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The UK Agri-Tech Centre is announcing today that its Chief Executive, Phil Bicknell, has decided to step back from his role with the organisation.

Phil played a pivotal role in merging the three centres and believes now is the right time to explore new career opportunities.

A project is underway to explore how kelp extracts can enhance nutrient management in agriculture, backed by Innovate UK funding and a coalition of industry experts. The project, titled ‘Assessing Sugar Kelp Extracts as a Nutrient Management Tool’ (SKE-NMT), is spearheaded by Algapelago Marine Ltd in collaboration with The James Hutton Institute, Atlantic Mariculture Ltd and the UK Agri-Tech Centre. In its early phases, this research seeks to investigate how biologically driven nutrient management strategies can improve soil health and crop performance. By leveraging the natural properties of seaweed biostimulants and reducing reliance on mineral fertilisers, the project aims to foster plant resilience while optimising soil microbial and fungal ecosystems. Seaweed supplements contain a uniquely rich blend of fibres, micronutrients and bioactive compounds that stimulate beneficial soil microbiota. This, in turn, triggers a chain reaction of biological processes that benefit productivity, resistance to abiotic stress and resistance to pathogens. This innovative approach is applicable across a broad range of crop types, including broadacre, horticulture and top fruit. Seaweed biostimulants present a viable solution to both biotic and abiotic challenges, facilitating the transition toward more sustainable and resilient farming practices. The research will also lay the groundwork for larger-scale field trials, further investigating the impact of kelp-derived biostimulants on Nutrient Use Efficiency (NUE). How does it work? Rhizosphere microbiota is a collection of microorganisms that live in the soil and around plant roots and plays an essential role in the degradation of organic matter, nutrient retention and recycling. Previous studies suggest that applying seaweed extracts can significantly enhance microbial diversity and improve crop yield and quality. The SKE-NMT project builds upon prior research, including an Innovate UK-supported initiative on low-energy kelp extraction for soil and livestock applications. This project is examining the potential of biostimulants and livestock feed additives—derived from sugar kelp through an innovative low-energy extraction process—to improve soil conditions and enhance feed efficiency. The seaweed extracts are novel due to two key factors: firstly, cultivated sugar kelp (a type of brown alga native to UK coastal waters), is a relatively new species in the seaweed extract sector and boasts a distinct biochemical composition; secondly, these extracts are produced using a novel low-energy fermentation and extraction process. Cultivated kelp provides a sustainable and scalable alternative to wild-harvested marine biomass. However, the potential of novel cultivated seaweed biomass, especially in applications like biostimulants, remains under-explored.  This project seeks to establish an innovative supply chain where cultivated seaweed biomass plays a crucial role in the transition to global sustainable agricultural practices. The new SKE-NMT project will quantify the ability of these low-energy seaweed extracts to improve nutrient use efficiency in stringently designed crop trials. These trials will explore yield responses under reduced nitrate and phosphate conditions and correlate improved uptake of nitrogen and phosphorus under fertiliser limitation with impacts on microbial diversity and community structure.The project will merge the development of new technologies (novel seaweed extracts) with further means to improve nutrient use efficiency in arable and horticultural systems. Broader impacts Traditional nutrient management practices often rely on heavy mineral fertiliser inputs, which can lead to environmental degradation and high costs. Integrating seaweed-derived supplements could improve NUE, reducing carbon emissions while simultaneously enriching soil fertility. With UK farmers under increasing pressure to maintain productivity while mitigating nutrient leaching and reducing fertiliser dependency, this project aims to validate the role of cultivated kelp extracts in improving NUE. Luke Ansell, Head of Operations at Algapelago Marine Ltd, said: “We’re thrilled to have secured funding for a second Innovate UK project focused on the development of kelp biostimulants. The project aims to address data gaps and build the evidence case for the role of cultivated seaweed extracts in modern crop production. The SKE-NMT will test the hypothesis that sugar kelp extracts can improve plant nutrient use efficiency here in the UK.” Dr Adrian Macleod, Innovation Manager at Atlantic Mariculture Ltd, added: “We are delighted to have been provided this opportunity by Innovate UK. Seaweed aquaculture is a game-changer for sustainable food systems, and I’m passionate about unlocking its full potential. Cultivated seaweed biomass offers a scalable, sustainable solution that not only supports marine ecosystems but could also play a vital role in sustainable agriculture. This project is an exciting step forward in demonstrating how seaweed biostimulants can enhance soil health, improve nutrient efficiency and reduce reliance on conventional fertilisers. By developing an innovative supply chain, we are laying the groundwork for a future where cultivated seaweed is a cornerstone of both aquaculture and agriculture.” Gordon McDougall, Research Leader at the James Hutton Institute, said: “We are delighted to bring our expertise in seaweed biochemistry, biostimulants and crop trials to this important research project. Understanding how these novel low-energy seaweed extracts can reduce inputs of nitrogen and phosphate fertilisers, maintain or improve crop yield whilst altering the soil microbiota could provide new approaches for greener agriculture.” And Martin Sutcliffe, Innovation Lead for Aquaculture at the UK Agri-Tech Centre, commented: “The UK seaweed farming sector has great potential to meet the needs of other sectors such as arable farming. Projects like this can provide real-world use cases for seaweed farmers, enabling sustainable growth of seaweed farming in the UK which, in turn, can provide well-paid, long-term jobs in our coastal communities, helping to shift away from the current boom-and-bust cycle of seasonal employment. I’m really excited to see the results of this work and how, together with similar projects the UK Agri-Tech Centre is working on, we can move towards a more resilient, sustainable food system in the UK.” This initiative underscores the growing importance of seaweed-derived biostimulants in sustainable agriculture, positioning cultivated kelp as a valuable resource for improving soil health, nutrient efficiency and overall farm productivity. If you would like to learn more about the SKE-NMT project, please get in touch via info@ukagritechcentre.com.

