Agri-TechE celebrates the success of five members that have been awarded a substantial £3.4 million from the total £12.2 million. The funding to boost farm resilience is allocated by Defra’s Farming Innovation Programme (FIP), delivered by Innovate UK.
This achievement highlights the collective strength of Agri-TechE’s community and further positions our members at the drivers of agricultural innovation in the UK.
Congratulations to the winners:
B-Hive Innovations Ltd: pioneers the development of an integrated fusarium early diagnostic and management system. They have been granted £787,865 to enhance crop health and productivity. Their innovative approach involves early detection and targeted management of fusarium, contributing to more resilient and sustainable agricultural practices.
Bofin Farmers: explores how thriving root systems contribute to soil health. Bofin Farmers, under the British On-Farm Innovation Network (BOFIN), secures £811,814 for their project, “Thriving roots underpinning total soil health (TRUTH),” This initiative aims to foster a balanced ecosystem, emphasising biodiversity and environmental sustainability.
Eagle Genomics: awarded £330,751 to develop a novel barometer for soil health. This comprehensive project encompasses physical, chemical, and microbial elements, emphasising the importance of holistic soil health assessments. By providing valuable insights for regenerative agriculture, Eagle Genomics contributes to improved soil quality and overall environmental sustainability.
FOLIUM Food Science Ltd: double win securing £1,088,988 across two projects. The first, awarded £361,151, focuses on harnessing CRISPR-Cas technology to reduce ammonia emissions in poultry production. The second, “Safe poultry, secure future: Guided Biotics® to mitigate Campylobacter in farming systems for sustainable agriculture,” receives £727,837. Their Guided Biotics® platform technology, endorsed as a non-GM ‘new-breeding technique,’ enhances gut health and animal productivity.
Pollybell Farms collaborates with Agri-TechE member Earth Rover in the Climate SAFE Project. This initiative was awarded £388,336 to address climate challenges contributing to innovative solutions for climate-smart farming practices.
Defra’s Farming Innovation Programme (FIP)
Defra’s FIP, part of a broader £270 million investment, aims to catalyse research and development initiatives within the agricultural and horticultural sectors.
The recently allocated £12.2 million is distributed among 24 projects, marking a significant stride towards fostering more productive, sustainable, and resilient agriculture.
Key Objectives of the funded projects
- Boosting Productivity: initiatives including robotics for pest management, climate-smart fertilisers, and novel disease-resistant crop varieties, aim to enhance agricultural output.
- Sustainable Practices: such as projects focusing on peatland restoration and AI-based image analysis for crop disease diagnosis.
- Economic Growth: streamlining processes through innovations like robotic strip cropping and advanced pest management not only improves efficiency but also potentially reduces costs.
- Environmental Outcomes: Exploring novel barometers for soil health and employing satellite imagery with machine learning applications in vineyards.
- Carbon Emission Reduction: Projects decarbonising agriculture such as through nitrogen-fixing bacteria and efficient fertilisers.
This post originally appeared on TechToday.