Benestar animal

Hendrix Genetics refuerza su estrategia de sostenibilidad en la mejora genética animal

07/05/2026 - La compañía Hendrix Genetics ha presentado su nuevo Informe de Sostenibilidad, en el que detalla la integración de criterios responsables en sus programas de mejora, operaciones y alianzas...

Innovation is essential to the future of agriculture. From AI-driven decision tools and precision sensors to robotics and novel biological inputs, the sector is generating new solutions to some of farming’s most pressing challenges – improving productivity, adapting to climate change, and building a more sustainable food system.But innovation alone doesn’t create value. Protecting it, positioning it and scaling it does. That’s where intellectual property (IP) becomes critical – not as a legal formality, but as a strategic tool for growth. Too often treated as something to address later, for agri-tech businesses looking to scale it needs to be part of the conversation from the outset.From protection to commercial advantageAt its simplest, IP protects what makes a business unique. But its real value goes much further. A clear IP strategy can:Give investors confidence by demonstrating defensibility and long-term valueEnable partnerships by clarifying ownership and rightsCreate new revenue streams through licensing or data-driven services It’s not just about stopping others copying – it’s about building something worth scaling.More than patents: understanding the right protection for your businessIP is often associated with patents – but in agri-tech, the picture is more varied. There are many forms of protection available, from trade marks and design rights to plant variety rights. Those scaling agri-tech innovations should be particularly aware of:Patents protect novel, inventive technical solutions – new products, processes or uses – and grant exclusive rights for up to 20 years. They require public disclosure of the invention, can take several years to grant, and involve ongoing costs to maintain. Most relevant for novel hardware, chemical formulations or genuinely inventive methods.Copyright arises automatically and protects original works including software, written content, datasets and models – no registration is required. In the UK it lasts for the lifetime of the creator plus 70 years. Particularly relevant for software platforms, analytical tools and proprietary training data.Trade Secrets cover confidential information that gives a competitive edge – algorithms, formulations, processes or business methods. There is no registration and no public disclosure; protection lasts as long as confidentiality is maintained. A strong option for innovations that are difficult to reverse-engineer.Database Rights protect substantial investment in creating or maintaining a dataset, even where the underlying data isn’t novel. Increasingly relevant as agri-tech businesses build proprietary datasets from farm sensors, satellite imagery or agronomic trials.Effective IP strategies combine different forms of protection, aligned to the actual sources of value in the business and its stage of development.Practical first steps for early-stage businessesFor many founders, IP can feel like a distant concern. While you should always take specialist advice from a legal adviser, a few early actions can help you start thinking in the right way:Do an IP audit. Take stock of what you have before spending on protection. Where does value sit – in the technology, the data, the process, or the brand?Protect before you disclose. Patent rights can be lost if an invention is publicly disclosed before filing. File before any public presentation, demo day or publication.Use NDAs consistently. Ensure a non-disclosure agreement is in place before sharing anything commercially sensitive with partners, investors or trial hosts.Check freedom to operate. Before investing heavily in a product or process, check you are not inadvertently infringing someone else’s IP.Clarify ownership in collaborations. When working with universities or research institutes, establish who owns what from the outset – both what each party brings in and anything created jointly.Get early specialist advice. A short conversation with a patent lawyer early on can save significant time and cost later. The UK IPO also provides free guidance for start-ups.Why IP looks different in agri-techAgri-tech brings specific challenges. Innovation spans hardware, software, data and biology, and development cycles can be long – requiring extensive real-world testing before market. Collaboration is central too, but creates risk: testing can expose innovation before it is properly protected, and collaborative projects can blur ownership without clear agreements. Different IP regimes in global markets add further complexity.Common pitfalls – and how to avoid themLeaving IP too late is perhaps the most common issue – once a product has been publicly demonstrated or discussed, some protection options may already be closed off. Investing in IP without a clear commercial rationale creates cost without return. Collaboration can create risk if ownership is not defined upfront. And many businesses underestimate the value of protecting software, data and algorithms – increasingly where the real commercial value sits.Turning innovation into impactAt the UK Agri-Tech Centre, we work with businesses across this journey – from validation through to commercial deployment and scale. That includes supporting real-world testing in a way that builds robust evidence without compromising IP, and helping businesses navigate partnerships, markets and the wider ecosystem.Because innovation only delivers impact when it is adopted – and adoption is far more likely when the value behind that innovation is clear, protected and scalable. The future of agri-tech won’t just be defined by who innovates fastest – but by who is able to capture, protect and scale that innovation effectively.

