The Productive Landscape: NatureTech for Profit and Planet
How can technology enable delivery of food, nature recovery, and climate resilience - all at once? The Head of the Environment Agency is asked: what's the national plan for dealing with land use pressures, plus you’ll hear from technologists and land managers working on nature-based and tech-enabled solutions for water, soils and climate adaptation.
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Three key ingredients for business success – the lessons learned from biotech

Member News
Norwich Research Park Norwich Research Park
The views expressed in this Member News article are the author's own and do not necessarily represent those of Agri-TechE.

Roz Bird, CEO of Anglia Innovation Partnership LLP, the organisation behind the future success of Norwich Research Park, explains the three key ingredients needed to create successful businesses from scientific innovations.

Science has never enjoyed a higher profile than now, so it’s really important that those of us working in this sector make the most of the business opportunities by investing in ideas emerging from science communities such as the one we have at Norwich Research Park.

From my own experience in nurturing business success at science and business parks in the UK, there are usually three key ingredients that companies need to help them to maximise the great ideas and intellectual property at their core, which are: access to funding, outstanding facilities and great people.

I am passionate about making sure these three ingredients are available to the new generation of great companies I know will emerge from Norwich Research Park and we’ve made a great start.

In knowledge-rich environments, such as at Norwich Research Park, access to seed funding must be embedded in the ecosystem to identify and pull through novel, industry-appropriate ideas. The next step is seed finance, needed to establish a company, hire the first staff and secure facilities to commence operations.

We have launched the SEIS/EIS Innovation Fund, where qualifying investors can get tax reliefs to invest in the next generation of exciting new ventures.

We have also partnered with QUBIS, the commercialisation arm of Queen’s University, Belfast, to provide entrepreneur development support, assessment and pre-seed activity plus the launch of a new seed fund. This relationship is already bearing fruit, with six entrepreneurs at Norwich Research Park already receiving funding.

Plus, we can offer start-up and spin-in businesses access to some great facilities in collaboration with academics and clinicians. We also have fantastic buildings with offices, labs and meeting spaces that will give companies the flexibility to grow.

And, in terms of great people, we have an experienced team here at Anglia Innovation Partnership who are working alongside our world-leading researchers to create a business powerhouse at Norwich Research Park.

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This story has been submitted by an Agri-TechE member.

29th June 2022
Norwich Research Park Norwich Research Park
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PepsiCo Europe embraces digital start-ups to unlock sustainability solutions across the supply chain

Member News
Ozo Innovations Ltd Ozo Innovations Ltd
The views expressed in this Member News article are the author's own and do not necessarily represent those of Agri-TechE.
  • PepsiCo Labs has identified six start-up companies which could unlock sustainability solutions across the supply chain, and plan to collaborate with more across the year.
  • PepsiCo Labs is the technology venturing arm of PepsiCo, which functions to identify and collaborate with breakthrough start-up companies to drive business growth and efficiency.
  • Examples include a physical and digital tracking system for sorting and recycling of waste, a bio-based thermoplastic converted entirely from household waste – including unrecyclable plastics and all organics, and an AI-based failure detection technology for production factories.
  • Aligns with the broader pep+ transformation, which puts sustainability and human capital at the heart of the business.

26 July 2022, London. Today, PepsiCo has announced that it will elevate its supply chain in Europe, and collaborate with breakthrough start-up companies to pilot ground-breaking technologies which aim to unlock sustainability solutions. Six successful start-ups have been selected through a rigorous outreach program, which focused on engaging the start-up community to bring emerging technologies to the fore. Over the next year, PepsiCo plans to foster further collaborations, as part of the ongoing project.

The program is being led by PepsiCo Labs, a team which was created with the ambition of harnessing the power of digital solutions by acting as a conduit to the world of emerging technology. The team functions to identify, and collaborate with, breakthrough tech start-ups to drive growth, unlock shared potential and develop new solutions to drive positive business growth.

Once the results of the trials have been analysed, PepsiCo aims to scale the successful technologies across the supply chain during 2023 & beyond, placing the company at the forefront of cutting-edge technology that solves complex, real-world problems.

Katharina Stenholm, Chief Sustainability Officer at PepsiCo Europe, said: “At PepsiCo, we believe in the value of harnessing a digital future to accelerate positive change for our people and planet. We recognise that we have a responsibility to use our resources efficiently and reduce our overall emissions, but we can’t do it alone. By embracing smart collaborations through PepsiCo Labs, we can unlock breakthrough solutions, and play our part in scaling technology innovations. It’s part of our commitment to solving sustainability challenges across our supply chain, and progressing PepsiCo Positive.”

