Fifteen agri-tech projects are told they will receive a share of £18 million of funding from government and industry to help accelerate agricultural innovation and their commercial viability.


This funding will help to support the growth of agricultural science and technology sectors in the UK, which already employs nearly 4 million people and is one of the world’s fastest-growing markets.


The 15 projects will receive £12.1 million funding from government with £5.7 million co-investment from industry. They are all led by UK companies and span 3 key areas of the agriculture sector – crops, livestock and aquaculture.


Names of the 15 Agri-tech Catalyst Award winning projects:

1) Antimicrobial technology to control disease in potato production

Organisations:

    Advanced Pest Solutions Ltd (lead)
    Agrico UK Limited
    Branston Limited
    McCain Food (GB) Limited
    Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA)
    Scottish Agronomy Limited


2) Preservation and sequencing technology to address food security and production efficiency in the poultry sector

Organisations:

    Cobb-Europe (lead)
    The Roslin Institute


3) New strawberries optimised for growing without soil

Organisations:

    East Malling Services limited (lead)
    Agrovista UK Limited
    Botanicoir Limited
    CPM Retail Limited
    East Malling Research
    Sainsbury’s Supermarkets Ltd


4) Using light to extend the shelf-life of fresh produce

Organisations:

    Finlay Flowers UK Limited (lead)
    Adas UK Limited
    Lambda Photometrics Ltd
    May Barn Horticultural Consultancy Limited
    North Bank Growers Limited
    Nutricycle Limited
    University of Nottingham
    Wight Salads Group Limited


5) An automated system for precision application of fertiliser and plant growth compounds

Organisations:

    Growhow UK Limited (lead)
    Adas UK Limited
    Chris Harry-Thomas Consulting
    Hill Court Farm Research
    Patchwork Technology Limited
    Precise Crop Nutrition Limited
    Syngenta Seeds Ltd


6) Developing technology for an organic natural based pesticide

Organisations:

    Hockley International Limited (lead)
    Almac Sciences Limited
    Bangor University


7) Improving efficiency and reducing environmental harm of fertiliser production

Organisations:

    ITM Power (Trading) Limited (lead)
    BPE Design and Support Limited
    FERA Limited
    University of Sheffield
    Waitrose Limited


8) Wheat research and breeding project to improve food security in India and Pakistan

Organisations:

    KWS UK Limited (lead)
    Global Crop Innovations PTY Limited
    Indian Agricultural Research Institute
    University of Sydney


9) Improving the production of farmed salmon to reduce its environmental impact

Organisations:

    Marine Harvest (Scotland) Limited (lead)
    Biomar Limited
    Pharmaq Limited
    University of Stirling


10) Ground and aerial sensors to improve wheat production and breeding

Organisations:

    Masstock Arable (UK) Limited (lead)
    RAGT Seeds Limited
    University of Nottingham Institute for Enterprise and Innovation


11) Increasing the efficiency and quality of strawberries grown without soil

Organisations:

    PlantWorks Limited (lead)
    Agrovista UK Limited
    Berry Gardens Limited
    East Malling Research


12) Protecting peas and beans from beetles without blanket insecticide spraying

Organisations:

    Processors and Growers Research Organisation (lead)
    BASF Public Limited Company
    Exosect Limited
    Oecos
    Rothamsted Research


13) Optimising ‘big data’ to drive improvements in crop production and utilisation

Organisations:

    Produce World Group Limited (lead)
    Cranfield University


14) Breeding lamb for more taste and less waste by scanning live animals

Organisations:

    WM Morrisons Supermarkets PLC (lead)
    Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC)


15) Technology to automatically monitor pigs for the early detection of health and welfare problems

Organisations:

    Zoetis (lead)
    Harbro Limited
    Innovent UK Limited
    Newcastle University
    RAFT Solutions Ltd