27/04/2026 -

Great British Beef Week is a moment to celebrate the quality and resilience of the UK beef sector.It is also an opportunity to look outward – to ask how UK innovation can compete, collaborate and lead in global markets facing shared challenges around productivity, labour, animal health, welfare and sustainability.For the UK Agri Tech Centre, this is where our mission comes into focus: to prove solutions, build businesses and scale impact. Innovation alone is not enough. To deliver real change, technologies must be validated in real-world systems, connected to the right partners, and supported by clear, credible pathways to adoption and scale.This approach is brought to life through Twin Pastures: UK–Canada Livestock Innovation Exchange. Led by the UK Agri-Tech Centre in partnership with the Canadian Agri-Food Automation and Intelligence Network (CAAIN), and supported by the UK overseas network in Canada, the programme brings together farmers, SMEs and leading research institutes to explore how UK-developed cattle technologies perform in one of the world’s most demanding production environments.The lessons learned now feed directly into our Global Growth Accelerator (GGA) programme, supporting UK businesses as they prepare to target the Canadian market. A shared challengeWhile the UK and Canadian beef sectors differ in scale, climate and production systems, the underlying challenges are strikingly similar:Maintaining animal health and welfare at scaleDetecting disease earlier and reducing antimicrobial relianceManaging labour shortages through automation and digital toolsImproving productivity while meeting rising sustainability expectationsUK beef innovation is particularly strong in AI, diagnostics, biosensing, robotics and data platforms. Canada, by contrast, offers large-scale commercial operations, world class smart farms and applied research testbeds that are ideal for validating agri-tech innovations beyond the UK context.Twin Pastures was designed to bring these strengths together, offering UK businesses structured exposure to different systems, operating conditions and decision-making environments. Twin Pastures: proving UK beef innovation in the real worldDelivered between September 2025 and March 2026, Twin Pastures was a bilateral exchange led by the UK Agri Tech Centre in partnership with CAAIN, funded by UK Government.UK participants included beef focused SMEs and applied researchers working across data platforms, diagnostics, sensing and robotics. Through visits to commercial feedlots, processors and applied research centres such as Olds College and Lakeland College, participants gained first hand exposure to the realities shaping technology adoption in Canada. From insight to commercial clarityFor Breedr, the livestock data platform, the programme provided clarity on how supply chain concentration, processor dynamics and integration with the US market shape data use and purchasing behaviour. This enabled the team to identify viable long term partnership models and refine its future market entry strategy.PneuMonitor, which develops technology to reduce calf pneumonia and antimicrobial use, used the exchange to rigorously test the relevance of its solution in Canadian beef systems. Exposure to outdoor cow–calf and feedlot operations highlighted where the product could be better aligned with producer needs, while also identifying opportunities in adjacent areas such as dairy systems and livestock transport. The programme delivered an honest, evidence based assessment of fit.For MI:RNA Diagnostics, the exchange strengthened research driven pathways rather than immediate commercial routes. The company deepened its relationship with Agriculture and Agri Food Canada and established new connections with researchers and industry stakeholders, supporting future collaboration on early disease detection and predictive diagnostics.Across the cohort, delegates returned with a sharper understanding of how scale, climate, labour availability and risk appetite shape commercial decisions – insights that directly inform product development, positioning and investment planning. From exploration to pilots: the Global Growth AcceleratorWhile Twin Pastures is designed to provide insight and validation, the UK Agri-Tech Centre also plays a wider role in supporting businesses to move from understanding to action.The Global Growth Accelerator (GGA) takes the knowledge and networks developed through Twin Pastures and translates them into structured, in country delivery – turning insight and validation into repeatable pathways to market. Through GGA, the UK Agri Tech Centre co creates pilot projects that validate UK developed solutions with real end users.Through GGA, we:Scope and prioritise key global market challenges and opportunitiesMap and build partnerships with influential stakeholders in target regionsCo design tailored pilot projects that prove market readiness, investment potential and export viabilityBy embedding UK businesses into local ecosystems, the GGA initiative helps to remove investment barriers and accelerates commercial opportunities, giving companies a low risk way to expand and demonstrate impact in global markets. Canada: the next focus marketBuilding directly on Twin Pastures, Canada will be the next focus market for the Global Growth Accelerator.The foundations are already in place: Aligned national priorities around automation, AI and predictive healthEstablished relationships with Canadian research and industry partnersStrong producer demand for practical, low risk, high impact solutionsFor UK beef innovators, this creates a unique opportunity to move beyond exploration and into validated deployment, supported by the UK Agri Tech Centre, trusted in market partners and proven pilot structures. Great British Beef Week and beyondGreat British Beef Week celebrates what the UK does best: high quality production backed by science, data and innovation. Programmes like Twin Pastures and GGA ensure that this capability does not stop at our borders.By helping businesses explore global markets, prove technologies in real world conditions and build trusted international partnerships, the UK Agri Tech Centre is delivering on its ambition to make the UK the best place in the world to start, grow and scale agri tech businesses.If you are developing beef or livestock technologies with global potential, now is the time to engage. Work with us to accelerate your global impact. Get in touch at [email protected].