The pilots will be taking place across Europe, in locations including Turkey, Belgium and Portugal, with trials focusing on four key areas:

Efficiency and automation

  • Turkey will trial Pulse Industrial and BrenPower monitors, which detect failures in steam traps through an AI system. The technologies aim to reduce carbon impact in PepsiCo factories by reducing steam losses and improving overall efficiency.

Sustainable Cleaning & Hygiene Technology

  • Portugal will trial Ozo Innovations, which harnesses advanced electrochemical technology for smarter, safer hygiene in manufacturing plants.  Ozo’s ‘elocube’ converts cold water and salt into a powerful combined cleaning and disinfecting solution, by electrolysis.   If successful, the technology will revolutionise cleaning processes by reducing chemical, water and energy use.

Recycling

  • Using a patented conversion process, UBQ Materials turns unsorted household waste, including all organics and unrecyclable plastics, into a bio-based thermoplastic with a climate-positive footprint.  PepsiCo will be trialling this new material in Lay’s display stands throughout Turkey, enabling potential for further circularity.
  • Security Matters has developed an invisible ‘marker’ system enabling both physical and digital tracking to identify, track, and sort packaging waste, which is logged onto a blockchain system. PepsiCo will trial this technology to enable tracking of closed loop recycling, authentication of sustainability claims and to improve waste sorting.

Water recovery

  • Elateq will be trialled in Belgium, and provides electrochemical wastewater treatment to remove pathogens, organic, and inorganic contaminants in water, using less energy.  If successful, the technology will reduce overall carbon footprint in PepsiCo factories and promote a circular water system. 

David Schwartz, VP, PepsiCo Labs says, “PepsiCo Labs was launched to propel PepsiCo into the future. We aspire to lead in tech innovations by integrating start-up solutions at a global scale. It is a privilege to collaborate with six exciting, innovative start-ups, as they pilot ground-breaking technologies and develop new solutions that aim to solve the sustainability challenges the world faces. We hope that by working together we can accelerate the growth of these promising start-ups, whilst putting sustainability and innovation at the heart of our own business.” 

To date, PepsiCo Labs has scaled >30 start-ups across over 200 countries. This includes WINT technology, which has been successful in creating a positive water impact in the supply chain.

The technology uses artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning algorithms to prevent water leaks in PepsiCo factories by using digital monitors to collect water flow data, which is then analysed through pattern matching and machine learning. It is estimated that PepsiCo can cut annual water consumption by approximately 20-25% using WINT’s technology. 

This project is aligned with PepsiCo’s broader PepsiCo Positive (pep+) agenda, an end-to-end transformation announced last year which puts sustainability and human capital at the heart of the business. The work forms part of PepsiCo’s ambition to reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 75% by 2030, a goal which is on track according to PepsiCo’s ESG Summary released earlier this month.

Implementing solutions to address climate change is integral to the future of PepsiCo, its customers, consumers and the planet. Today’s announcement follows PepsiCo’s recent ambitious target to achieve net zero by 2040 – ten years ahead of the Paris agreement – in a bid to decarbonise its entire value chain.

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This story has been submitted by an Agri-TechE member.

26th June 2022
Ozo Innovations Ltd Ozo Innovations Ltd
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New Agri Living Lab facility launched at Westcott

Member News
The views expressed in this Member News article are the author's own and do not necessarily represent those of Agri-TechE.

The Agri Living Lab was formally launched today at the new Building 4000 at Westcott Venture Park.

Established by Harper Adams University and Satellite Applications Catapult, the Agri Living Lab is a real-world testing environment that supports organisations to innovate, co-create, demonstrate and deliver solutions that address global agri-food challenges. Combining space and agricultural expertise, the state-of-the-art facility is primed to bring together agri-food stakeholders and technology service providers to create sector solutions for agriculture.

Addressing the challenges of food security and production efficiencies is ever more critical for UK well-being. The Agri-Living Lab will play a vital role in addressing these challenges with research, testing and demonstrating satellite enabled agricultural solutions. Located in the heart of Westcott Venture Park, the establishment of the Agri Living Lab represents a significant development in creating a physical space for scientific and agricultural collaboration.

The Agri Living Lab is leasing Unit B of Building 4000 and is managed by Satellite Applications Catapult.

The development of Building 4000 at Westcott Venture Park was funded through a partnership with the Buckinghamshire LEP (administers of the Getting Building Fund GBF) and the Satellite Applications Catapult.

