Professor Alex Webb’s team at the Department of Plant Sciences at the University of Cambridge had a major breakthrough when they discovered circadian clocks increased the size of Arabidopsis plants, confirming that this timing mechanism confers an advantage to plants.

Further research revealed that sugars produced by the plant regulate the clock function and calcium controls the circadian rhythm. Professor Webb says we are at a tipping point where “we’ve got the fundamental biological knowledge and we’ve got the means to exploit it – with expensive automation like robots, cheap automation like smart irrigation, with smart data analysis tools and the ultimate: Controlled Environment Agriculture.”

Professor Webb will discuss the importance of chronoculture, the use of the circadian biology of the plant to improve crop production.

Andrew’s interest is in the use of Earth observation data in agriculture. He says we are currently in a golden age of Earth observation; the wealth of publicly available data from the Copernicus programme via the Sentinel satellites are a fantastic resource to monitor climate change and land use change, and to provide information at landscape scale.

Alongside those public missions is an explosion of commercial low Earth orbit satellites typically providing much higher resolution information, and at a user determined frequency.

The benefit for end-users is in the combination of all of these, with commercial low Earth orbit satellites providing the detailed information to characterise boundaries and within field details, and the public missions offering more landscape scale observations.

Antony Dodd’s lab at the John Innes Centre is looking at the influence of timing on plant productivity. Of particular interest is how the circadian rhythms of metabolism affect the responses of plants to short and long-term temperature changes and their response to agrochemicals.

Antony Yousefian is the Co-founder of Bx, with a mission to contribute to the reversing of climate change with food production. Bx is turning growers into carbon capture companies by making soil carbon the most valuable asset in the world.

Antony has a passion for technology that can drive positive behaviour changes and impact. Starting his career in asset management, Antony has over 5 years’ experience working in Ag-Tech, during which time he scaled 30MHz from the Netherlands to over 40 countries worldwide. Antony also advises on UK Agtech adoption, sitting on the advisory board for Agrimetrics and KTN.

Calum Kelly is the Agri-Tech Lead at the Satellite Applications Catapult, an innovation and technology company transforming the way the world uses satellite technology and data. He works with government, industry and academia to develop satellite-enabled agri-tech solutions to tackle challenges faced by the UK and global food system.

Calum has previously worked within agriculture and fresh produce at Sainsbury’s Supermarkets Ltd, one of the UK’s largest grocery retailers, to develop and deliver projects which promote innovation across its community of suppliers and farmers.

As a Technical Agronomist at Dyson Farming, Ed is charged with evaluating and implementing new technologies on farm, and managing data collected across the farm. As well as using farm data to analyse performance across the company’s 14,000ha in Lincolnshire, Ed also manages the carbon reporting.

Last year Dyson Farms announced that it had sequestered 300 tonnes more carbon than it released.

Hugh Martineau is Head of Sustainability at Map of Ag. Over the last 15 years he has worked with Government departments and private sector clients to review, analyse and develop strategies to address environmental impacts in farming systems. A major focus area has been in relation to climate change mitigation; developing measuring and monitoring programmes for greenhouse gas emissions and removals including assessment of ‘Net Zero’ emissions strategies.

James Fortune has observed that changes in temperature are impacting the presentation of Phoma stem canker. This major disease of oilseed rape causes annual yield losses of £80-100M in the UK, despite the use of resistant cultivars and fungicides.

James is a member of the business interaction team at BBSRC UKRI, the UK’s largest public funder of agri-food research. James’s role involves bringing together academic and industrial researchers to progress challenges in agriculture and food security.

James graduated from the University of Bath in 2008 with a 2:1 Masters degree in Chemical Engineering. He has since developed a broad background in the biological sciences through leading public-private partnerships to fund collaborative research into human health, livestock, crop science and smart technologies for horticulture and arables. James regularly engages with companies from across the entire supply-chain, from farmers and growers through to manufacturers and retail, and so has a strong interest in opportunities to support research that will deliver for the entire sector.

Jan-Erik Petersen has worked at the European Environment Agency in Copenhagen, Denmark, for about 20 years in a range of specialist and management roles. He currently focuses on helping to develop approaches to ecosystem accounting at EU and global level.

His previous role as an agricultural expert at the EEA involved developing indicator data sets that captured the entire interaction between agriculture and environment, from soil protection and water pollution, to GHG emissions and biodiversity.

He coordinates EEA work to develop better estimates of natural capital and ecosystem services. The EEA team collates data from multiple sources – member states, statistical offices, research projects – but also from earth observation data from the Copernicus satellites, and he works closely with teams developing new products using the raw satellite data.

