Agri-Tech East’s December Newsletter
STOP PRESS – Agri-Tech East has been named ‘Networking Group of the Year’ in the national final of the SME Business Awards! Read the full story.
The scale of the agri-tech cluster is increasing and we have outgrown our name! Our membership now spans the UK and internationally, as well as the east of England, so we’ve decided to give our brand a bit of a refresh. Our heart and soul will still be grounded in the east, but we’re tweaking our name to reflect our Evolving and Expanding membership, so from January we will be Agri-TechE.
A New Year offers the chance for new starts and we are inviting you to: experience the St Louis agtech cluster; make a business from an idea; gain the inside track on government policy; and learn about viticulture. We look forward to seeing you next year!
Top News and Upcoming Events
UK-Missouri Agri-Tech Programme – closing date 13th December
We are offering a chance to meet new customers, collaborators and partners during a bespoke visit to St Louis, Missouri, USA.
UK-Missouri Agri-Tech Connect programme, 24-27 February, includes introductions, networking events and 4 nights accommodation.
Learn more and apply here, closing date is 13th December.
Learn, Network, Celebrate – members exclusive event
Opportunity to gain insights into future policy with Katrina Hayter, Innovate UK’s Challenge Director for Transforming Food Production, and Ben Rayner of Defra. Join us for discussions about the direction and funding for innovation and farming, and meet the rest of the network. Plus, a celebration of our new name and afternoon tea.
Event: 13 January Free for members. More information here.
Got a great business idea? GROW it with us
This is one of the best places in the world to start an agri-tech business.
So if you have a concept with commercial potential then the GROW business plan competition will connect you with the expertise, potential partners and support services to help it grow.
Sponsored by Innovate UK
Innovation in Viticulture
This is one of the best places in the world to start an agri-tech business.
New technology has identified regions where vineyards will provide a better return than traditional crops but there are considerable challenges involved.
This event ‘Nothing to W(h)ine About – Uncorking the Opportunities for Innovation in Viticulture’ will showcase the current solutions and market opportunities.
Event: 11 Feb, see more here
Controlled Environment Ag: The Industry is Growing Up
Our CEA event sold-out in 2019 and the market potential is increasing.
This event will look at the different cultivation and supply models and the types of social, economic and logistical change that will impact their success.
Sponsored by the John Innes Centre, with opportunities to exhibit.
Event: 18 March, see more.
Other News and New & Returning Members
New Members: Applegarth | Arable | Earlymarket LLP | Hanway Associates | Mantle Labs | MycoNourish | National Physical Laboratory | Pro-Lite Technology |
Renewing Members: Allpress Farm | Arlabion | Austrade | Barclays Agriculture | B-hive Innovations | DTA Ltd | DWA Advisory | Easton & Otley College | Incubyte | J A Kemp | LIC | Salle Farms | Spectrum Aviation | Plater Bio | Redfox Executive | Sentry Ltd | Timac Agro UK | University of Lincoln | University of Essex | Upton Suffolk Farms | Wroot Water
Other Upcoming Agri-Tech East Events
Young Innovators' Forum
YIF events for 2020 are being firmed up and the diary being filled. Early career researchers, young farmers, and those starting to work in the ag industry are very welcome to join us on 29th January to visit The Sainsbury Lab in Cambridge, includes time in the Algal Innovation Centre. Register for this free event, and sign up to the YIF newsletter to discover our future events.
In other news
BASIS points for members and newsletter readers
Many of our events attract BASIS points. If you are BASIS registered, you can also collect 2 points (up to a maximum of 8/yr) for receiving our newsletter and all staff in our member organisations can claim 2 points/yr for membership.
To claim your BASIS points for the newsletter, use reference CP/91546/1920/g on the BASIS website.
Could you be the next AHDB Monitor Farm?
The Monitor Farm programme is part of AHDB’s Farm Excellence programme bringing together groups of like-minded farmers wishing to improve their businesses by sharing performance information and best practice around a nationwide network of host farms. Applications are open for a Monitor Farm in west Norfolk, north Cambridgeshire, south Lincolnshire. Apply by 31st Dec; see more on the AHDB website.