Sonia Pietosi, Business Development Agriculture Lead at the Satellite Applications Catapult, said:

“We are truly excited to have formally launched the Agri Living Lab and wish to thank our partners at Harper Adams University for creating this important service. We would also like to acknowledge the role Buckinghamshire LEP has played through GBF to invest in infrastructure to face economic challenges.  The opening of the Agri Living Lab also allows the Satellite Applications Catapult to continue with its own mandate to combinespace and agricultural expertise for the UK to become a global leader in connectivity enabled agriculture and supply chain research, products, and services”.

Parmjit Chima, Head of Engineering at Harper Adams University, commented:

“We are delighted to be here today to formally launch the Agri Living Lab. The establishment of this physical resource is vital as a collaborative test-bed facility to solve the many challenges facing the agricultural sector. Through this fantastic facility, UK agriculture and academia can continue to embrace technology to resolve food security issues and improve upon efficiencies in food production. We look forward to continuing our work with the Satellite Applications Catapult and we are excited about what solutions may be delivered in the future to all interested stakeholders”.

Richard Harrington, Chief Executive of the Buckinghamshire Local Enterprise Partnership said:

“We are delighted to support the new Agri Living Lab facility that contributes to our Enterprise Zone programme, with a £2m Getting Building Fund which went towards the construction of this state-of-the-art facility.  This investment at Westcott will not only address the global issues of food production but it will help facilitate growth in the Buckinghamshire economy and further establish Buckinghamshire as a global centre of excellence in space technology.”

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This story has been submitted by an Agri-TechE member.

23rd June 2022
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Making Sense of Agriculture with Elizabeth Fastiggi REAP 2022

Agri-TechE Article
Agri-TechE

Elizabeth Fastiggi AWS
Elizabeth Fastiggi, Head of Worldwide Business Development for Agriculture at AWS

At this year’s REAP conference we will exploring the interface between the real and the virtual worlds, and how emerging technologies will enable improve decision making against a background of turbulence in the natural and economic environment.

From yield mapping and precision livestock through to digital twins and cloud computing, we will be asking specialists to explore the technology and inviting progressive farmers and producers to discuss the applications for agriculture. 

REAP keynote speaker Elizabeth Fastiggi of Amazon Web Services

To provide the big picture we are delighted to have Elizabeth Fastiggi, Head of Worldwide Business Development for Agriculture at Amazon Web Services (AWS), as the keynote speaker at REAP 2022.

By providing an infrastructure for cloud computing AWS is supporting the creation of a more sustainable and resilient food system.

Elizabeth says: “Our objective is to enable the entire industry to use data to deliver insights and improve outcomes.”

AWS’ customers large and small can use its tool kits to harness data to support better farming solutions, develop more efficient machinery and use machine learning and AI for improved decision support.

Elizabeth is one of a panel of experts who will be discussing how the virtual world is driving change in the real world, facilitated and grounded by Anna Hill, best known for her role as a presenter on BBC Farming Today. 

Leveraging the power of the cloud

Recent years have seen the development of an ‘Internet of Agri-Things’ – smart sensors and monitors that are connected to the internet and provide real-time information to farmers and producers.

Cloud computing is facilitating this by reducing the processing load for the sensors, and therefore the energy required. The role of the sensor is simply to collate data and transmit when connectivity is available and the processing is done on a remote processor ‘in the cloud’.

The development of cloud computing has opened the door for new types of agri-tech services. Early-stage companies can develop their products and services rapidly using toolkits, and farmers will be able to use ‘plug and play’ applications that don’t need lots of setting up or powerful computers for them to work.

One example is the smart collars being developed by herd management tool developer Halter. Its devices aim to improve the work/life balance for dairy farmers by enabling remote management and monitoring of the herd, even creating virtual fencing to improve the efficiency of grazing.

However, to be feasible, the device needs to be low-cost, lightweight and solar powered, and the company also wanted to be able to update its functionality remotely. This is where Amazon Web Services (AWS) comes into the picture.

Smart collars create virtual fencing Halter
Smart collars create virtual fencing Halter

Instead of trying to analyse the data in the field, the smart collar now sends information to the ‘cloud’.

Machine learning is then used to understand the implications of the data – the animal is lame; the calf has become lost – and to use this to create an instruction for smart equipment or to provide the farmer with an alert or decision support.

As a result of leveraging the cloud, the wearable device requires less computing power, can be charged by sunlight, and reprogrammed remotely.

Of course, you do still need a connection to the internet – but with the new network of communication satellites this too is improving.

AWS helping agribusiness harness data

Project Carbonview will enable farmers to report, analyse and better assess their end-to-end supply chain carbon footprint. Credit: Bayer

Elizabeth explains that AWS customers are not individual farmers, but the enterprise and start-up companies that work with these farmers:

“We work with customers across the agricultural landscape, including major equipment manufacturers and corporations, as well as start-ups.”