24/04/2026 -

Trying to measure biodiversity across a working farm hasn’t been easy. We know it matters and we know it needs to be done, but getting data that’s consistent, affordable and scalable has been a long-standing challenge. That’s finally starting to change.Chirrup.ai, a UK startup turning bird acoustics into biodiversity insights, is showing how that barrier can be removed. Their work highlights how low-cost, scalable sensors can transform a long-standing measurement challenge into something practical, credible and ready for nature-positive farming. Chirrup is proving how sensor innovation can finally make biodiversity accessible, giving farmers and supply chains the clarity they’ve been missing. Why biodiversity needs a measurement breakthroughAcross the agri-food system, new regulations are pushing companies to monitor and report on nature in their supply chains. The problem? Traditional ecological surveys are too expensive and too slow to work across 80,000+ UK farms, let alone global footprints. So, how do you measure nature at scale, without sending ecologists to every field? Birds might just be the answer.Birds provide a robust measurement metric for ecosystem health. Chirrup’s small, low-cost device records bird song and their AI model translates audio into biodiversity indicators linked to habitats, soil, water and more. A single run delivers insights no manual survey could match at scale. Accelerating the product journeyIn 2024, Chirrup and the UK Agri-Tech Centre launched ‘ChirrupNano’, using birdsong as a key to unlocking the secrets of wildlife. When Chirrup joined forces with the Centre, their science was strong, but the technology needed maturing. Their device required upgrading, their AI needed validating and their interface still focused on birds rather than broader biodiversity.The Innovate UK–funded project delivered through the UK Agri-Tech Centre included:multi-site trials across the farm networkfarmer feedback on deploymentdata expertise from specialistsproject management for an 18-month timelineaccess to ornithologists and validation partnersreal-world testing beyond desktop designAccording to Managing Director Craig Hutchison, it was “a genuine game-changer.”“Working hand in hand with the UK Agri-Tech Centre allowed us to develop a biodiversity monitoring device and nature intel web-app that is both farmer-friendly and insightful. This, in turn, will allow food companies to support farmers in their nature restoration activities.” The reality of building sensors for real farmsChirrup’s development path had its ups and downs. Early subcontractors caused delays and field deployment exposed practical issues such as hardware sensitivity near metal fences and the need for simpler farmer installation. Chirrup adapted by:bringing AI development entirely in-housepartnering with University of Edinburgh on automated trainingexpanding validation via multiple ornithologistscreating rigorous device testing programmesredesigning the interface into a full biodiversity dashboardThe outcome?A validated, IP-ready device and AI model now commercially deployable. What this unlocks for farmers and supply chainsChirrup sells primarily to supply chain intermediaries including processors, buyers and retailers, who can deploy monitoring across hundreds of farms. The technology enables:Scale: biodiversity data across full supply chainsAlignment: simple, low-effort evidence for farmers that fits into daily operationsValue: nature metrics that inform decisionsFarmers gain clear, practical ecological indicators. Biodiversity matters deeply to them; in fact 80% are concerned about nature on their land, more than those prioritising carbon. A turning point for nature-tech innovationChirrup’s journey shows what it takes to make biodiversity monitoring routine:low-cost, high-scale sensorsvalidation on real farmsfarmer-centred designintermediaries driving adoptionsupport structures that de-risk innovation Moving further, faster with less riskThe UK Agri-Tech Centre supports agri-tech businesses accelerate their journey. By giving businesses access to farms, data, expertise and networks, we help turn emerging technologies into market-ready tools.What could your technology achieve with the right support? To get involved with the UK Agri-Tech Centre, contact [email protected].

01/04/2026 -

From industry insights to supporting businesses to develop cutting-edge innovation across AI, robotics and automation and CEA, to thought-provoking conversations at events, we share our must-read round-up to keep you ahead of what’s shaping the sector. Global Growth Accelerator – unlock international growthThe Global Growth Accelerator unlocks global market access for UK agri-tech companies by co-creating in-country pilot projects with real end users. Delivered in collaboration with Agnition Ventures and AgriTech New Zealand, the programme is designed to fast-track UK agri-tech ventures by validating technologies for dairy and livestock in New Zealand’s innovation-driven farming systems. If you’re an agri-tech business looking to scale internationally and operate in the following areas: Biosecurity, animal health and traceability Farm system productivity Climate volatility, drought and water security Environmental compliance and nutrient efficiency GGA can help you unlock your next phase of business growth. Regstrations close 10 April – don’t miss out! What it takes to turn innovation into impactTurning innovation into real on-farm impact takes more than a good idea, it relies on trust, practicality and a deep understanding of farming systems. During Growth Week, Dr Kaler Professor of Epidemiology and Precision Livestock Informatics at the University of Nottingham shared three challenges that continue to shape how agri-tech businesses succeed in the real world. Her insights underline why grounding innovation in real farming systems is so important, and why understanding farmers’ perspectives from the outset can make the difference between adoption and abandonment. Read more and watch the video Meet FASTA innovatorsThe first FASTA innovator cohort met at the Carbon Trust’s London office for a milestone moment, the official start of their FASTA journey. For many, it was the first opportunity to connect with fellow innovators and with leaders from retail, finance and agriculture who shape the realities of the agri‑food system. Each business in the cohort is addressing some of agriculture’s toughest challenges through next‑generation Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) technologies. From improving soil data accuracy to reducing emissions and strengthening supply‑chain traceability, these innovators are developing solutions designed to bring clarity, confidence and scalability to the sector. Together, they bring the creativity, ambition and practical solutions needed to accelerate progress. In the months ahead, the cohort will refine and scale their technologies with hands‑on support, access to facilities and expert guidance from the UK Agri‑Tech Centre, the Carbon Trust and FASTA partners. Meet the cohort What does ‘fit for farms’ really mean?Agri-tech only succeeds when it’s reliable, affordable and genuinely helpful on farm. We sat down with Somerset farmers Rob Addicott and Jeremy Padfield, along with Dr Annie Rayner from FAI Farms, for an open conversation about what it truly takes to make agri-tech work in the field. Curious about what ‘fit for farm’ really means? Their answers were immediate and practical, grounded in relevance, reliability and a user-centred design. For agri-tech businesses, the message was clear – get on farm early, spend time with end-users and involve farmers from the beginning. Learn more about how to ensure your tech is fit for farms If you’re building something with real potential and want to make sure it works where it matters most, we’d love to hear from you. Get in touch at [email protected].

