An innovative project that utilises enhanced water technology to boost efficiency and productivity across the livestock industry is gaining momentum.
The SWEET SUCCESS project responds to the bio-energy demand and the net zero transition, to increase yields of bio-energy crops, subsequently aiding energy generation, whilst not compromising land-use for food and housing.
The UK Agri-Tech Centre is delighted to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), through its Institute of Natural Resources and Agrobiology of Salamanca (IRNASA-CSIC), which will help to advance agri-tech innovations and provides a framework for bilateral collaborations that address global agricultural challenges. The MOU underscores the two organisations’ mutual dedication to promoting agri-tech development, facilitating collaboration and driving forward industry advancement. Both the UK Agri-Tech Centre and the CSIC bring unique strengths to the collaboration projects, leveraging the UK’s expertise that includes precision agriculture, climate-smart technologies and animal health, alongside Spain’s innovations in agroforestry systems, sustainable inputs and renewable energy applications. The vision is to bolster business growth, innovation, research and collaboration in the agri-tech sector—solidifying a shared commitment to addressing global agricultural challenges and enhancing sustainability through joint initiatives. Key areas of collaboration include: Sustainable Agriculture and Climate Resilience Precision Agriculture Digital Agriculture Agri-Food Innovation Knowledge Exchange Linsey Cresswell, Head of Strategic Partnerships and International at the UK Agri-Tech Centre, said: “This MOU represents a significant step forward in fostering international collaboration to drive meaningful innovation in agri-tech. Together, we aim to build financially viable, resilient and sustainable agricultural systems to address the challenges of climate change and food security.” Mar Siles Lucas, Director of IRNASA-CSIC, said: “This partnership with the UK Agri-Tech Centre demonstrates our shared vision of advancing scientific and technological research to benefit society and the environment. By working together, we can achieve impactful results for both nations and beyond.” Shona Brown, Senior Trade and Investment Adviser at the British Embassy, Madrid, said: “I am delighted to see that the close collaboration between Irnasa-CSIC and the British Embassy in Madrid has contributed to the signing of an MOU which underlines commitment to work closely with the UK Agri-Tech Centre and develop mutually beneficial R&D and commercial opportunities between the UK and Spain.” This closer way of working can only bring positives and encourage solutions to the challenges the agricultural industry is facing, especially within the current climate. It also supports market entry strategies for businesses in both countries and further strengthens the agri-tech sectors in the UK and Spain. For further information, please contact James.Kayam@ukagritechcentre.com or visit www.ukagritechcentre.com to find out more about the work the UK Agri-Tech Centre does.
A group of industry professionals is exploring a fishmeal alternative derived from marine protein sources to evaluate potential benefits for gut health and growth performance in meat chickens. The Innovate UK initiative, ‘Farmed Marine Proteins for Poultry Feed’, assessed the viability of using Artemeal – a protein product made from artemia – as a novel replacement for fishmeal in the diets of young broilers. The aim was to monitor health outcomes, optimise growth and reduce environmental impact. Aquanzo Ltd, the project’s lead partner, has collaborated with Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) and the UK Agri-Tech Centre to introduce a sustainable alternative to traditional fishmeal, offering a long-term solution to the current marine protein ingredient crisis. Traditionally, marine ingredients, in the form of fishmeal, are considered among the most nutrient-rich feed options for young terrestrial animals (like chicks and weanling piglets) and aquaculture species. However, the environmental toll of harvesting wild marine resources is significant, involving substantial greenhouse gas emissions from long distance transport and a delicate reliance on ecosystems already under pressure from climate change. Additionally, as demand for poultry and animal feed has soared in recent decades, marine ingredient harvests have remained relatively stagnant over the past 40 years. This imbalance has driven up costs and pushed fishmeal out of many poultry diets due to economic constraints. Rather than merely identifying substitutes, Aquanzo has taken a different approach by developing technology to cultivate artemia – a marine zooplankton – at scale on land. This sustainable production system transforms artemia into a marine protein ingredient fit for animal feed. What are the benefits? Farming artemia offers a long-term solution to the over-exploitation and use of wild marine protein ingredients. It enables the production of feed that maintains the nutritional advantages of fishmeal without the environmental downsides of ocean harvesting. The process also supports the UK’s circular economy by utilising agricultural byproducts as a feedstock to grow artemia. For feed manufacturers, this means access to a consistent, customisable and