Customers include CropX, which is developing a system to detect crop stress by integrating soil data with numerous above-ground data layers such as satellite imagery and weather data, and Bushel, which is part of a collaboration developing Project Carbonview, a system that aims to track carbon emissions through the value chain from the farmer to the end purchaser of agricultural goods (categorized as Scope 3 emissions by the Greenhouse Gas Protocol).

Enabling automation, robotics and machine vision 

There is a myriad of ways where modelling of the real world can improve productivity in agri-food systems, but for Elizabeth Fastiggi the long-term viability of the food system is the biggest challenge.

“Several of our solutions – and those of our partners and customers – are focused on addressing sustainability in farming,” she explains.

“There is a collective recognition that no one organization can ‘go it alone’ and we must collaborate because of how complex and interdependent the agri-food system is.

“This makes me incredibly hopeful because I know we will get to much better outcomes – for people and the planet – through cooperation, and AWS is uniquely positioned to foster these cross-industry collaborations and help our customers work together to build a more sustainable and resilient food system.”

REAP 2022: Making Sense of AgricultureREAP 2022: ‘Making Sense of Agriculture’ – Tuesday 8th November 2022 

From yield mapping and precision livestock through to digital twins and cloud computing, at REAP 2022 we will be exploring the technology and looking at the implications from a field to landscape level. Making technology farm-centric is core to Agri-TechE ’s mission so a key feature of the conference will be a panel of farmers and producers discussing the emerging technologies and future scenarios.

reapconference.co.uk

Post Overview

22nd June 2022
Agri-TechE Agri-TechE
Agri-TechE Article
Data: Collection to Management

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Breedr launches £10m cashflow fund for farmers

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Breedr Breedr
The views expressed in this Member News article are the author's own and do not necessarily represent those of Agri-TechE.

Breedr has launched a new £10m funding product designed to help farmers purchase livestock and other inputs without securing borrowing on fixed assets.

According to the live trading platform, which was launched in 2019, the cashflow fund can also free up capital to invest in infrastructure, based on the value of livestock on the farm.

The fund will provide up to 80% of the value of cattle or sheep – either those which a farmer plans to purchase or already has on the farm.

It charges a flat fee per head per day which is only repayable at the point of sale. No periodic payments are required.

Farmers who have weighed their animals and recorded other basic information about their cattle on the app are eligible to apply for funding against the value of their animals.

Ian Wheal, CEO of Breedr said: “We have now raised a £10m fund which we are prepared to lend to farmers who have a track record of recording with us.

“As a farmer I know that this year we’ve seen huge price inflation, so many are struggling with cashflow, even though beef and lamb prices are the highest in generations.

“We want to support all farmers including beef, sheep, new entrants, tenants, growers, finishers and supply chains.”

Livestock farming is notoriously unpredictable and keeping cash flowing can be a challenge, Mr Wheal added.

“Banks generally only fund against fixed assets like land and buildings, but we recognise that not only are your animals are a valuable asset in themselves, they grow in value every day.”

Farmers who want to access the cashflow fund should sign up to the free Breedr app and then contact the trading team using the in-app tools.

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21st June 2022
Breedr Breedr
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New CEO Appointed

Member News
PheroSyn Ltd PheroSyn Ltd
The views expressed in this Member News article are the author's own and do not necessarily represent those of Agri-TechE.

Meet Pherosyn’s new CEO Dr Mary Ellis who joins them on their mission of implementing pheromone technology for sustainable agriculture and to combat climate change.

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This story has been submitted by an Agri-TechE member.

18th June 2022
PheroSyn Ltd PheroSyn Ltd
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The Valley of Death and how to traverse it

Member News
F.institute F.institute
The views expressed in this Member News article are the author's own and do not necessarily represent those of Agri-TechE.

Do you have ambitions to create or develop a novel, groundbreaking technology? If so, it is highly likely you will need significant investment and encounter the Valley of Death. The Valley of Death is the phase between starting the business and generating the first revenue or return, a gap that requires investment to bridge. To attract investors, however, you need to demonstrate that you’re a good investment.  

Raising investment is a competition

In the early stages of attracting venture capital, there is a lot of competition. Attempting to procure financing takes a lot of time and energy. To maximize your chances of success, it is important that you have a good plan of action, sufficient data to present, and a strong executive team. To deliver the right proposition to the right investor, it is important to understand the dynamics of venture capital.