31/03/2026 -

The UK Agri-Tech Centre has worked with agri-tech businesses to test and trial their technologies to address the challenges of water quality and management on-farm and across the agri-industry. Safe water production and protection are closely tied to soil health, which in turn underpins our food and energy systems. The UK Agri-Tech Centre has collaborated with a range of innovative partners on projects that address this challenge directly.Below are three initiatives working to safeguard and sustain safe water: STREAMS (Space Tech for River Environments & Agricultural Monitoring Sensors)Diffuse nutrient pollution remains one of the most significant pressures facing Welsh waterways, with well-known rivers such as the Teifi repeatedly falling short of phosphate standards. These pressures have lasting consequences for our landscapes, affecting biodiversity, land use and the long-term resilience of rural communities. Real-time water quality monitoring has the potential to speed up mitigation efforts, yet traditional sensors often carry prohibitive costs, and many rural locations lack the reliable connectivity required for automated data transfer. As a result, manual water sampling remains commonplace, which can miss short-term pollution spikes and delay timely intervention.The Innovate UK-funded STREAMS project aims to overcome these challenges, by making water-quality monitoring more affordable, reliable and continuous, even in the most remote areas of rural Wales. Project lead, Lacuna Space, is working with Aberystwyth University and the UK Agri-Tech Centre to combine three core innovations:A low-cost multiparameter sensor capable of measuring nitrates, phosphates, dissolved oxygen, pH and other key indicators of river healthLacuna’s LoneWhisper® satellite-IoT Technology, enabling sensors to transmit data without the need for network connectivityA bilingual Welsh–English dashboard, co-designed with end users, delivering clear, real-time insights for farmers, land managers, community groups and environmental professionalsWorking alongside local authorities, environmental regulators, regional communities and land users, the project will host bilingual workshops and engagement events to co-develop tools, evaluate sensor performance, refine the dashboard and ensure STREAMS delivers tangible value in practice. While STREAMS is grounded in Wales, the challenges it addresses are global: many water challenges are due to poor connectivity, making monitoring impossible.But Lacuna’s connectivity is making monitoring possible anywhere in the world and the team is already in conversation with partners as far afield as Brazil, exploring how the technology could support freshwater quality improvement on a global scale. By demonstrating the model locally first, Wales is establishing itself as a leader in satellite-enabled environmental monitoring and contributing to cleaner, healthier rivers for communities around the world. Interested in getting involved? Watch this space for updates on upcoming engagement events across the Ceredigion region. NURSE (Nutrient Utilisation and Recovery through Supercritical Extraction)The NURSE project is led by a consortium including Kairos Carbon Limited (lead), Cranfield University, Royal Agricultural University and the UK Agri-Tech Centre, forming part of Defra’s Farming Innovation Programme, delivered in partnership with Innovate UK. The project seeks to develop an advanced hydrothermal technology for processing livestock waste — recovering the valuable nutrients it contains, producing a carbon-negative, non-leaching fertiliser, and separating carbon for permanent sequestration.The UK generates around 140 million tonnes of livestock waste each year, the majority of which is spread directly onto farmland. By stripping out carbon prior to land application, the project aims to deliver meaningful emissions reductions. Currently, less than 50% of applied nutrients, such as phosphorus, are taken up by crops when livestock waste is used as fertiliser.At the same time, fertiliser costs for farmers continue to rise while key resources, including phosphorus, face long-term depletion. By developing a non-leaching fertiliser that enables greater nutrient uptake by plants, the project aims to help keep costs manageable for farmers while reducing resource waste. Equipping farmers with new tools to recover and reuse valuable nutrients while simultaneously reducing environmental impacts is central to the project’s mission.The technology delivers direct benefits by recovering critical materials from livestock waste in a concentrated form, for use as a low-leaching, sustainable fertiliser that can lower input costs and improve yields. It also enables more effective waste management and processing, the breakdown of organic pollutants, and the extraction of carbon for capture and storage all within an energy-neutral system. Kairos aims to reduce emissions from UK agriculture while preventing pollutants and nutrients from entering watercourses, and to tackle air pollution arising from livestock waste and other agricultural sources. NTPlus2The NTPlus and NTPlus2 projects are led by Agua DB, specialists in ion exchange technology, in collaboration with the UK Agri-Tech Centre. The goal is to develop a modular, integrated solution for recovering nutrients from wastewater and removing the technical barriers standing in the way of commercialisation. The NTPlus technology generates high-nitrate irrigation water, low-nitrate drinking water, and converts potash into sulphate of potash, boosting crop resilience against drought, stress, disease and pests.Agua DB’s approach targets the so-called ‘Nitrate Timebomb’ by capturing nitrates that would otherwise leach into aquifers, transforming them into a valuable input for farmers. This process enhances water quality while also supporting more efficient irrigation and greenhouse growing practices, making agriculture better equipped to withstand the effects of climate change.NTPlus2 builds on this foundation by extending the recovery process to include phosphates at wastewater treatment plants. It will also trial the novel application of plasma technology to break down persistent organics, including herbicides and pesticides, while generating additional green nitrate in the output. The project’s overarching aim is to optimise the recovery of nitrate and phosphate from wastewater treatment plants, improve sludge properties and produce a liquid fertiliser that will be demonstrated and validated through crop trials. This will support commercial adoption and integration into the liquid fertiliser supply chain.Rebecca Lewis, Head of Bid Development at the UK Agri-Tech Centre, said: “These projects show just some of the range of exciting innovations that are being developed to help deliver more resilient and healthy water systems. Technology can play a key role in securing a sustainable water resource for farms, ecosystems and communities.”For more information about the UK Agri-Tech Centre and the agri-tech businesses and projects we support, get in touch at [email protected].To explore how water innovation can be advanced further, visit Innovate UK’s Cross-Sector Water Innovation Network at https://iuk-business-connect.org.uk/programme/cross-sector-water-innovation-network/.