Of particular interest to Jan-Erik is extensive grazing where there is a close relationship between agriculture and biodiversity. He says that this is a real test for the technology as it is currently difficult to distinguish between different types of grassland using satellite data.

John Stamford is investigating how light can be used to both measure plants and regulate their growth and performance. He is currently working on the Interreg 2Seas funded Hy4Dense project, which aims to develop a novel hydroponic cultivation system for high density growth of baby leaf salads.

Jonathan Gill is the co-creator of ‘The Hands Free Hectare’, which is the boldest attempted fusion of automation, agronomy and agriculture, together operating drones and drone technology to grow a crop using just machines and no humans.

The project has evolved into Hands Free Farm, with the aim to plant, tend and harvest a range of crops over 35 Hectares of farmland using a number of different autonomous machines.

Liangxiu Han has led the development of innovative precision agriculture solutions. She is currently part of a consortium developing an autonomous, non-destructive method of measuring nitrogen that can determine the gap between bioavailability in the soil and the requirement from the plant.

Marwa Mahmoud is developing a monitoring system to provide early diagnosis of ill health in sheep by applying her expertise in computer vision and machine learning to livestock.

Matthew’s interest is in automating processes that are currently done by hand or human eye to save time, remove bias and gain better outcomes. Having started out as a farm animal vet and co-qualified as a lawyer, his focus until recently has been on innovation around the way that services are delivered and businesses are structured.

He has been involved in a number of veterinary start-ups in the UK, both as a founder and angel investor, and supported several UK and US corporate vet groups as a board member.

His knowledge of technology and farm practices, together with a passion for innovation has led to his interest in agri-tech, and he is on the board of three different start-ups: Agri-Epi, a government funded strategy centre looking at precision engineering; Hectare, a provider of data services for digital supply chains that also owns and manages a livestock trading platform called ‘sell my livestock’; and AgSenze, developers of smart monitoring products for livestock.

Niall leads Cambridge Consultants’ activities in the Agri-Tech sector. An engineer by training, Niall has led breakthrough innovation projects in multiple industry sectors, involving novel robotic, wireless and dispense technologies. He is particularly interested in the potential for technologies in adjacent sectors to make the leap into Agri-Tech, delivering the next round of yield increases.

Nick Duncan, Business Development Lead for UK, Ireland and Nordics, is responsible for identifying and developing new business opportunities for the Country Group to complement the existing crop protection and seeds portfolio. He has spent 25 years working for Bayer CropScience and its legacy companies in a number of roles in sales and marketing both in the UK and in the headquarters in Germany.

Rothamsted Enterprises promotes collaboration and innovation by partnering with commercial agricultural technology businesses to open up the research process. In her role as CEO of Rothamsted Enterprises, Nicole is responsible for driving forward the growth and development of the business portfolio whilst supporting its business community to grow on-site, leading to Rothamsted’s science delivering impact.

Dr Paul Kersey has responsibility for research and oversees four of Kew’s key scientific priorities: Ecosystem Stewardship, Trait diversity and Function, the Digital Revolution, and Accelerating Taxonomy.

His own research is focused on genomics and bioinformatics, which play an increasing role in Kew’s scientific mission. Recent advances in sequencing technology offer an opportunity to catalogue, understand and compare biological diversity, at a molecular level on an unprecedented scale.

Of particular interest is a collaboration with most of Europe’s largest crop seed gene banks to try to develop new standard approaches for the genetic analysis and dissemination of data around seed bank seeds.

Ruben Sakrabani has more than 15 years of experience in determining nutrient dynamics in soils.

His current work is on validation of carbon capture fertilisers, in which waste organic matter is used to fix waste CO₂ to create a high-carbon organic alternative to industrial fertiliser.

Sarah Morgan is leading the Cell Grazing project. This aims to evaluate the environmental, economic, and social sustainability of traditional set-stocked grazing in comparison to a management intensive grazing system known as ‘techno-grazing’.

Dr Shaun Coutts is a quantitative weed ecologist at LIAT (Lincoln Institute for Agri Food Technology). His research on weed population dynamics includes experimenting with methods of integrated weed management for blackgrass, and techniques to rapidly map weed populations in the field.

Susannah is responsible for managing AHDB’s Cereals and Oilseed division’s portfolio of R&D projects and associated knowledge transfer activities, including the production and publication of the recommended lists of crop varieties.

Tom Pearson started running the family farm in West Cambridgeshire six years ago. He has been moving blocks of the farm into a regenerative agriculture system since then, learning what does and doesn’t work on the heavy Hanslope series clay soils. He is embracing the changes that the industry is facing, laying the groundwork for net zero and significant biodiversity gains.