Sufficient growth potential

Being an interesting investment opportunity also requires the company to have sufficient growth potential of at least a 10x investment multiple. The phase and the proposition must match the fund criteria, such as the company having good Intellectual Property, a strong management team, and an investment demand which falls within the investment range and timing of the targeted investor. Hence, the attractive companies are usually at a somewhat later stage and thus have more to show the investor. To get there as a start-up, however, you obviously need funding and so there might be a misalignment between the ideal moment for the investor or for you as a start-up.

Preparation is key

Unfortunately, at F.INSTITUTE we regularly see companies enter into discussions with parties for the investment or negotiation of licenses without being properly prepared. So how do you prepare? Here are some tips and tricks:

  1. It can be difficult to be dependent on external financing. I would therefore recommend thinking about a mix of different dilutive and non-dilutive financial sources – to avoid becoming dependent on just one.
  2. Be flexible and stay open-minded. Bring in the right expertise to avoid possible delays. That also means being open to alternative strategies (Plan B) that you might not have anticipated.
  3. Use all possible means to create the longest runway, during which you need to focus on achieving important milestones such as proof of concept, first in human, and CE marking in the case of MedTech companies.
  4. It’s important to monitor your cash flow at all times. Make sure you have the proper tools to provide you with real-time insight so you are not taken by surprise and run out of money too soon. Proper cash flow management also helps to prepare you for the next round of capital investment on time.
  5. Last but not least, seek professional counsel as early as possible. It is a tough journey and you may encounter some unexpected challenges along the way. With the proper advice, you will create a more in-depth view of your chances of success, lead times, and other important aspects when raising funds. This will make you better prepared to face the Valley of Death and survive it!

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14th June 2022
F.institute F.institute
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KISS announces exciting merger with Isle Interactive

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KISS Communications KISS Communications
The views expressed in this Member News article are the author's own and do not necessarily represent those of Agri-TechE.

KISS Communications announced today its merger with digital agency Isle Interactive, adding significant resources and strengthening its position as a leading creative agency.

The merger gives the award-winning agency the foundation to achieve its ambitious growth plans and broaden and strengthen its offer across marketing and brand strategy, campaign development, in-market activation and digital delivery – with creativity at its heart.

The newly combined team will add even more value and expertise to the agency’s blue-chip national and international clients operating within the science, education, agri and tech sectors.

KISS MD Sarah Reakes said, “This is a game changer for the future of the business. Isle brings a wealth of digital knowledge to an already strong team, we have similar ambitions for growth and our teams’ skill sets are incredibly complementary, so it makes perfect sense to join forces.

“We’ve already worked together over the years and there has been a lot of mutual admiration. We know and respect each other’s different strengths, and we look for similar things in our work. In an industry that’s so highly competitive it’s moves like this which enable us to stay ahead of the game and deliver only the very best creative work for our clients,” added Sarah, who remains Managing Director of the expanded agency.

The KISS name stays, and the Isle team will all transition and join their colleagues at the company’s HQ at The Pitt Building in the heart of Cambridge. The merger creates a team of over 30 staff servicing clients which include, Bayer Crop Science, Bacs, Bedrock Learning, Marshall Group, Taylor & Francis, Virgin Limited Edition, Cambridge Education Group, CATS Global Schools and Cambridge Network.

Isle co-founder Richard Copping, who becomes Operations Director, and will lead the project management team, added, “We’re thrilled to be able to combine our talent and expertise as one integrated agency. We can handle ever more complex digital projects, and with the strategic and creative power of the KISS people, this feels like a strong and unbeatable proposition.”

As part of the merger a new leadership structure sees CEO Simon Fryer take on the newly established role of Chairman. The Senior Leadership Team is further boosted as Isle founder Iwan Moore becomes Technical Director, while Sue Cartwright has been promoted to Deputy Managing Director to complete the change.

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7th June 2022
KISS Communications KISS Communications
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Zayndu Aurora Z25 harnesses ‘plasma agriculture’ to prime seeds for accelerated growth

Meet the Network
Agri-TechE

Ten percent more plants from the same number of seeds, faster germination, healthier plants and 25% more fresh weight at harvesting* – by using ‘plasma agriculture’ to clean and prime the seeds in one operation, the new Zayndu Aurora Z25 system has been shown to increase productivity in Vertical Farms. The company is discussing its latest results at GreenTech Amsterdam (14-16 June 2022).

As energy costs bite, Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) is looking for incremental ways to boost productivity and reaching a higher volume of produce in a shorter time is key to this.

Red-Amaranth-24-days-oldSeed pathologist Dr Alberto Campanaro leads the R&D facility at Zayndu. He says that the company has so far treated over 60 varieties across 23 different species of plant and is developing priming recipes to enable customers to optimise growth.