20/03/2026 -

Mike Jones is the Dairy Technical Manager at the UK Agri-Tech Centre’s South West Dairy Development Centre (SWDDC) in Somerset and he is known for his passion of the industry, as well as his care and appreciation of dairy cows.His role is to manage the state-of-the-art facility in Shepton Mallet, where he welcomes visitors from all over the world who come to see the various innovations the UK Agri-Tech Centre has to offer by way of test, trial and demonstrate, as well as research and development. In addition to his work in the facility, Mike is also an active member of the South & Wiltshire Holstein Club where they host the Winter Herd Competition.This year, Mike and a representative from Steanbow Farm, who owns the cows at Beard Hill Dairy, attended the competition where they won the Best Milking Heifer trophy with their exceptional young cow, Willsbro Hullabaloo Aferyn 5222 (or “Hullabaloo”). Hullabaloo’s success this winter follows a strong show season last year, where she impressed judges to secure Reserve Champion at the Mid Somerset Show.According to Mike, Hullabaloo has become a firm favourite within the herd. He said: “She’s a standout heifer with tremendous style and promise. Hullabaloo calved in May last year and is currently projected to produce 11,500 litres at 4.2% butterfat and 3.0% protein, marking her as a high‑performing young cow with a bright future. She is due to calve again in June.”This latest win highlights both the genetic quality and the dedicated management at Steanbow Farm and Beard Hill Dairy, reinforcing their reputation as leading producers within the region’s Holstein community. Mike continued: “One of the things we’re most excited about is that the herd is not only housed in a modern facility, but that it is a commercially run herd, owned and managed by Steanbow Farms. It is important that we can conduct groundbreaking projects and at the same time have a herd that is relatable to the current dairy industry in the UK.Sustainable milk production is a key factor and currently the herd is producing 4000L of production from forage, with a herd average of 12,000L per cow. During the summer months last year, monitoring potential heat stress was a major factor. However, the barn is open sided to allow good airflow, and with the introduction of fans to increase airflow from the start of the summer, the different data points gained from each cow, plus the environment in the barn, has helped demonstrate what the cows prefer and how possible heat stress affects each cow. I am often heard saying that our building can be compared to a cruise liner for dairy cows because our meeting room has the best view, looking out on a calm, contented herd.” This calm, high-welfare environment enables agri-tech companies to trial robotics, digital tools and precision systems under commercial, yet controlled, conditions.The centre features:Automated milking and feeding systemsThe ability for dry cows to be grazed throughout summer months with precision grazing practicesThe UK’s first fabric‑roofed dairy buildingAn observational meeting space overlooking the herdRelocated robotic units for improved operational efficiencyCurrent and recent projects include robotic milking advances, chemical‑free milking trials, hoof health monitoring, grassland modelling, sensor integration and immunity research Mike added: “The cows choose themselves when they visit the robots we have onsite and are diverted four times a week to file through the HoofCount Pedivue Footbath, which helps to prevent hoof diseases. When each cow exits the footbath an image is captured of her feet, with Artificial Intelligence determining if any of her heels have a Digital Dermatitis lesion. The foot bath replenishes itself every 150 cows.”Home to a 200‑cow, all‑year‑round calving herd, the centre gathers industry‑leading levels of individual animal data, creating a uniquely rich environment for testing new technologies, validating performance and understanding their impact on productivity, cow health and welfare.The SWDDC is used to:Test and trial innovations in a commercial dairy environmentGenerate high‑quality data for product validation and researchDemonstrate technologies to farmers, investors and industry groupsCollaborate on innovation projects with expert technical support Mike has such determination and enthusiasm for his work and this is demonstrated by the many appearances he has made in the media.Whether it’s as a writer for the Mole Valley Farmers magazine, where he spoke about the silent revolution in dairy farming, or hosting a tour of the facility to the Wells and Glastonbury Young Farmers Club, where they learned about what the UK Agri-Tech Centre does at the site and what the future holds for the industry.And most recently, Mike has again appeared on the popular ‘ChewintheCud’ podcast, a session which was hosted live at the SWDDC and called ‘From Cows to Code: AI in the Dairy Industry’.We really do mean business when it comes to agri-tech and our expert staff are on hand to talk to you about your farming innovations. To get involved or discuss trial opportunities at the SWDDC, contact Dairy Technical Manager Mike Jones at [email protected] or for general information email [email protected]

