
- Early Bird Registration Ends: November 1
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Late Acceptance: November 1-15
Conference rates:
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Golden GOAT: $1000. Provides additional support to keep GOAT going – thank you!
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Full cost applicant: $700. For those with conference funding from industry, government or academia, or individuals who make > 90,000 per year
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Reduced cost applicant: $500. For those who make between 50,000 to 90,000 and don’t have organizational support for your registration.
- No-cost applicant: $0. For those who make less than 50,000 and don’t have organizational support.
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No-cost applicant w/ travel support: $0. Same as above, but could not attend without travel stipend (max $600).
Why are there applications?
To attend GOAT you must fill out an application. In October, applications will be reviewed in bulk and registration links will be sent to accepted applicants.
We have applications to ensure there is a fair and equitable process to select which applicants will attend GOAT and/or receive funding, and to ensure good representation of the diversity of stakeholders working at this intersection. A large component of GOAT is its unconference sessions. Provided much of the agenda is not defined ahead of time, we want to ensure attendees are armed with exciting and important topics to discuss. The role of the application form is to learn more about who you are, why you want to attend, and what you want to present, propose, or learn about at GOAT 2026!
The GOAT application helps us plan the structured sessions, so in practice the application functions as a per-registration phase. We accept MOST applicants, and so anticipate that your submission is an indication that you plan on attending. There are very few conditions that disqualify a applicant, but not engaging sufficiently with the application is one.
This application should take between 15 to 30 minutes. Your responses don’t need to be long, but it matters that you are thoughtful and consider how your work, ideas, and questions intersect with the open ag tech movement, both within the existing GOAT community and ideally, beyond! Please see the GOAT Review Process to understand how we evaluate applications
What is an unconference?
In this video Ankita Raturi explains how we conduct an unconference at GOAT.
GOAT is largely organized as an unconference. That means the participants help create the agenda and the topics discussed are derived directly from the values and needs of the attendees. During the unconference format, attendees will “take off their institutional hats” and participate simply as members of the open source and agricultural communities.
Rather than coming to a conference with every session planned in advance, we begin by reflecting together on what is happening in our community, in our work, and in the wider world. Everyone will be invited to name something they want to share and something they want to learn. We will group those ideas into themes and build the session schedule together.
If you see a topic you care about, you may volunteer to convene it. You do not need to be an expert or prepare a formal presentation. Convening can be as simple as welcoming people, offering a starting question, and helping the group have a useful conversation.
During the conference, you can choose the sessions that feel most relevant to you. We encourage you to “vote with your feet”: stay where you are learning or contributing, and feel free to move to another conversation if your needs or interests change.
The value of the unconference is that the program reflects the people in the room. Your questions, experiences, and curiosity are part of what makes GOAT possible.
Other Programming
The program team is developing structured sessions, including a demo session in which attendees “put their institutional hats back on.” Check back around October 15 for more information on the program!
Other GOAT 2026 Pages
GOAT Application Review Process
Venue Map