“With seed treated by Aurora our customers are seeing faster and more uniform germination. Within four days there are significantly more plants at the same life stage, and this translates into great volume at harvest.”

Aurora generates a plasma in its drum, when an electric current moves through air, splitting oxygen and nitrogen molecules and creating a powerful disinfectant for the seeds. It leaves no residues.

The plasma treatment also primes the seed chemically and physically. The reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) created induce hormonal changes in the seed, which can influence plant growth from seed to crops**. Studies report increased root length and enhanced growth of seedlings, depending on the dose given. Physical changes to the surface of the seed make its coat more permeable to water, triggering germination.

Growing recipes are likely to extend to plant breeding, according to Diego Durantini, Interdisciplinary Manager at Agri-TechE , a business networking organisation of which Zayndu and many CEA companies are members. Diego was previously a plant breeder for Ernst Benary Samenzucht GmbH and he believes that plant breeding in Vertical Farming will become increasingly important.

“In vertical farming, volume is important rather than height. I can see an opportunity for optimising plants for these conditions: each variety with its own ‘growing recipe’ encompassing priming, light, and feed. Already some Vertical Farms are starting their own in-house breeding programmes, and we are seeing start-ups specifically focussed on breeding gaining investment.

“If the priming creates greater growth uniformity then this is a huge plus in a controlled environment. On a ten-week crop, gaining a week will enable almost one extra harvest a year; immediately that’s a 10% increase in productivity.”

Zayndu will be on stand 05171VF at GreenTech Amsterdam 14-16th June 2022.

 

* In trials with customer seed of Red Amaranth 94% of treated seed germinated by day 4, compared to 70% of untreated seed. At day 24 treated crop had over 25% greater fresh weight. For Spinach, treatment with Aurora reduces time to harvest by 2.5 days enabling 19 crops/year, compared to 17 for untreated seed.

** Plasma Agriculture: Review from the perspective of the plant and its ecosystem, P.Ranieri et Al Plasma Process Polymers 2020.

Post Overview

6th June 2022
Agri-TechE Agri-TechE
Agri-TechE Article
Inputs: from Chemical to Biological

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Making sense of agriculture at REAP 2022

Agri-TechE Blog
Agri-TechE

REAP 2022: Making Sense of AgricultureWe’re revving up for REAP 2022 … and this year it’s getting personal.

The introduction of digital technologies on farms is heralding a new era of personalised, data-driven, de-risked management support across agriculture.

The opportunity created by this parallel digital world is that farmers will be empowered to explore different potential production scenarios in some detail and without risk – including predicted crop yields, anticipated livestock growth rates, field performance, and even entire ecosystems before deciding on – and investing in – new interventions.

But all this futuristic thinking must always stay grounded in the needs of farmers – after all, that’s the purpose of Agri-TechE , to help inform and accelerate the journey of innovation into commercial practice in the industry.

Monitoring industry trends

‘Making Sense of Agriculture’ is the latest development of our flagship REAP conference.

Here at Agri-TechE , we’re often asked how we decide on event topics and the simple answer is we talk to our members, we listen to the wider “agri-tech mood music” in the UK and globally, and monitor emerging industry technology trends.

We also invite great speakers who have the capacity to inspire, inform and challenge delegates and help create an environment ripe for learning and collaboration.

Individual members of the Agri-TechE team also have their own particular interests.

Becky, for example, has been inspired by the potential for the gamification of agriculture. Fiona returned from a recent event and shared with us all the latest thinking around “digital twins” in vertical farming. Diego has been thinking about where Artificial Intelligence can take us with smart farming.

And we’ve all been wondering if the so-called Metaverse will ever be a reality, and if so, what could be the implications for agriculture.

Precision farming gets personal

Metaverse interface between real and digital worlds
Precision medicine and precision agriculture comes from realisation that one size doesn’t fit all

For some years now we’ve been observing the direction of travel of the healthcare industry towards personalised medicines, driven by an increasing appreciation that drugs don’t work in the same way for everyone, or can act differently in combination with other treatments.

The use of so-called “in silico” modelling (ie computer-generated) enables the digital design of new 3D molecules, and theoretical predictions made about how they might behave based on existing data – all before they are ever made in a laboratory or offered to real patients. This enables a lower-risk and much cheaper way of exploring the art-of-the-possible, before committing to it in the real world.

Precision agriculture is similarly evolving from a “one size fit all” philosophy to a more personalised and bespoke approach, which is rapidly gaining traction thanks to technology enablers delivering tools for tailored management of plants, animals and fields.