Experts from the UK Agri-Tech Centre recently joined an engaging discussion on the Poultry.Network’s podcast, delving into science-led research, sustainability and the challenges facing the poultry industry today. Dr Fiona Short and Paddy Tarbuck, both Innovation Leads at the UK Agri-Tech Centre, sat down with Tom Willings for a special edition of the Sustainability Hub podcast.

Building on the momentum from a successful knowledge scoping and networking initiative in 2023/24, the UK Agri-Tech Centre has recently completed a bilateral programme of knowledge exchange visits between the UK and Spain.2

Farmer-led approaches to innovation are critical, Phil Bicknell, CEO of the UK Agri-Tech Centre, told the audience at the NFU conference. In a session titled Science and Technology to grow, he described three transformational technologies in which the UK Agri-Tech Centre has been involved and in which farmer ideation, input and codesign as well as on-farm test and trial, were critical to their successful development: Hoofcount, Antobot and UPP Susprot. In each case, what began as a problem-solving tool is becoming a game-changer – creating new revenue streams, reducing waste and reshaping the future of farming.  His speech followed DEFRA Secretary of State, Steve Reed, who said that innovation and technology will help farmers produce more food more sustainably and more profitably and announced legislation to implement the Precision Breeding Act for plants in England had been laid in Parliament that day (Tuesday, February 25). The Secretary of State also announced the ADOPT programme which will fund farmer-led trials to bridge the gap between new technology and their use in the real world. The UK Agri-Tech Centre, along with ADAS and the Soil Association will help manage the ADOPT support hub, a centralised support system to help farmers, growers and foresters across England access the Programme. “We know that farmers are busy and applying for funding can feel overwhelming,” said Phil Bicknell. “The ADOPT support hub is here to provide straightforward, step-by-step support – whether it is developing trial ideas, applying for funding or sharing knowledge with the wider community, including farming groups and stakeholders.” A wide range of ideas is encouraged: the UK Agri-Tech Centre’s definition of agri-tech embraces all new technology and pioneering management strategies across agriculture, forestry and aquaculture. And we have the breadth of knowledge and facilities to support them – with 43 innovation capabilities, 150 expert staff and 470+ industry partnerships, the UK Agri-Tech Centre is in a singular position to foster collaboration, expand international reach and drive sector resilience. “Our work is designed to bring the best possible benefits to your world,” said Phil. “We’re well aware that you operate in a world of economic and climate pressures, as well as changing policy. We’re also well aware that you are the experts on your farms – how can we support you, your farm, your business, your future? Get in touch and let us see what we can do to make your work easier, more profitable and more sustainable.” While at this event, Phil was interviewed for BBC Farming Today on the topics highlighted in this blog. Listen here. If you want to learn more about the ADOPT programme or any of the projects mentioned, get in touch via info@ukagritechcentre.com.