high-quality ingredient with lower emissions compared to harvested marine proteins. This level of quality control and sustainability is not achievable through traditional marine sourcing. Aquanzo has conducted a full life cycle assessment (LCA) of Artemeal to support ongoing improvements in sustainable production. Dissemination and knowledge exchange are strong components of this project through engagement with an expert advisory panel and wider stakeholders, to ensure the project aligns with the industry’s technical, environmental and commercial needs. The successful demonstration of Artemeal in starter broiler feed (replacing fishmeal) opened the way to shaping a new sector in the animal feed industry. Alongside other novel protein sources like insect meal and single-cell proteins, farmed marine proteins will support the development of a strong and resilient livestock feed industry across the UK and beyond. What are the impacts? The project will deliver: Farming marine protein has the potential to revolutionise the animal feed sector by combining the nutritional value, taste and energy of marine ingredients, with the scalability and controllable and sustainable precision platforms of farming. Aquanzo estimates that future industrial-scale Artemeal production could yield thousands of tonnes annually. Within five years, this would be enough to supply over 10% of all UK poultry starter diets (for chicks), feeding more than 100m birds. Aquanzo’s broader mission is to deliver Zero Ocean Impact protein alternatives to feed manufacturers, farmers and consumers. This could provide significant productivity and health benefits for farmed animals and improve protein production sustainability by optimising genetics, feedstocks and artemia production systems. Remi Gratacap, CEO of Aquanzo, said: “This project came together thanks to an amazing team who made it all run smoothly. We showed that fishmeal can successfully be upgraded with locally farmed marine ingredients in chick diets, proving a sustainable long-term solution to harvesting wild resources.” Lee Cocker, Project Manager at the UK Agri-Tech Centre, added: “This has been an important and fascinating project and I am extremely proud to have been part of a team that has made such positive advances. The future is bright for Artemeal.” Jos Houdijk and Marwa Hussein, researchers at SRUC, commented: “It was great to observe that birds fed Artemeal during the first days of life outperformed those fed fishmeal and that this carried through to being heavier at harvest. These benefits concurred with beneficial impacts on gut microbiome and immune organs, suggesting a great future of Artemeal for robust, resilient poultry production.” If you want to learn more about the Farmed Marine Proteins for Poultry Feed initiative, get in touch via info@ukagritechcentre.com
India’s agricultural sector plays a pivotal role on the global stage, with 220 million hectares of cropped land and nearly half of the nation’s workforce employed in agriculture. Between 2023–2024 alone, the country’s agri-exports reached $53 billion, emphasising the importance of food security and economic resilience. Yet, as India strives to modernise and boost productivity, there are clear opportunities for innovative agri-tech solutions. The UK Agri-Tech Centre recently delivered a high-impact UK–India Agri-Tech Accelerator, designed to deepen collaboration between these two nations at the forefront of agricultural innovation. In collaboration with the UK Government, the accelerator was developed to foster links between UK and India’s agri-tech ecosystems, to support sustainable agriculture, strengthen trade and R&D links, and facilitate the commercialisation of cutting-edge technologies tailored to India’s needs. The programme identified key areas of opportunity within the agricultural landscape, with a strategic focus on precision technologies to support climate-resilient crop production. Four key themes were prioritised: · Precision breeding · Crop surveillance technologies · Controlled environment agriculture and precision application systems · Data-driven decision-making tools Five pioneering UK agri-tech businesses were selected to take part in the accelerator, each offering innovative solutions aligned with India’s agricultural priorities: Mutus-Tech – Specialising in AI-driven pest management and fertiliser optimisation. Green CropTech – Delivering nanotechnology-based biostimulants for enhanced crop protection. AgriSound – Deploying bioacoustic sensors to monitor pollination in real time. LinearWorks – Harnessing hyperspectral imaging and drone technology for advanced crop monitoring. LettUs Grow – Innovating in aeroponics for controlled environment farming and yield optimisation. Dr Jenna Ross OBE, Senior International Business Development Manager at the UK Agri-Tech Centre, said: “The aim of the UK–India Agri-Tech Accelerator programme was to establish a network of agri-technology experts, innovators and end users from the UK and India, to create on-going opportunities for agri-tech exchange and partnership, boosting food security and unlocking growth for UK and India based agri-tech businesses. Phase one of the accelerator involved selecting five UK businesses to attend a weeklong curated programme, where they had the opportunity to gain an immersive understanding of India’s agricultural ecosystem, accelerating the opportunity for