Knowledge Base Post Type: Member News

UKRI launches new people and teams action plan

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

New action plan will support world class research and innovation teams and help to build a diverse and inclusive research and innovation (R&I) system.

Building on insights

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is delighted to publish a new people and teams action plan. It builds on insights from implementing our existing Researcher Development Concordat and Technician Commitment action plans and reviewing of our progress against them.

UKRI published an action plan to implement its obligations as a research funder under the Researcher Development Concordat in July 2020. Our Technician Commitment plan was published in February 2021 and considers our role as both a funder and employer of technicians.

The new people and teams plan will consider our obligations under both initiatives and replaces both plans going forward. It aligns to a range of related programmes across UKRI, including:

The plan forms part of UKRI’s response to the independent review of research bureaucracy and UKRI’s strategic objective to become a world class organisation.

Developing the future R&I workforce

People are the bedrock of the UK R&I system, key to delivering the societal benefits of research and innovation and essential for our ambition to be a world leader in research and innovation.

In every sense, skilled people, the knowledge and experience they gain working on our projects, and the networks they make, are a core output of UKRI’s investment in research and innovation.

Shift research culture

Our new plan aims to support our priority to shift research culture to support talented people and teams in pursuing their ideas and building connections across disciplinary and sector boundaries.

The action plan sets out how we will:

  • support the talented people and teams working directly for UKRI across our science sites
  • incentivise workforce development and a diversity of staffing models
  • set clear expectations of how UKRI funding can be used to develop the diversity of roles and career paths the sector needs
  • engage with the sector to support our stakeholders to build a thriving, diverse and inclusive R&I system

Across UKRI, in our councils and institutes, colleagues are taking forward their own plans to build a supportive, inclusive and developmental culture and environment, aligned to the new action plan.

Reinforcing UKRI’s commitment

Melanie Welham, UKRI’s executive champion for People, Culture and Talent, said:

This revised plan reinforces UKRI’s commitment and ambitions for the Researcher Development Concordat and Technician Commitment. I’d like to thank our communities for their essential input to this, and their broader ongoing engagement with our People, Culture and Talent portfolio.

Taken alongside the recent announcement of a new Institute for Technology Skills and Strategy, this demonstrates significant progress in ensuring the huge range of roles which contribute to the delivery of UKRI investments are recognised and valued.

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21st March 2023
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Barenbrug UK has acquired seed specialists, the Watson group of companies

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

A seed specialist in the Scottish market for more than 30 years, the family-owned Watson Group, comprising Watson Seed, Seed Logistics and GroGreen, is well-known in the industry with a reputation for integrity, quality, trust and customer service – values that align strongly with those of Barenbrug UK.

The acquisition allows us to continue our growth and build the strength and appeal of our offering not just in Scotland, but throughout the United Kingdom – maintaining Barenbrug’s highly regarded position as a global grass breeder and producer, and strengthening our position in agriculture and the wider industry as a leading seed house.

With that reputation for breeding excellence, and our consistent efforts to deliver a wide range of grass solutions for farmers and turf managers, we are committed to applying our growth and knowledge in the continued support of key partners and customers. 

The acquisition does not affect our trusted and long-standing partnerships. We will continue to work with our key industry partners to deliver high-performance solutions for farmers and turf managers across the UK.

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19th March 2023
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SugaROx joins the Innovate UK’s Global Incubator Programme

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

SugaROx has been selected by Innovate UK to enter its Global Incubator Programme which includes participation in the AGTECH ACCELERATOR in Canada. The accelerator supports the growth of agri-tech start-ups built to solve global problems and was founded by Cultivator powered by Conexus (Cultivator), Emmertech, and Economic Development Regina (EDR).

Biostimulants are emerging as one of the most promising solutions to help farmers improve the productivity, resilience, and sustainability of cropping systems, and demand for these products has been growing at nearly 12% CAGR.

SugaROx is bringing a precision technology to a market dominated by products that are ‘soups of ingredients’. Whilst most biostimulants deliver 2-5% yield gains, UK field trials show that the SugaROx approach has potential to deliver yield gains of up to 22% on wheat.

‘Our secret lies in using a single active ingredient (AI) whose mode of action is well understood’, says Bianca Forte, Business Development Director at SugaROx. ‘Our AI is inspired by a natural molecule found in all plants, so our potential for growth is huge’.