20/03/2026 -

Expert views from Dr Bethan John, Innovation Associate- Animal Health, who attended the event.The UK Agri‑Tech Centre played a key role at this week’s industry forum exploring how artificial intelligence is reshaping the protein supply chain. CEO Steve McLean joined a panel of leading specialists including Professor Jonathan Statham, Dr Matt Dobbs, and David Speller to assess the maturity of AI adoption across livestock and poultry systems, and to explore the infrastructure required to unlock next‑generation decision intelligence.The discussion examined the structural pressures facing protein production, from labour shortages and welfare compliance to environmental constraints and supply chain volatility. Against this backdrop, the panel evaluated how AI‑enabled sensing, modelling and automation can help producers respond more effectively to these challenges. The UK Agri‑Tech Centre’s contribution reinforced its position as a key integrator of applied research, commercial validation, and cross‑industry data innovation.When asked what will ultimately determine the success of AI‑driven technologies across the protein supply chain, Steve highlighted several interconnected factors:“For AI to deliver real impact, we first need to understand what affordable value looks like and who ultimately benefits. When the value created is a public good for example, the investment model needs to reflect that. Strong regulation around AI innovations shouldn’t slow innovation; it builds trust, gives confidence to the market, and ultimately makes it easier to export solutions internationally. At the UK Agri‑Tech Centre, our role is to work with agri-tech businesses, including those developing AI-driven solutions, throughout their commercialisation journey and support them to land with impact at scale.”A recurring technical challenge identified by the panel was the fragmentation of data across the protein value chain. Speakers emphasised that without interoperable data standards linking farm‑level data, processing‑line automation, and downstream demand signals, AI systems remain siloed and unable to deliver system‑wide optimisation.As an illustration of how the UK Agri‑Tech Centre is advancing AI‑enabled livestock management, the organisation has been working with Ritchie to develop in‑field weighing platforms that automate the capture of liveweight data. By reducing manual handling and lowering labour demands, these systems generate continuous, high‑resolution data streams that support:More accurate growth‑curve modellingImproved finishing predictionsBetter assessments of market readiness To highlight broader innovation within the sector, the UK Agri‑Tech Centre is also co-delivering work on Flockwise, developed with FAI Farms, a scalable precision‑poultry technology. Building on the foundations of BirdBox, Flockwise combines low‑cost sensor networks with AI‑enabled analytics to deliver continuous insights on behaviour, welfare, and productivity in laying‑hen systems. Its modular, plug‑and‑play design reduces barriers to adoption and supports deployment across diverse production environments.Together, these capabilities show how AI‑driven monitoring can reduce forecasting uncertainty and improve synchronisation across the protein supply chain. Future Outlook: Toward Integrated Decision IntelligenceLooking ahead, AI within the protein sector is transitioning from discrete data‑capture tools toward integrated decision‑support systems capable of modelling biological, environmental, and operational complexity. A key emerging application is disease surveillance and risk management. While AI cannot yet predict disease outbreaks with certainty, it is increasingly enabling:Early detection of subtle behavioural or performance deviationsHerd‑level anomaly detectionRegional risk modelling incorporating weather, vector activity, and animal movement data These capabilities support earlier intervention, reduced losses, and improved supply chain resilience.Beyond animal health, AI is advancing sustainable land management by integrating soil sensor data, satellite imagery, and hydrological datasets to model nutrient status, water‑use efficiency, and runoff risk. This enables more precise nutrient application, optimised grazing strategies, and reduced diffuse pollution, all of which underpin forage quality, livestock performance, and long‑term system stability.Collectively, these developments position the UK Agri‑Tech Centre as a central enabler of a more intelligent, interoperable, and resilient protein supply chain.If you have any questions or want to get involved with the UK Agri-Tech Centre, get in touch at [email protected].