Tom has a background in public health and is keen to explore the contribution that regenerative agriculture could offer through local food networks, reconnecting people to food production and the potential nutritional benefits this has to offer. Two years ago, he took on the role of lead farmer in the West Cambridgeshire Hundreds farm cluster.

Vicky started her career in agriculture at Rothamsted Research in the late 1990s, where she undertook her PhD in plant pathology. This was followed by 15 years at AHDB where she drove the research programme for cereals and oilseeds, she joined BBRO in 2018. Now fully engaged in the sugar beet industry, Vicky continues to lead BBRO from strength to strength delivering essential research and knowledge exchange activities for its 3,000 levy payers.

John Barrett is the Business Manager of Sentry Norfolk, Mid Kent and Suffolk; and Director of Sentry Ltd. He has managed the Ditchingham Farms Estate in Norfolk since 2001, overseeing growth of the business to over 3,600 acres. He is an active member of the Agri-TechE cluster and chairs the Stakeholder Group.

Belinda is driven by the belief that innovation is a vital driver for agricultural productivity, environmental sustainability and economic growth. Starting her career in research (let’s talk crop diseases, and starch production in peas and potatoes), she then developed experience at the interface between industry, innovation and government, and became determined to bring farmers, researchers and technology developers closer together to improve the efficiency of communication and understanding between them, and to accelerate the adoption of new innovations on farms.

Over the last 8 years she has led the development and creation of the award-winning membership network which is Agri-TechE. With members from across the UK and internationally, Agri-TechE is one of the largest and longest-established agri-tech innovation ecosystems in Europe.

The AF Group, the UK’s largest agricultural purchasing co-operative, is delighted to be supporting REAP with bursaries that allow farmers and growers to attend the conference for the discounted rate of £40 (+VAT) per delegate. Anyone in the UK who is a grower or farmer, or who is in full-time education in agriculture (or an agriculture-related discipline such as plant science, agri-engineering, environmental sciences etc) is eligible to apply.

As farming businesses adopt more and more technology, AF is pleased to work closely with Agri-TechE to help them build a hub of global innovation in the east of England.

David Horton-Fawkes, CEO, said: “Agriculture stands at a crossroads as it navigates some of the most fundamental changes to the industry in a generation. Now, more than ever, collaboration and innovation is needed to help farmers adapt and thrive to these new changes. The REAP conference is a brilliant platform to gain insight into these changes and AF is proud to support the bursary once again.”

View member page  |  theafgroup.co.uk  |  @afgroupuk

AHDB delivers transformational projects to drive productivity and boost farming and supply chain businesses. To cover the whole supply chain; we work with farmers, growers, packers, processers, agronomists, vets and abattoirs. This helps us unify the industry, bridge gaps in knowledge and encourage collaboration to build a stronger future for everyone. Each year we invest around £60m in the future of agriculture – delivering projects that no one else would. Our work includes opening and developing markets for our farmers and growers products here in the UK and overseas, developing new tools and techniques through innovative Research & Development then delivering them to farmers and growers through our collaborative Knowledge Exchange programmes.

We also provide independent Market Intelligence to improve business decision making and help educate the next generation of consumers and farmers. As an industry-funded organisation, we’re uniquely placed to help farmers, growers and the supply chain prepare for the changes ahead. This means helping the industry embrace new technologies, techniques and skills to become more competitive and profitable.

View member page  |  www.ahdb.org.uk  |  @TheAHDB.

Eagle Labs are a growing national network of incubator spaces that provide business incubation, mentoring and co-working and office space for ambitious high-growth businesses as well as digital skills development and rapid prototyping through onsite digital fabrication equipment and Industry 4.0 expertise at many sites.

By cultivating a community of likeminded entrepreneurs through a providing a collaborative work environment, access to their peers and opportunities to maximise growth through digital connections, curated events and funding opportunities, Eagle Labs are able to help start-ups to grow at pace.

Eagle Labs also specialise in positively disrupting key industries by bringing together key corporate players, industry bodies, leading universities and start-ups to enable rapid innovation and investment by asking them to collaborate and currently have dedicated LawTech, HealthTech and AgriTech industry-aligned programmes.

With 25 Eagle Labs across the country and more in the pipeline, their focus is to help to connect, educate and accelerate ambitious UK businesses and entrepreneurs.

labs.uk.barclays  |  @Eagle_Labs

The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) is part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and invests in world-class bioscience research and training on behalf of the UK public. Funded by the UK government, BBSRC invested over £500M in world-class bioscience in 2020-21.

