The agri-tech innovation pipeline remains full, and the need for activities to help showcase new, evidence-based opportunities to farmers has probably never been stronger. However the relationship between tech developer and early adopter needs to managed carefully to ensure both partners gain mutual benefit.
SilviBio is developing a ‘survival capsule’ that will improve the survival of tree seedlings. Its clearly defined proposition and route to market has made its business plan the overall winner of the GROW 2020 agri-tech business plan competition. The result was announced by Calum Murray of Innovate UK, one of the judges. The announcement came at the end of an exciting final in which four early-stage companies pitched their business plans to the judges via Zoom.
The UK agri-tech scene is by far the most active in Europe and offers a very diverse ecosystem, according to Louisa Burwood-Taylor, Head of Research and Media at AgFunder and guest speaker at the GROW final.
“We’ve got some great individuals in the GROW competition this year, from students looking to leverage their research and technical expertise, to entrepreneurial farmers who have spotted a niche in the market, and business-focussed scientists seeking to help improve the bottom line of farming,” says Alex
Participants in the agri-hackathon came up with some truly awesome ideas with global impact – taking on the challenge of how to change the world in 48 hours
We ran our first Agri-Tech Hackathon early this year in partnership with Allia Serious Impact. It was an intensive weekend that resulted in some very exciting ideas emerging.
To accelerate innovation in the agri-food industry, Agri-Tech East has partnered with Allia Serious Impact to host their first hackathon in Cambridge on 7-8 April 2018.
The hackathon concept brings together technical experts around a key problem facing a business or sector to engage in a super-focused effort to come up with some answers.
And the winner of GROW agri-tech business plan competition is….. Farming Data, a mobile trading platform that could lift subsistence farmers out of poverty.
Farming Data supports subsistence farmers by creating a market for surplus.
Bristol based SoilSense has developed an aerial soil moisture sensor that can provide a detailed map of the water status of a whole field in minutes.
“What factors can I influence to improve yield?” This is the question that Jonathan Tole has frequently asked himself.