20/03/2026 -

Agri‑tech businesses today face a defining moment: the sector is ready for AI‑powered tools, but only the solutions backed by robust field data, end-user trust and commercial proof will break through. Messium’s story shows how that breakthrough happens. As we mark UK Tech Week 2026, much of the national discussion focuses on how artificial intelligence can accelerate innovation and productivity. For farmers, this means looking for practical, trusted tools that help them make good decisions under pressure.The UK Agri‑Tech Centre provides support to agri-tech businesses who want to develop just those kinds of innovations, helping these businesses to commercialise their tested solutions. The journey of Messium, a company using hyperspectral satellite imagery and AI to guide nitrogen management, shows how this support translates into real‑world impact. It’s also a familiar challenge for many agri-tech businesses: strong science and a great concept, but the need to validate the effectiveness of their solution and to scale quickly, reliably and with the end-user at the core.When Messium joined the UK Agri‑Tech Centre Community, their technology already worked well in early trials, but it still needed to scale for use across real farms. Their sampling‑based nitrogen recommendations worked well, but they needed to shift to a satellite‑driven model suitable for commercial deployment. This is where agri-tech businesses often get stuck, not because the tech fails, but because it needs real farm data to mature. Unlocking Messium’s next phase of growthTo help accelerate Messium’s transition, the UK Agri‑Tech Centre provided multi‑site trials, expert data collection and direct farmer feedback. These activities allowed Messium to validate their AI models at pace while refining a farmer‑friendly interface. In practice, this meant faster testing with lower risk involving farmers at every stage. It also opened doors to key partners, including Frontier and the Centre’s robotics and AI specialists, helping position the technology for wider adoption. Trials, data and measurable progressThe first season of trials ran in 2025, an extremely dry year that constrained nitrogen application windows and limited the range of recommendations that could be validated. But despite the challenging conditions, the trials delivered the ground‑truth data Messium needed.Their technology progressed quickly:Nitrogen recommendations moved from early testing to use on working farmsSatellite models reached >85% accuracy compared to lab samplesAn interface farmers could easily use was co-developed with the UK Agri‑Tech Centre networkThese are the signals investors and partners look for: performance in the field, not just in a lab, and a product farmers can actually use.For farmers involved in the trials, the technology offered something increasingly valuable: timely, evidence‑based nitrogen decisions without relying on labour‑intensive sampling. Even in a constrained season, it provided clarity at moments when application windows were exceptionally tight. Driving commercial readiness and expansionThis technical progress helped Messium secure a £3.3 million investment round, expand their engineering and operations teams and build the commercial partnerships they needed to scale. Strong field data and farmer feedback don’t just improve the product, they unlock investment.Messium are now working with Frontier to onboard 30–60 more UK farmers, and Hutchinson’s agronomists have committed to bringing 100 farmers into the programme. That means more fields, more seasons and faster learning, the foundation for reliable scale‑up.Additional collaborations are emerging with organisations such as Hutchinsons, Syngenta, Bayer, Mondelez and Weetabix. Messium have also been recognised by the European Space Agency as the UK/EU champion for agricultural hyperspectral imaging, credibility they say was strengthened through their consortium, including the UK Agri‑Tech Centre. What began as a UK-led development journey is now shaping nitrogen decisions globally.Internationally, Messium now operates across France, Australia, New Zealand and North America, with further trial expansion planned for 2026. What this means for agri-tech businessesMessium’s experience highlights what many AI-focused agri-tech businesses need but often struggle to access:High‑quality, multi‑site field data to train and validate modelsA farmer network to ensure products meet real operational needsTechnical expertise to manage data quality, interoperability and trial designCredibility and visibility when seeking investment or building partnershipsThe UK Agri-Tech Centre supports agri-tech businesses to move further, faster with less risk. By giving agri-tech businesses access to farms, data, expertise and networks, we help turn emerging technologies into market‑ready tools. Making AI an everyday farming toolFor Messium, the next stage is all about scaling responsibly. They are refining their recommendations engine to allow farmers to choose between profit‑optimised and environmentally‑optimised guidance. They are onboarding additional satellite providers for greater resilience. And, through the UK Agri‑Tech Centre, they are beginning to expand into new crops, including barley, with future potential in oilseed rape and maize. More crops mean more value across the rotation.Ultimately their aim is to make AI‑powered nitrogen management a reliable, disruptive and globally scalable solution.This UK Tech Week, Messium’s journey shows how AI in agriculture is no longer experimental. This is one example among many. With the right support, more agri-tech businesses can turn proven ideas into practical tools farmers rely on every day. What could your technology achieve?To get involved with the UK Agri-Tech Centre, get in touch at [email protected].

