
Agri-TechE’s December Newsletter
A warm welcome to our final newsletter of 2021 – after what has been a full-on year for all those working across the agri-food value chain. We’d like to wish you all a very happy and healthy festive season and can’t wait to see you in 2022.
In this edition:
• How feasible is the electrification of UK agriculture? Read our opinion piece to find out
• Diary dates for 2022 – think light, grass, a “trip” to the UAE, and a first-hand chance to see on-farm innovations in action.
• Meet a member – an introduction to some of our members, part of the UK’s largest agri-tech innovation ecosystem
• A look back at our top three blogs from 2021 as we reflect on the year
Don't miss out!
Agri-Tech Express – Introducing Silal
12th January 2022 – online
Silal, a new company owned by the UAE government, is seeking “desert-tech” solutions to improve food security in challenging growing environments. With finance and incubation space available there is an opportunity for scale-up technology for wider adoption. Learn more about Silal’s partnership strategy and how a “soft-landing” is guaranteed for those entering the market. Free for members, £15 for non members.
Top News and Events
A year in review - top blogs from 2021
2021 has been another rollercoaster of a year for everyone, professionally and personally – but we wanted to take the time to look back on some of the positive stories readers have particularly liked during the year:
March – Agri-Tech Investment Survives Pandemic
June – It’s About Time
July – National Food Strategy highlights agri-tech as a facilitator
There’s also been some really exciting news coming from members – great investment stories, product launches, research spin-outs and general success stories showing the strength of the agri-tech industry.
Let There Be Light – Powering Plant Production
22nd February 2022 – University of Essex
Light is the power behind plant production. At this event hosted at The Essex Plant Innovation Centre discover a spectrum of solutions designed to deliver or enhance light to optimise plant performance, with talks, demonstrations and (Covid guidelines permitting) a tour of EPIC. A must for those growing plants in controlled environment or broad acre systems.
Innovating for ELMS
22nd March 2022 – Rothamsted Research
Technology solutions to help farmers to embrace the potential of the new Environmental Land Management Schemes (ELMS). These schemes aim to support the rural economy to deliver ecosystem services and build natural capital. Join us for a series of talks and a workshop to explore innovations that will enable farmers to achieve the ambitious targets on farm.
Meet Our Members!
New and Renewing Members
New Members: Mills & Reeve | Natural Apptitude
Renewing Members: AHDB | Allpress Farms | Better Origins | Brown & Co | Double | Earlham Institute | Earlymarket | Euston Estate | Iceni Diagnostics | J A Kemp LLP | Jonathan Tole Consulting | Natural Resources Institute | Oost NL | Outfield | PBD Biotech | Sentry Limited | Taylor Vinters | Wroot Water
Meet our members
Each month we will be showcasing 6 of our members. Click on their logo to find out more about them through their member pages.
Other News and Events
Dates for your Diary:
- Applications will open next month to join the prestigious Innovation Hub at the Royal Norfolk Show on the 29th and 30th June 2022.
- Farm “Net-walking” – join us on 4th March at Upton Suffolk Farms and Rookery Farm in May to learn about new trials and innovations
- Young Innovators’ Forum Conference – 10th March
Where are we going to be?
Agri-TechE Director Belinda will be chairing a session at the Oxford Real Farming Conference on Thursday 6th January in the “Diverse Crops” session.

See you in 2022!
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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/111935/2122/g on the BASIS website.