Participation in the AGTECH ACCELERATOR comes at a perfect time for SugaROx. The venture has recently secured some private equity and non-dilutive funding to expand wheat trials internationally and launch work on four other crops in the UK and abroad.

‘Through the AGTECH ACCELERATOR, our goal is to connect high-growth companies from Canada and the UK with 1M acres and agricultural producers and experts across our country’, says Jordan McFarlen, Incubator Manager at Cultivator powered by Conexus. ‘Our 2022 cohort has already raised over $30M in private capital, and we expect similar successes from this new cohort’.

The AGTECH ACCELERATOR starts on Monday and is packed with interactions with experts who will help the selected ventures develop plans to engage effectively with market opportunities in Canada and beyond. If you are interested in the development and commercialisation of innovative biostimulants, reach out to Bianca Forte on LinkedIn.

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17th March 2023
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Agri-TechE leader Rothamsted Enterprises celebrate the opening of the Russell Building and Innovation Labs

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

Rothamsted Enterprises saw the Launch Event for the Russell Building and Innovation Labs on Tuesday 14th March 2023, signifying the culmination of four years’ hard work.

During the event, the attendees heard speeches from Graham Birch, Chairman of Lawes Agricultural Trust, Adrian Hawkins OBE, Incoming Chairman of Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership, and Richard Whitehead, Chairman of Hertfordshire Innovation Quarter – all of whom have been pivotal in accelerating Rothamsted campus’ growth.

This was followed by a ribbon cutting ceremony at the entrances of both buildings, with Adrian Hawkins OBE officially opening the new facilities.

Sitting within a green belt, Rothamsted Enterprises continually identifies opportunities of underutilised buildings within the Rothamsted campus, with both developments highlighting this. The beautiful red-brick Russell Building has been an iconic landmark in Rothamsted for generations and had lain empty since 2014. In addition to this, the now Innovation Laboratories were previously a goods-in warehouse that had not been in use since 2019.

Both projects were supported by Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership, Hertfordshire Innovation Quarter, BBSRC and the Lawes Agricultural Trust, with a combined total of £3.5m investment. This funding enables the two buildings to have a new lease of life as a world-class base for businesses in the growing Agri-tech sector, creating jobs and boosting the local economy.

New tenant companies join a thriving ecosystem of Agri-tech, food tech and innovation businesses that are located on site with the world leading research expertise at Rothamsted Research.

A notable new tenant to the site is SugaROx, a SHAKE Climate Change spin-out from Rothamsted Research and Oxford University, set up to help farmers feed a global population expected to reach 9.8 billion people by 2050. When asked why they chose to be a part of Rothamsted’s tenant community, SugaROx stated: “the opportunity to co-locate with world-leading scientists from Rothamsted Research and access the excellent scientific facilities and services available on their site and the strategic location of the site – 30 minutes to central London by train and just over an hour’s drive to science and innovation hubs in Oxford and Cambridge”. 

Adam Wood, Enterprise Zone Manager, at Hertfordshire LEP, said: “We are delighted that our investment is enabling greater numbers of Agri-tech and food-tech innovators to take advantage of the world class expertise available at Rothamsted Research. We are pleased to welcome the new tenants of the Russell Building and Innovation Labs to Herts IQ and look forward to supporting their future success in Hertfordshire.”

Claire Wolstencroft, Agri-tech Business Development Manager at Rothamsted Enterprises, said: “The whole team and I are delighted by the recent developments. Rothamsted’s world-class agricultural research expertise and rich ecosystem of businesses makes it the ideal home for Agri-tech and food-tech innovators, offering valuable opportunities to collaborate and grow together. We are all looking forward to expanding the campus further in order to continue to foster and accelerate innovation.”

The Agri-tech Business Centre focuses on start-up businesses within the Agri-tech industry, offering business support and scientific services, where tenants can collaborate with each other as well as Rothamsted Research scientists, to tackle the major challenges facing today’s society, including climate change and food security. The Rothamsted campus offers excellent road and rail links to London and beyond and is located a 15-minute drive from Luton Airport.

