ATW 2026: From Discovery to Impact: Innovations Shaping the Future of Agriculture

The event, “From Discovery to Impact: Innovations Shaping the Future of Agriculture,” held at Rothamsted Research and led by Dr Georgia Mitrousia on 22 October 2026 as part of Agri-Tech Week, brought together researchers, innovators and industry representatives to explore how scientific discoveries are translated into practical solutions for agriculture. The programme showcased innovations in crop protection, pest management and biosecurity, highlighting the journey from fundamental research to real-world impact.

Presentations from Rothamsted scientists Dr Mike Birkett and Dr David Withall demonstrated how advances in chemical ecology are helping address agricultural challenges through a better understanding of interactions between plants, insects and microbes. Their talks highlighted the role of fundamental research in developing sustainable approaches to crop protection and integrated pest management.

Industry perspectives were provided through innovation case studies from PheroSyn and Sorex Sensors. Dr Mary Ellis shared lessons from PheroSyn’s commercialisation journey, emphasising customer focus, adaptability and market understanding as key drivers of success. Professor Andrew Flewitt presented Sorex Sensors’ dual-mode FBAR technology, developed in collaboration with Rothamsted Research, which enables rapid and selective detection of trace compounds and pest-related volatiles for applications in precision agriculture and biosecurity.

The event also provided valuable opportunities for networking and knowledge exchange, enabling attendees to connect with researchers, explore emerging technologies and discuss future collaborations.

Key themes emerging from the event included the importance of fundamental research as a driver of innovation, the value of partnerships between research organisations and industry, and the potential of emerging sensing and biological technologies to support more sustainable and resilient farming systems. Together, these examples demonstrated how scientific excellence can be translated into practical solutions that deliver tangible benefits for agriculture, food production and plant health.

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