Biodiversity plays a crucial role in maintaining healthy ecosystems and within agricultural landscapes, legumes can be powerful in encouraging this. The inclusion of legumes within cropping systems has a distinct ability to improve the biodiversity of farm ecosystems, both spatially and temporally at below and above-ground scales. The benefits of nitrogen fixation An immediate positive impact of legumes on biodiversity are the effects of their nitrogen fixation on surrounding soil health; a legumes ability to fixate atmospheric nitrogen provides ideal soil conditions for other plants or organisms, acting as a reliable nitrogen source. For example, nitrogen transfer from clover to wheat is related to increased earthworm presence and activity, which indicates the soil has ideal conditions for biological activity and even microbial activity. The ability for legumes to fixate their own nitrogen also reduces the dependence on applied nitrogen fertilisers in areas in which legumes are present or have been in the past. Using applied chemical fertilisers can cause eutrophication, which causes excessive plant and algal growth and is detrimental to aquatic ecosystems and their subsequent inhabitants and biodiversity. Replacing nitrogen fertilisers with self-sufficient nitrogen-fixing legumes allows for the generation of beneficial nitrogen and ammonia within soils, without the risk of chemical fertiliser runoff causing eutrophication which hinders biodiversity. The attraction of pollinators and inhabitants Beyond the nutritional benefits on biodiversity, legumes can visually effectuate biodiversity through their attraction of pollinators. A flowering legumes provision of nectar and pollen helps sustain pollinator populations, such as bees and butterflies, which may not have been otherwise present in an area lacking floral resources. The physical presence of legumes may also provide habitats for other taxa, be it insects or small mammals. For example, lucerne, a leafy legume, act as a significant habitat for grasshoppers. This provision of habitats and their subsequent inhabitants can supply animals that act as prey and provide foraging habitats for larger organisms, like farmland birds, bats and vertebrates. The benefits of stable soil structures Legumes can improve soil structure due to their extensive rooting systems that provide an intact soil structure with minimal disturbance, attracting beneficial insects and earthworms to the stable soil. Beyond improving animal diversity, the maintenance of stable topsoil also sustains plant diversity, by providing more structured soils and ideal growing conditions for other plant types or crops. However, the benefits of soil structure go beyond diversity and include improved root water systems and assist with carbon sequestration. Contributions towards more resilient food chains The localised benefits of legumes on biodiversity can more largely contribute towards boosting biodiversity within a farm’s wider food chain, as the increased presence and diversity of smaller organisms provide food for larger, more mobile species across the ecosystem. These trophic interactions also contribute towards the transfer of nitrogen-rich substances throughout the food chain and aid even large animals in their survival and access to nutrient-rich prey. Implementing legumes into grassland systems The UK Agri-Tech Centre is collaborating with LEAF on the Nitrogen Utilisation Efficiency Legumes (NUE-leg) project, a DEFRA on-farm and research trial looking to eliminate the dependence of UK grassland farming on applied nitrogen fertilisers. It aims to do this by developing solutions to reduce environmental impacts while enhancing the economics and sustainability of grassland farming and promoting on-farm biodiversity. Incorporating legumes into agricultural practice is not just strategic for improving crop growing conditions, but a vital step towards enhancing and sustaining biodiversity across the entire ecosystem. If you are interested in the power of legumes or the NUE-leg project and want to learn more, get in touch with us at info@ukagritechcentre.com