Businesses looking for new lab or office premises in Hertfordshire should contact Claire Wolstencroft on 01582 938500 or email claire.wolstencroft@rothamstedenterprises.com

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16th March 2023
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Olmix: Boost animal health and productivity the natural way

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Agri-TechE

Prevention is better than cure when it comes to animal health – and British producers can now access cutting edge global technology to reduce the need for antibiotics and other medicines.
French firm Olmix, which specialises in marine biotechnology and uses algae to improve animal, plant and human health, recently acquired Nottinghamshire-based Micromix, to offer a complete package of animal and plant care.
“The key to good animal health and productivity is providing optimum nutrition and a clean, hygienic environment,” explains Robert Hamilton, animal care manager at Olmix UK. “Olmix has a complete range of natural products which are scientifically proven to aid digestion, strengthen immunity, and improve hygiene – and now British farmers have access to all of that technology.”
Producers can learn how research into biosolutions is feeding through to practical benefits on farm at the Dairy-Tech show, Stoneleigh, on 6 February, where Olmix and Micromix are exhibiting for the first time.
“Micromix has received a lot of funding for research and development – most recently from Innovate UK – and when combined with Olmix’s research budget of €8-9m (£7-7.9m) a year, the benefits to farmers are considerable,” says Wilson Boardman, managing director at Micromix. “I’ve never come across a company anywhere in the world that is so dedicated to algae and prepared to spend so much on research and development.”
By isolating different active ingredients derived from sustainably sourced algae, the firm can target specific areas of animal health. Solutions include Diet – a micronised clay mixed with algal extracts and electrolytes, which both protects against digestive disorders and revives calves suffering from diarrhoea.
Other products include MMi.S – which binds a wide range of mycotoxins in feed, thereby preventing mycotoxicosis – and Mistral; a clay-based sanitiser which reduces incidence of mastitis, digital dermatitis and calf infections.
But it’s not just about the animal – nutrition is derived from plants, and Olmix offers a truly holistic approach to animal and plant health, with a range of biostimulants and foliar nutrients proven to boost crop yields and quality.
“Instead of feeding low quality grass or silage, topped up with expensive supplements, surely it’s better to grow better quality forage in the first place,” says Chris Gamble, sales manager at Micromix. “For example, applying Micromix Essential – a foliar fertiliser containing all the essential micronutrients required for animal health and growth – to pasture is proven to increase forage quality, leading to higher blood nutrient levels in the livestock, alongside better growth rates and feed conversion efficiencies.”
Other solutions enable farmers to boost plant resistance to disease, reducing the need for chemical intervention.
“Farmers are rightly sceptical about the benefits of alternative health products, but we now have the science to explain and prove the benefits of algae,” says Mr Hamilton. “At a time when producers are under immense pressure to reduce chemical and antibiotic use, this technology will prove vital in maximising animal health and productivity in a sustainable way.”
For more information visit www.olmix.com.

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14th March 2023
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A Food Rethink: Lessons from a Food Shortage

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

From energy to seasonality, Dan Saladino explores the big ideas prompted by the recent shortage of fresh produce in supermarkets. Is the now time for a major food rethink?

BBSRC-funded research outputs featured on BBC Radio 4 following a successful event co-hosted with Agri-TechE disseminating the learnings from projects.

Listen to the recording on the BBC website here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001k0cr

You can read and watch more about the event and the featured projects here: https://www.agri-tech-e.co.uk/novel-crops-have-real-promise-for-arable-rotation/

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13th March 2023
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Shortages “tip of iceberg” if UK’s food security not tackled now, warns AgTech specialist

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

An industry leader has warned that the latest food shortages are “in danger of becoming the norm” and threaten to be merely “the tip of the iceberg”, if the urgent need to commit to more alternative, sustainable means of farming homegrown produce is being ignored.

According to Simon Deacon, the founder and CEO of AgTech specialist Light Science Technologies, the UK remains at the mercy of “a litany of global factors disrupting the food supply chain” unless “reliance on imports is dramatically cut to avert a long-term food crisis”.

Food shortages look set to be a continuing theme in 2023, as a combination of bad weather and transport problems in Africa and Europe has resulted in dwindling stocks of fresh produce. Empty supermarket shelves have made an unwelcome return, although issues with the food supply chain have been ongoing since the start of the pandemic in March 2020.