Leveraging the interface between real and digital worlds

At REAP 2022 we’ll be discussing how farmers, innovators and the wider agri-food supply chain can operate more effectively at this exciting interface between the real-world and digital universes. We’ll explore the advent and impact of new tools – both in the field and in the “cloud” – which are generating ever more tailored insights to individual fields, farms and ecosystems.

Elizabeth Fastiggi AWS
Elizabeth Fastiggi, Head of Worldwide Business Development for Agriculture at AWS

Inspired by our keynote speaker – Elizabeth Fastiggi, Head of Agriculture at Amazon Web Services – we’ll also be discovering how the integration of complex, noisy information sources – such as from sensor technology, breeding performance, weather data and soil reports – can help yield unprecedented insights into the performance of individual farms, fields, animals and plants.

Join the discussion 

To register for REAP 2022 click here – and hear from innovative farmers and growers, exciting new start-ups, and join us on a journey of discovery about cutting edge agri-tech research primed to deliver value to the industry.

As well as an exhibition showcasing new technologies, you can enjoy high-quality networking opportunities, and be part of the ecosystem coming together to collectively embrace 21st Century agriculture.

We look forward to seeing you there!

 

REAP 2022: Making Sense of AgricultureREAP 2022: ‘Making Sense of Agriculture’ – Tuesday 8th November 2022 

From yield mapping and precision livestock through to digital twins and cloud computing, at REAP 2022 we will be demystifying the technology and looking at the implications from a field to landscape level. Making technology farm-centric is core to Agri-TechE ’s mission so a key feature of the conference will be a panel of farmers and producers discussing the emerging technologies and future scenarios.

reapconference.co.uk

Post Overview

6th June 2022
Agri-TechE Agri-TechE
Agri-TechE Article
Digital Farm Management

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Norwich Research Park launches strategy for new business investment

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Norwich Research Park Norwich Research Park
The views expressed in this Member News article are the author's own and do not necessarily represent those of Agri-TechE.


The Enterprise Strategy from Anglia Innovation Partnership LLP will kickstart investment into new businesses at Norwich Research Park.

Anglia Innovation Partnership LLP, the organisation that manages Norwich Research Park, has launched its Enterprise Strategy to kickstart investment into new businesses at the Park.

Its aim is two-fold: to encourage those with a potential idea for a business – be they entrepreneurs or people studying or working at the Park – to come forward for support. It will also highlight to investors – whether venture capital companies or high net worth individuals – the potential return on investment the Park offers spin-outs, spin-ins and start-ups.

The Enterprise Strategy was launched last month with two events run specifically for new businesses and investors. Both events, led by new CEO of Anglia Innovation Partnership LLP Roz Bird, attracted large audiences and a lot of interest.

A pre-seed enterprise fund, set up as a partnership between Norwich Research Park and the John Innes Foundation, is one of the key strands of the strategy to encourage business start-ups. Successful applicants can receive up to £25,000 from the fund to develop business ideas.

This funding is available to budding entrepreneurs studying at the University of East Anglia (UEA) or working at one of the four world-leading research institutes: Earlham Institute, Quadram Institute, John Innes Centre and The Sainsbury Laboratory, as well as the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.

Once a company has been set up, it can then apply for the next stage of investment – a seed fund run by QUBIS, the commercial arm of the Queen’s University of Belfast, in partnership with Sapphire Capital. Through continuing support from QUBIS, the aim is for the businesses to eventually attract investment from local angel investors and high net worth individuals.

Roz said: “Investors will be interested in funding start-ups through the Enterprise Strategy because of all the untapped potential that exists with the wealth of world-leading researchers working here at the Park.

“QUBIS can work through all the ideas, identify the ones that have real potential and then provide support to those who are genuinely interested in getting things to the stage where they have a compelling proposition to present to investors.
“That means by the time private investors get involved, they’ll see that by going through a robust process the companies will be in good shape to be evaluated and hopefully attract funding.”

Anne Dornan, innovation partnerships manager at QUBIS, said: “A lot of these companies stay and grow within the place where they were created because there’s that stickiness, there’s that reliance on the wider environment and infrastructure, with the superb world-class facilities that are here.”

Norwich Research Park is home to a number of high-growth businesses that have raised significant investment, increased their workforces and are rapidly building customer bases.

In 2020, Tropic Biosciences, which is working on developing new disease-resistant variants of banana and coffee plants using gene editing techniques, raised $28.5m (£22.7m) and has grown its workforce to 120. Colorifix, a company that is pioneering a new sustainable dyeing process for the fashion industry, raised $22.6m (£18m) in 2022 and is already working with retail giant H&M. And there are many more companies such as Leaf Expression Systems, Iceni Glyoscience, Coral Eyewear and iBoxit that are emerging as high-growth businesses.

