Nineteen innovative projects developing automation and robotics technologies will receive a share of £12.5 million in government funding to boost productivity, food security and sustainable agricultural practices, Agriculture Secretary Mark Spencer announced today (28 September). It brings the total government funding announced for industry-led R&D in agriculture and horticulture to £120 million since 2021.
The projects – funded through the Agriculture Futures Automation and Robotics Competition – include developing a system to accurately predict and improve strawberry crop quality, reduce waste and improve work and harvest schedules; a new system to digitally map and monitor vineyards using drones, robots and sensors; A navigation system for automated field vehicles to improve accuracy and reliability and enable safe navigation in field and farm operations.
The funding comes through the Farming Futures Automation and Robotics competition, which is part of Defra's £270m Farm Innovation Program (FIP) and is delivered by Innovate UK. The IFDA has funded 17 competitions since opening in October 2021 which have already seen the development of new approaches to help farms be more sustainable and productive, from new ways to reduce or eliminate the use of pesticides to projects to reduce emissions from livestock, and will help Delivering on our commitment at the Farm to Fork Summit in Downing Street in May to continue producing at least 60% of the food we eat here in the UK.
In his speech at the Global Agricultural Technology Summit in London, Agriculture Minister Mark Spencer said:
Farmers are always looking to the future, and innovation is key to driving a resilient, productive and sustainable agricultural sector that puts food on our tables.
The government strongly supports agricultural technology innovation as a cornerstone of modern agricultural practices. By providing opportunities, finance and a supportive ecosystem within the sector, we aim to empower farmers, drive innovation and create a sustainable and prosperous future for farming across the UK.
Since 2021, the Government has announced more than £120 million in funding for industry-led R&D in agriculture and horticulture, and Agriculture Secretary Mark Spencer reiterated this commitment to overseeing the transformation of the UK into a leading global agritech hub at this year’s World Agritech Innovation Summit the week.
At the summit, the Minister of Agriculture explained the set of competitions within the framework of the agricultural innovation program, which supports the sector to invest in new technology that will help grow their business, enhance productivity, and benefit the environment. This includes £10 million currently on offer through the third round of the Small R&D Partnerships Competition to help companies develop a new agricultural product and services and take them to commercialization in the open market, and a further £4.5 million through the Feasibility Study Competition to support companies and researchers through The testing phase of an idea that would improve agricultural productivity, sustainability and resilience.
In addition, the Agricultural Investment Fund invests in equipment, technology and infrastructure, and the recently launched Investor Partnership Competition combines government grant funding with private investment to help small agricultural technology companies grow and scale.
Florian Richter, CEO of Muddy Machines LTD, said:
Obtaining funding for the research and development of such a key component of our technology is essential to our progress towards commercial operations.
We consider ourselves really lucky to be in the UK and to be able to benefit from this level of government funding support.
Oli Hilborn, CEO and co-founder of Outfield Technologies, said:
The VISTA project is a great example of the power of UK innovation funding, bringing together technology companies, farmers and academic partners to solve specific industry challenges.
The UK wine industry is growing rapidly, learning best practices from other wine growing regions. With VISTA, the UK wine industry has the opportunity to set international standards and export our knowledge to the rest of the wine growing world. We are really excited to get started on the project and work with UK vineyards to increase productivity.
Dr Katrina Hayter, Challenge Director – Transforming Food Production Challenge at Innovate UK, said:
Robotics and automation are critical drivers in meeting the challenges posed by a growing global population and the need for sustainable practices in various sectors, including agriculture.
By fostering innovation and research, we empower our farmers, growers, foresters and businesses to not only enhance productivity and economic growth but also to lead the way in sustainable practices. These projects are a testament to our commitment to improving environmental outcomes and reducing carbon emissions, ensuring a brighter and more sustainable future for our agricultural and horticultural communities.
Building on commitments made at the Farm to Fork Summit in Downing Street earlier this year, the Agriculture Secretary also pointed to opportunities such as the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act to unlock technologies to improve crop productivity and resilience, support farmers attract investment and generate revenue. By accessing nature's markets.