The latest shortage, which has affected fruit and veg supplies including tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and potatoes, has seen supermarkets rationing items, with both the environment secretary and retailers warning that the problem could last for weeks.
It has been caused by a colder, wetter climate in Spain and Morocco – and even cancelled ferries – all of which have affected the volume of fruit reaching Britain. Although not so, according to Save British

Farming chair Liz Webster, who has cited this as “absolute nonsense”, pointing the finger at Brexit, and a “disastrous Conservative government that has no interest in food production, farming or even food supply.”

Supermarkets that have chosen to import cheaper produce over British suppliers have also been blamed by some, forcing growers to delay planting so crops will not be ready until March.

Simon said: “Whatever the reasons, what is becoming clearer is that food shortages are now in danger of becoming part of the norm, and what we’re seeing to date may just be the tip of the iceberg. A “perfect storm” has been gathering for the past three years – Covid, Brexit, climate change, geopolitical events, soaring energy costs, labour shortages, you name it – resulting in continual disruption. While all are valid factors, it’s a repeated narrative that is growing wearisome for consumers, because we still need to adequately address the problem concerning our food supply chain with a long-term solution, one which will increase our food security.

“Even before the war in Ukraine, industry leaders were warning of soaring energy and labour costs threatening the UK’s food security. Now, with China-Taiwan tensions rising, this has further, potentially far worse, ramifications for the supply chain as a whole.

He continued: “The long and the short of it is, we have found a solution, in indoor farming. But it needs to be implemented and rolled out for us to leverage anywhere near the level of benefit it promises. As food costs continue to soar, the call to improve agricultural practices has never been so loud.

Strategists have also been saying for some time now that agriculture tech will be key to feeding a fast-growing global population, expected to reach 8.6 billion in 2030 and 9.8 billion in 2050. Only last week, the NFU warned that the “clock is ticking” for the government to protect homegrown food supply. Yet it needs to also boost, not just protect, to ensure the UK’s reliance on imports is dramatically reduced and we avert a long-term food crisis.

He urged: “This can only be done by harnessing the innovation found in AgTech, the possibilities of which are endless – less energy, reduced waste and more efficiency to name a few. However, this must be backed up by more investment and commitment by the government and the industry at large to make it happen. In terms of the future of our food, sustainable is obtainable, but only if we act now.”

Visit http://www.lightsciencetech.com for further information

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23rd February 2023
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VERTICALLY URBAN AND MICROSOFT PLOT GROWTH OF AI PARNTNERSHIP

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

FEED THE WORLD

With the world’s population set to rise to around 9.8 billion by 2050, it is thought that global food production must increase by around 70% to ensure food stays on everybody’s table. At the same time, we are already losing traditional farmland at an alarming rate mostly because of pollution and climate change.

UK based Agri-tech manufacturer Vertically Urban and global tech leader Microsoft both believe that Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA), not only has the power to play a pivotal role in ensuring food security for future generations but believe they can bring about significant improvements in the efficiency and quality of the process.

DEVELOPING HORISS WITH MICROSOFT AI

The two companies are working together to develop Vertically Urban’s AI-based CEA control platform HORISS. The aim of HORISS is for it to be an intelligent control system that autonomously monitors and reacts to environmental and physical changes within the growing area, ensuring crops are grown to exact specification, using precisely the resources required.

Andrew Littler (AL), Vertically Urban’s CEO, sat down with Jens Hansen (JH), General Manager (EMEA) of Data & AI at Microsoft, to discuss Microsoft’s partnership with Vertically Urban and how AI has the power to accelerate the new farming revolution in controlled environment agriculture and secure adequate food supplies for future generations.

Watch a video excerpt from the interview between Vertically Urban’s CEO, Andrew Littler and Jens Hansen, General Manager (EMEA) of Data & AI at Microsoft.

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23rd February 2023
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SugaROx raises £850k from Regenerate Ventures and UK Innovation & Science Seed Fund

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

SugaROx has raised £850k from Regenerate Ventures (RV) and the UK Innovation & Science Seed Fund (UKI2S) to allow investment in the scale up and registration of a cutting-edge biostimulant platform originally developed by Rothamsted Research and Oxford University. RV and UKI2S have been the stimulus in SugaROx raising £1.4M in its Seed Round.

Field trials conducted over several years show that SugaROx’s unique single molecule trehalose-6-phosphate (T6P) biostimulant platform can boost wheat yields between 12-22%. Remarkable results have also been obtained under controlled conditions for barley, millet, and sorghum (featured image).