BBSRC invests to push back the frontiers of biology and deliver a healthy, prosperous and sustainable future. Agriculture and food security is a strategic priority for BBSRC and we aim to realise the potential of scientific advances for farmers and growers. We support around 1,600 scientists in universities and institutes across the UK and invest in research and innovation to address the sector’s needs. BBSRC has a role to underpin and enable businesses to identify growth opportunities and to access innovations. This involves connecting to the needs of the entire supply-chain from producers to consumers, enabling the continued progression towards a more productive, healthier, resilient and sustainable agriculture and food system in the UK.

bbsrc.ukri.org  |  @BBSRC

Missouri, alongside the UK, is the global leader in agritech. Agritech research and innovation is taking place across this US state, and the agritech relationship between Missouri and the UK is strong. Agriculture as a whole in Missouri is an $88 billion industry each year, with more than 378,000 people working in the field. In fact, Missouri is home to the “Ag Coast of America” due to the volume of agricultural products shipped via river barge. Missouri is home to agritech and food innovators such as Britain’s AB Mauri, Europe’s Bayer Crop Science, KWS and Boehringer Ingelheim, and home grown innovation from the likes of the Danforth Plant Science Center, Yield Lab, Bunge and the Missouri Botanical Garden.

Missouri Partnership is focused on building more of these cross-Atlantic connections, and has been an integral part of the strong relationship between Agri-TechE and Missouri. The organization was founded in 2007 and is a public-private economic development organization focused on attracting new jobs and investment to the state, and promoting Missouri’s business strengths around the world. They provide direct support to companies interested in investing in Missouri and work statewide to connect companies with the best locations and solutions for their business goals. Missouri Partnership has been a key part of Missouri agritech missions to the UK and Agri-TechE missions to Missouri, including the most recent virtual mission in 2021.

View member page  |  missouripartnership.com/uk-and-missouri  |  @MOPartnership

Rothamsted Enterprises is at the heart of agricultural research and is located on the world-renowned Rothamsted Research campus. We’re a unique hub focused on promoting collaboration and innovation in agriculture. We welcome commercial agricultural businesses to our campus and have a thriving ecosystem of businesses from start-ups and spinouts to SMEs and larger organisations.

We are proud of our laboratory and office spaces, our sustainably refurbished hotdesking hub and our state-of-the-art conference and events facilities. These are home to a vibrant community of growing agri-tech businesses including Agri-TechE members Timac Agro, CHAP, Pherosyn and Grow Biotech.

Nicole Sadd, CEO of Rothamsted Enterprises, said: “Sponsoring the Start-Up Showcase at the REAP conference is extremely important to Rothamsted and it’s a real highlight for us each year. We are committed to supporting innovation, collaboration and business growth in agri-tech, particularly in the East of England through our partners such as Agri-TechE.”

View member page  |   rothamstedenterprises.com  |  @RothamstedCRE

Savills was founded as a rural surveying business more than 150 years ago. Today it is a global real estate services provider listed on the London Stock Exchange with an international network of more than 600 offices and associates.

Savills offers a broad range of specialist advisory, management and transactional services to clients all over the world. True to their roots, the UK rural economy remains an integral part of their business and their rural teams are focused on the commercial needs of landowners, farmers and agricultural enterprises. In the East of England, specialist advisers based in Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Hertfordshire and Essex work together to provide innovative solutions aimed at adding value and maximising their clients’ assets.

Savills’ wide ranging expertise covers agribusiness advice to meet the changing needs of modern farming; farm and estate agency; estate management and consultancy; professional services and renewable energy projects.

Savills is deeply committed to life and business in the countryside. They identify with their clients’ objectives – Savills’ role is to help their clients achieve them however ambitious they may seem.

Jon Dearsley, Savills’ Head of Natural Capital, comments: “Carbon will be a significant part of all our lives over the next 20 years and farmers are a key part of the challenge and solution. We are really excited to be involved in an area that has so much potential to dramatically change farming practices and profitability.”

View member page  |  savills.co.uk  | @Savills

For more than 25 years, as the international division of St. Louis Economic Development Partnership, World Trade Center St. Louis (WTC) has supported growth for the region’s businesses, most importantly, ensuring St. Louis companies are represented in an increasingly global marketplace. From customized research to trade training, hosting inbound and outbound delegations and managing St. Louis’ Mosaic Project, Foreign Trade Zone and EB-5 investor visa program, WTC brings together a strong system of business and government agencies to support trade and foreign investment and enhance St. Louis’ global connectivity.

worldtradecenter-stl.com  |  @WTCSTL