19/03/2026 -

What agri-tech developers need to hear from the farmers who use their tools.Technology succeeds when it works reliably, affordably and without making someone’s job harder. That was the clear message that came out of day three of the UK Agri-Tech Centre Growth Week, where we sat down with Somerset farmers Rob Addicott and Jeremy Padfield, along with Dr Annie Rayner from FAI Farms, for an honest conversation about what it takes to make agri-tech work in the field.With decades of combined experience trialling, adopting and sometimes rejecting new tools across mixed farming systems, Rob and Jeremy offered the kind of perspective that no laboratory or product roadmap can replicate. Annie brought more than 20 years of scientific expertise and a deep understanding of regenerative systems to the conversation. Together, they gave us a vitally important discussion about what the industry too often misses. Start with the farmer, not the technologyWhen asked what ‘fit for farm’ means to them, the answers were immediate and practical.Relevance, said Rob. Technology that’s designed for the work being done on farm, not retrofitted from a research context.Reliability and affordability said Jeremy.User-centred design, said Annie. Tools shaped around the people and context they’re built for from the start.Rob captured a common frustration: “Often technology comes on the farm, and it’s been developed without thought for farmers and how they would use it. And obviously then people are going to be slow to take it up.”The key:Get on farm earlyAsk questionsInvolve another farmerAs Rob put it, farmers will always listen to other farmers. If they know a peer has been part of developing a tool, it carries weight that no research paper or pitch deck can match. The tech that sticks is the tech that disappears into the workflowWhen asked to name technology that had genuinely made a difference, Jeremy pointed to a cross-make vehicle telematics system that tracks all farm machinery in real time, now accessible via a phone app. It tells him where every trailer is during silage, tracks fuel efficiency and records jobs automatically, even when someone forgets to log them.Its strength isn’t the data. It’s the fact that nobody has to think about it; expecting all staff to manually log data is unrealistic.The technology that gets adopted is the kind that removes friction, not the kind that adds it. Rob echoed this principle through another example: automatic weighing platforms for beef cattle, positioned at their water drinkers. Animals are weighed multiple times a day without being run through a crush. Health alerts are flagged automatically, which gives farmers a level of daily insight that would previously have required significant time and stress for both the farmer and the animals. The three questions every farmer asksWhen new technology lands on farm, Rob and Jeremy described a set of questions running through their minds:Will it actually work for us?Can we afford it and will it pay back?Can our team, not just the tech-savvy ones, actually use it?“In order for it to roll out on mainstream agriculture, it needs to be able to stack up financially”, Jeremy said. This is often where promising ideas stall because the business case hasn’t been thought through with the end user in mind.Rob looks for value beyond the financial:Does it add to soil health?Does it support animal welfare?Does it improve the quality of life for him and for his team?These concerns are central to whether technology is adopted at a time when farms face significant pressure. The importance of interoperabilityOne of the most consistent frustrations was interoperability, or the lack thereof. Jeremy described a drone system that could identify individual weeds in a field with real precision, potentially allowing just 10% of a field to be sprayed rather than the whole area. Environmentally and economically, it was the right tool, but the drone software couldn’t talk to the sprayer. When they approached the sprayer manufacturer, the company decided they wanted to build the mapping function themselves rather than collaborate and the opportunity was lost.Annie named a related issue from the supply chain side: data collected by different technologies often can’t be compared or shared across different parts of the supply chain, even when everyone is theoretically reporting on the same thing. The result is that farmers end up navigating multiple platforms, relearning systems with each new machine and managing data that can’t flow where it needs to go.Rob’s wish for the year ahead is a piece of software that allows different technologies to talk to each other. It’s a deceptively simple ask, and one the industry hasn’t yet managed to deliver at scale. What good on-farm trials look likeWhen the conversation turned to on-farm trials and demos, Rob, Jeremy and Annie were aligned: short trials don’t build confidence.A month or two of testing tells you very little about how something will perform across seasons, soil types and weather patterns. Regenerative approaches in particular need to be evaluated over 12 months or more. Demonstrations also need to span a variety of farm types. Farmers watching a demo need to be able to see themselves in it. If the trial is on a completely different scale or soil type, the lesson doesn’t travel, if the technology looks complicated to operate, people walk away before they’ve given it a chance. Tools that help farmers thriveRob shared a compelling example of what technology can achieve when it’s genuinely designed around farming needs. During a difficult autumn last year, they trialled a product to improve soil microbial activity alongside crop establishment. Where the product was used, establishment was noticeably better, and on the trial plots nitrogen input was reduced by around 65%.For Annie, positive animal welfare is one of the most promising and underexplored areas for agri-tech innovation. Rather than framing welfare as harm reduction, the approach she described is about creating conditions for animals to genuinely flourish and finding technologies that support that holistically, alongside improvements to soil health, farmer wellbeing and environmental outcomes. It maps closely onto the regenerative principles that the whole group were working towards.Rob and Jeremy were clear that technology should be positioned as a complement to farming knowledge, not a replacement for it. When framed correctly, as something that frees the farmer to focus on the bigger picture, adoption follows far more naturally. Key takeaways for agri-tech developersInvolve farmers from day one as co-developers. Peer credibility drives adoption.Design for the whole team, not just the tech-savvy. If not everyone on farm can use it, it won’t be used.Be upfront about costs. Build a credible ROI case before you arrive on farm.Prioritise integration. Integration is not optional.Run long, diverse trials. Span farm types, soils and seasons.Communicate technology value as time and focus gained, not complexity added.How the UK Agri-Tech Centre helps you become farm-readyBecoming farm-ready takes real-world testing and honest farmer feedback. We support businesses across the agri-food supply chain to validate and scale with:Testbeds that reflect the diversity of UK farming systemsFarmer networks and end-user insight to shape genuine market fitData validation to ensure your evidence holds up to scrutinyProgrammes like FASTA and our Agri-Tech Solution Sprints to help businesses move from technical challenge to commercial opportunityListen to the full podcast If you’re building something with real potential and want to make sure it works where it matters most, we’d love to hear from you. Get in touch at [email protected].

10/03/2026 -

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