“The investment will allow us to accelerate field testing, prepare to launch registration in major markets and obtain proof-of-concept on additional crops”, says SugaROx CEO Mark Robbins. “We are delighted to have attracted investment from UKI2S and RV. Together, they bring a track record supporting science-based ventures and invaluable expertise on agrochemicals”.

“We are excited to be joining SugaROx on their journey as we have a strong conviction in both the team and the technology”, says Paul Rous, Managing Director at RV. “A combination of strong market growth, a unique value proposition, supportive regulations and potential for high returns makes investment in biostimulants an attractive opportunity for our investors.”

Andrew Muir, Investment Director at UKI2S, believes SugaROx is a great exemplar for the fund’s thesis. “High quality, collaborative science which addresses a real global challenge and a significant market make for an excellent investment opportunity. SugaROx also has the potential to accelerate the transition to low carbon economies through reduced fertiliser inputs.”

The investment gives SugaROx a great head start – and other exciting developments are also in the pipeline. For updates, follow us at www.linkedin.com/company/sugarox-ltd/.

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22nd February 2023
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How can aeroponics increase productivity in greenhouses?

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

Greenhouses and polytunnels neatly bridge the gap between outdoor and indoor farming. The levels of control can vary greatly depending on the system: some use LED lights to compliment natural sunlight, deliver nutrients as part of the irrigation process, and sustain warm enough temperatures to grow crops out of season. All these conditions will go some way to protect growers and their produce from the ever-increasing threat of climate change.

Harvesting crops throughout the year with the lowered threat of pests, disease or extreme weather can make greenhouses vastly more productive than land outdoors. With retailers increasingly turning to CEA to help them achieve their sustainability goals, it’s no wonder the commercial greenhouse market size is predicted to grow to $49.26 billion by 2027.

But the reality is that commercial greenhouse growers still see threats to their productivity, especially with extortionate energy costs eating up a healthy chunk of profits. A year on from the start of the Russian war on Ukraine, and parliamentary figures are still working at odds with potential solutions to the energy crisis, leaving individuals and businesses alike struggling to keep afloat. Due to the breadth and scale of their operation, greenhouse growers in particular face a unique set of challenges – and can see their productivity being capped. 

If greenhouse growers are to see an improvement in profits, their operational efficiency and productivity must be improved.

The big picture

Productivity comes down to one core aspect: crop yields. Powering lights alone can make up to 30% of a greenhouses outgoing costs, with labour and operational costs that come with producing and distributing crops at scale eating into potential profits too. Simply turning the lighting off and relying on natural sunlight is one option – but this will only lead to a further drop in productivity, especially in the winter months. If a greenhouse facility is already automated, and is running with minimal staff and a mix of cost-effective energy sources, increasing crop yields is going to be the most effective way to improve profitability. 

There are guaranteed ways to make greenhouses more efficient, and although these can make greenhouses more resilient or streamlined, increasing productivity is going to be the leading factor in growing revenue. The three main areas that greenhouses have to control and improve are lighting, temperature and irrigation. 

Temperature control

Low control

Making changes to ambient environments in greenhouses is a particular struggle. In hectare-scale facilities, greenhouse growers will typically find pockets of inconsistencies in temperature, CO², oxygen, humidity and airflow rates. Heating and cooling vast areas is costly, so they could find internal temperatures to be at the mercy of outdoor factors a lot more than vertical farming set-ups. 

Automation has also vastly improved the efficiency of greenhouses, which is why it is so widely adopted in large-scale facilities. Growers can accurately automate transportation, nutrients and lighting, but greenhouse environmental control has not yet benefited from the same level of optimisation. You can transport crops with ease, but the ambient temperatures and pockets of temperature inconsistencies in hectare-scale facilities make this element a particular challenge. 

Lighting 

Medium control

Greenhouse growers have a particular advantage over vertical farming set-ups in this area. Using a combination of sunlight and UV LEDs will greatly reduce overall lighting costs while giving plants all the energy they need to flourish. The LED grow light industry is rapidly changing, and has benefited from an increased amount of research in recent years. 

With advancements accelerating, greenhouse growers are now encouraged to choose up-to-date LED lighting over fluorescent or high-pressure sodium lights, use equipment that is no more than five years old, and consider the right spectrums for their crops. 