Companies that have successfully established themselves at Norwich Research Park can gear up for the next phase of expansion. A number of new buildings are planned, which will offer incubation and accelerator facilities for new businesses. There are also 52 hectares of land ready for development, which should appeal to investors or company owners looking to relocate.

Norwich Research Park’s relationship with the landowners, South Norfolk Council and New Anglia LEP, is another added benefit when it comes to things like planning and developing the infrastructure needed to support business growth and relocation.

Roz added: “I took the post of CEO at Anglia Innovation Partnership LLP because Norwich Research Park has so many of the ingredients needed for future success. Each of the organisations onsite has an amazing track record and reputation and can help to solve some of society’s biggest challenges.

“The team will work with these great institutions and our partners to help maximise the potential of their research and development activity by creating a great place to start and grow a business. Our Enterprise Strategy is a key element of that success – ensuring there is a process embedded in Norwich Research Park’s ecosystem to identify, nurture and support start-up businesses.”

Post Overview

This story has been submitted by an Agri-TechE member.

1st June 2022
Norwich Research Park Norwich Research Park
Member News

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Safe Ag Systems presents new tool to support on-farm safety at Innovation Hub 2022

Agri-TechE Article
Agri-TechE

“Knowing your risks and managing them to keep people safe is not only the right thing to do legally, it’s also the right thing to do morally,” says Hannah Clarke, UK Implementation Specialist at Safe Ag Systems. The company supports farmers in improving safety and compliance by embedding it into the culture. Safe Ag Systems’ software is an operational on-farm tool that can be used by everyone, making it easy to record checks, report safety issues and gain access to relevant information at the point of need. The company will be demonstrating its system in the Innovation Hub at the Royal Norfolk Show.

Safe Ag Systems screenshotIn 2020/21, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) recorded an increase in fatal injuries to agricultural workers, 41 compared to the yearly average of 28 fatalities since 2016. The largest cause is being struck by a moving vehicle, followed by being injured by an animal and killed by contact with machinery. Agriculture has a higher injury rate than any other industry, despite only employing 1% of the workforce. It was revealed that over half of these fatalities were farm workers over 60.

Hannah comments: “We know farm vehicles are the biggest hazard and it is concerning that even with improved designs and modern equipment we are still seeing vehicle related accidents.

A risk assessment allows an agribusinesses to systematically identify hazards, evaluate the risks and implement control measures.

“To meet demand for a simple risk assessment that was fit for agriculture and to help farm businesses improve safety and compliance we launched our Risk Assessment Tool in 2021, which addresses two types of risk assessments, Machinery and Equipment, and a General Risk assessment. The tool is free to use and will educate the user on how to identify risk and put corrective actions in motion.”

The online tool guides you through the risk assessment process with a set of questions, which enables you to determine the inherent risks and provides practical advice on how to control them as specified in ISO31000.

Hannah explains: “If safety is tied into an operational tool on-farm – utilised by everyone – it can then provide evidence of behavioural change and also of good practice toward food safety, fair employment and sustainability. Our product is now helping thousands of businesses gain certifications easily.”

Hannah Clarke
Hannah Clarke, UK Implementation Specialist at Safe Ag Systems

Safe Ag Systems supports compliance with health and safety regulations by making policies and procedures easy to access. It also helps to prevent incidents occurring, with a mobile app that makes it easier to update records about chemical handling and maintenance, for example, and to report hazards through an app on a smartphone. Currently, users across five countries utilise the tool to capture records across employment, machinery maintenance, company policy and any type of procedure.

Provable compliance is essential for all agribusiness. There is no right or wrong way to manage safety in the workplace, but you need to be able to prove that you are meeting legal responsibilities. How you prove your compliance may differ for the business, manager and workers.

The team at Safe Ag Systems are known for being innovative and focusing on continuously improving and creating new functionality. The goal is to increase efficiencies and remove the paperwork barriers to enhance operations for an agricultural business. May 2022 will see the addition of an audit module to streamline the process of gaining certifications for food safety and internal audits.

Hannah says that Safe Ag Systems aims to simplify record-keeping by creating a set of maintained records that can address multiple sets of criteria. This tool inputs real-time evidence directly into an audit assessment form.

Hannah is looking forward to talking to people in the Innovation Hub: “My goal is to streamline the excessive paperwork and compliance that farmers have to manage. Every farmer should be able to rest easy knowing they are doing the right thing on farm and that their employees have safety front of mind.”

More about Safe Ag Systems

 

Innovation Hub 2022

Post Overview

26th May 2022
Agri-TechE Agri-TechE
Agri-TechE Article
Data: Collection to Management
Digital Farm Management

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