collaboration and to bring their products to market in India”. A week of immersive engagement The delegation embarked on a weeklong programme across Delhi, Hyderabad and Bengaluru. Through a combination of field visits and workshops, the UK businesses were immersed in India’s diverse agricultural ecosystems, meeting researchers, incubators, investors and government representatives. Each city offered unique insights into regional agricultural priorities and innovation hubs, enabling participating businesses to engage directly with potential partners and stakeholders. Starting in Delhi, the group participated in an ideation and collaboration workshop which included representatives from Government (Indian Council of Agricultural Research ICAR, Ministry of Agriculture), research centres (IARI), incubators (Pusa Krishi), VCs (Think Ag) as well as start-ups and corporates. This workshop facilitated connections with Indian investors and venture capitalists, laying the groundwork for future funding opportunities and partnerships. In Hyderabad, the group visited International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-arid Tropics (ICRISAT), a research centre of the CGIAR consortium (a global partnership uniting international organisations engaged in research about food security), conducting research to develop and improve dryland farming and agri-food systems to address the challenges of hunger, malnutrition, poverty, and environmental degradation in the drylands of Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. The five companies also participated in an ideation and collaboration workshop with key stakeholders in the region including agri incubators of ICAR, ICRISAT and start-ups. These interactions opened up opportunities for co-development and testing of new technologies in real-world settings. A workshop in Bengaluru identified state level challenges and opportunities for UK-India agri-tech collaborations and included stakeholders from across industry and academia. The delegation travelled to the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, and participated in a round table discussion where strategic areas for collaboration were identified. They then visited the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP), an initiative supported by the Department of Biotechnology, which catalyses cutting-edge research and innovation in the life sciences. These engagements helped establish areas for tech testing and validation, crucial for adapting UK technologies to the Indian market. Navneeta Katyan, Co-Founder & CEO of Green CropTech, said: “Overall, the UK-India Agri-Tech Accelerator Programme has enabled us to explore collaborative opportunities, validate our product-market fit in India, and make strategic adjustments to our business plan to support a ‘soft landing’ in the Indian market.” The visits and workshops provided a valuable platform for two-way knowledge exchange with the UK companies showcasing their technologies, and Indian stakeholders sharing potential synergies and real-world challenges, all helping shape future collaborative opportunities. The appetite for collaboration was clear, not only from stakeholders, but from Indian agri-tech innovators keen to explore opportunities in the UK as well. This two-way potential is an exciting next chapter in the UK–India agri-tech journey. Swati Saxena, Senior Science & Technology Officer at the UK Science & Technology Network, British High Commission, Delhi, said: “The UK to India Agri-tech Accelerator visit programme showcased the strength of UK agri-tech innovations and fostered meaningful collaborations with India’s vibrant agri-innovation ecosystem. The UK businesses gained key market insights and identified strategic partners, while Indian start-ups and incubators showed strong interest in collaborating – highlighting a shared drive for sustainable agri innovation.” This programme has laid a strong foundation for future collaborations, reinforcing the shared commitment of both nations to leverage technology for a more resilient and sustainable future. With continued engagement and investment, this initiative promises to drive game-changing innovation, benefiting farmers, agri-tech businesses and wider stakeholders across both countries. If you would like to learn more about the work being done in the agri-food sector both domestically and overseas, get in touch via info@ukagritechcentre.com
This Spain & UK Knowledge Exchange Program 2024/25 initiative promises to strengthen ties between the UK and Spain, driving forward collaborative efforts to solve pressing agricultural challenges and unlock new opportunities for both nations.
Read on to find out about current funding opportunities to get support and help accelerate your business’ agri-tech aspirations
The UK Agri-Tech Centre has called on investors to keep agri-tech in their sights when considering areas in which to invest, following the UK Government’s investment summit today.
A ground-breaking project titled “Precision Pollination for Higher Strawberry Productivity and Quality” is set to revolutionise strawberry production through cutting-edge drone technology.
Funded by Defra’s Farming Innovation Programme, this feasibility study brought together a consortium of partners to detect early signs of digital dermatitis lesions and lameness within dairy cattle.
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