Ultimately these updates will allow greater control over costs, growth performance and overall plant health, but are unlikely to greatly increase the overall productivity of greenhouses significantly. 

Irrigation

High control

Irrigation is the way in which growers water their crops. Greenhouses typically use hydroponics feeding water and nutrients directly to the roots, trickle irrigation in the soil, or overhead irrigation lines to crops planted in the soil, and in recent years has not seen as much innovation or development when compared to the lighting industry, for example. Irrigation holds untapped potential, and for greenhouse growers they can not only have vastly increased control, but can significantly increase crop production.  

Aeroponics is an irrigation method which is not currently used at scale, but could be the key for many greenhouse growers to greatly improve productivity. With aeroponics, plant roots are irrigated with a nutrient-rich mist, and allows crops to grow between 20-200% faster when compared to hydroponics. Thousands of water droplets are dispersed using ultrasonic sound waves, irrigating a perfect blend of water, nutrients and oxygen onto plant roots. This greater access to oxygen means that plants are healthier, happier and most importantly grow faster.

Using ultrasonics also removes the need for nozzles, a common method used throughout the aeroponic industry. Using nozzles to create mist adds significant complexity and maintenance issues, making it unsuitable for large-scale commercial growers. Although nozzle-free aeroponics is not yet widely available, LettUs Grow are working to make that a reality. 

LettUs Grow are currently working with Crop Health and Protection and Stockbridge Technology Centre to bring Aeroponic Rolling Benches™ to the large-scale greenhouse market, allowing commercial growers to unlock and accelerate their productivity potential. 

Ultimately, there are many factors to consider when looking to improve productivity, and it’s likely a combination of all of the above will be considered to make a real impact in both efficiency and productivity. 

LettUs Grow is dedicated to working in collaboration with world-leading greenhouse growers to bring ultrasonic aeroponics to the hectare-scale growing industry, and open doors to new and innovative irrigation technologies. If you’d like to find out how Aeroponic Rolling Benches could work in your greenhouse, make sure to sign-up for the mailing list here. 

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21st February 2023
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ICRISAT and Eagle Genomics partnership to accelerate microbiome-based solutions to drive global climate resilience, sustainable food systems and improved nutrition

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

ICRISAT and Eagle Genomics sign Memorandum of Understanding

  • Internationally renowned science-based organisation and pioneering TechBio platform expected to deliver innovative nature-based solutions through exciting public-private relationship
  • Networking microbiome science to tackle the world’s Grand Challenges including effects of climate change 

Hyderabad, India: A new cooperation framework was signed today between the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) and Eagle Genomics at the International Conference on Innovations to Transform Drylands.  

Director General, ICRISAT, Dr Jacqueline Hughes and Eagle Genomics CEO, Anthony Finbow signed the agreement overseen by an international gathering of some of the world’s foremost dryland agrifood system experts.  

The MOU will see leading organizations – Eagle Genomics, the pioneering UK-based TechBio platform business applying network science to biology and ICRISAT, an India-headquartered international non-profit organization that undertakes scientific research for development – collaborate at the intersection of life science and data science to help solve urgent global challenges in food security, nutrition, and agriculture.  

Eagle Genomics CEO, Anthony Finbow, said the collaboration with ICRISAT was a natural fit given the innovative and purpose-driven nature of both organizations, to improve the lives of those suffering from hunger and malnutrition.  

Achieving Safe and Nutritious Food for All 

There is growing awareness that malnutrition cannot be solved without a robust understanding of the role of the microbiome both in enhancing resilience to climate change but also in enhancing nutrient absorption. This includes ensuring access to safe and healthy food and targeting novel microbial-based solutions to improve nutrition, enhance wellness and reduce disease.

The e[datascientist]™ is a platform powered by network science1 and multilayer hypergraphs2, applying machine learning and artificial intelligence to provide a data-driven insight journey into solving complex problems and delivering greater impact in climate resilience, improving plant nutrient density, and increasing data-driven wellness and human health outcomes. 

The platform integrates active learning at every step of the microbiome innovation journey, from characterising and describing microbiomes, to a better understanding of complex causal mechanisms to elucidating host-microbiome interactions. Eagle Genomics is reinventing life sciences research and development by bridging the ‘translation gap,’ enabling scientific knowledge from a range of disparate sources and data sets to be integrated and analyzed through the e[datascientist]™ platform to create novel hypotheses and deliver robust, scientifically underpinned practical solutions.  

“We are energised to partner with ICRISAT, which has over half a century of experience in improving dryland agri-food systems across the poorest communities of the world from which we can draw valuable data and explore the pressing questions of our time that remain unanswered.  

“This promises enormous consequences for both public policies to incentivize private sector investment in new initiatives, and measures to address global challenges, that are jointly good for humanity and a corporation’s bottom line.  

“Just as the digital revolution has brought new opportunities and improved our world, so can the Bio Revolution – towards which we are working with ICRISAT alongside other partners,” said Anthony Finbow. 

Sharing Knowledge for More World Firsts  

Director General ICRISAT, Dr Jacqueline Hughes said the MOU would see ICRISAT share datasets with Eagle Genomics, drawing upon extensive on-the-ground experience in Asia and Africa that had led to several agricultural world firsts. These include developing early maturing groundnut as well as high iron biofortified pearl millet, innovations that have directly responded to the challenges posed by climate change. This new partnership offers an opportunity to address, and even leapfrog beyond, the Sustainable Development Goals to drive science-based targets for regenerative agriculture.  

“The efficacy of our interventions both past and emerging and on which some 2.2. billion people depend, will increasingly depend on informed data-driven decisions in an increasingly complex world. 

“This partnership will advance an understanding of microbiome interactions – from soil, to plant, to farm, to fork, to gut, to health, and their relationship with our food system and offer new approaches to sequester carbon efficiently, enhance nitrogen and phosphate availability for plants, reduce soil erosion and flooding and improve crop and community resilience to climate change and climatic events. Furthermore, it will provide meaningful nature-based metrics to enhance our understanding of regenerative impact from a biological standpoint. 

“Increasing the nutrient density in our food through enhancement of microbiomes will help ensure ICRISAT’s mandate crops can address food security and malnutrition, in populations living in drought-prone dryland areas.  

“I am delighted that our collaboration with Eagle Genomics, and the strength they bring to our high-calibre partnerships, will advance our mission of reducing poverty, hunger and malnutrition for the world’s poor,” said Dr Hughes.  

At the conclusion of the signing, ICRISAT and Eagle Genomics applauded the Innovations for Drylands Conference. They said that the MOU would help underpin next-generation innovation to safeguard the lives and livelihoods of the over two billion people living in the drylands of Asia, Africa and beyond. It will contribute to safe and nutritious food for all, through a shift to sustainable consumption and nature-positive production systems that can drive One Health outcomes for humans, animals, and the environment.  

Notes 

  1. Network science is the study of complex networks of physical, biological, and social phenomena, and can also be used to explain and deeply understand these phenomena.
  2. Multi-layer hypergraphs enable scientists to explore conjectures, questions, and hypotheses to generate novel insights in the form of further hypotheses, evidence and claims data using a dynamic, evolvable, and context-based data network composed of several layers, e.g., study, subject, treatment, and measurement. 

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21st February 2023
Eagle Genomics Eagle Genomics
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GROWPURA GAINS TWO MORE INTERNATIONAL PATENTS

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

GrowPura® is delighted to have been awarded a further two International Patents in Canada and Australia for its unique and world-first GrowPura® Vertical Farming System (VFS) .

This builds on other GrowPura country patents already granted in the UK, and Singapore with other countries due to be announced soon.

The licensable GrowPura VFS delivers improved sustainability performance and commercial results and is suitable for existing or new vertical farming companies.

Its inherent lower carbon and start-up cost design delivers an extra 100-300% output for an equivalent building with the same growing space.

The GrowPura VFS features unique patented automated moving technology which combines to reduce energy demand for lighting, uses fewer fixtures, a lower real estate footprint but enhances the stimulation of the crops to give a higher output.

Nick Bateman, Executive Chairman of GrowPura says:

“GrowPura has invested significant resources over the last ten years to innovate the GrowPura VFS  and is committed to offering the technology to drive more access for citizens to more sustainable and wholesome food solutions.

Our vision to help grow food and ingredients that are better for the planet and better for people is a commitment all our team share as we strive to power the next generation of vertical farming”.

For further information on our technology, contact our team on 0345 5481812

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

15th February 2023
GrowPura GrowPura
Member News