Ceres and University of Lincoln present AgriTech innovation in Parliament
Initially funded in 2018 by a £4.8 million Research England CCF award as a collaboration between the University of Cambridge, University of Lincoln, University of Reading, University of Hertfordshire and the University of East Anglia, Ceres Agri-Tech Knowledge Exchange Partnership (Ceres Agri-Tech), is a collaborative initiative founded by and located at Cambridge Enterprise, the innovation arm of the University of Cambridge.
Ceres Agri-Tech builds upon Cambridge Enterprise’s world class track record in research translation, helping underpin food security, reducing environmental impacts and increasing the sustainability of agriculture.
Supported by grants from Research England’s Connecting Capability Fund and EPSRC Place Based Impact Accelerator Account, to date Ceres Agri-Tech has launched four AgriTech spinouts which together have created 29 high-value jobs and are developing innovative solutions for critical challenges in the sector. These spinouts include:-
Fruitcast – AI-enabled decision support and fruit forecasting for improved yield optimisation, waste reduction and improved efficiency
Agaricus Robotics – intelligent robotic mushroom harvesting
Cellexcel – waterproofing biocomposites for lightweighting vehicles
Ceres Agri-Tech has a pipeline of over 40 AgriTech innovations with global potential including direct carbon capture for climate resilience, net zero precision fertiliser and improving crop storage for reduced food waste.
The pipeline projects all address UN Sustainability Development Goals, such as zero hunger, clean water (and sanitation), responsible consumption and production and industry, innovation and infrastructure.
It is helping to bring together organisations in the UK and around the world to translate leading university science into real-world solutions, with 28 new collaborations, eight UK civic partners, 30 international partners and 26 farmer partners.
Ceres Agri-Tech has leveraged £6.07 million so far and supported the training of more than 380 academics, helping the continued pipeline and positive impact of agri-tech research innovation.
Since 2018, Ceres Agri-Tech has worked closely with university partners Cambridge, Lincoln and UEA, as well as local civic societies, businesses, farmers and growers in the region’s agri-tech cluster. In 2023 Ceres Agri-Tech announced two further formal collaborations.
Led by the University of Lincoln, with the Cambridge University Department of Engineering and Ceres Agri-Tech, Lincam is a collaborative initiative to deliver impact in the Greater Lincolnshire and North Cambridgeshire (Lincam) region, funded by a £4.9m Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Place Based Impact Acceleration Account.
Already a nationally renowned AgriTech cluster, this funding is driving the Lincam region to become an AgriTech gateway for the world – enabling the development of technologies at industrial scale and providing export opportunities for companies and inward investment opportunities within both the AgriTech and primary production sectors.
Ceres is also collaborating with Universities of Lincoln (lead), Cambridge and UEA to develop a truly global cluster in the Greater Lincolnshire and East Anglia region with £1.49m from Research England’s Connecting Capability Fund (CCF) RED fund.
Agri-Tech Global is a designed to translate research from the Universities of Lincoln, Cambridge and UEA and build international academic and commercial links to support the onward development and commercialisation of their innovations in the sector.
Dr Louise Sutherland, Director of Ceres Agri-Tech, says: “Ceres Agri-Tech is a crucial link that enables world-leading University research from the UK to solve global challenges facing agriculture, driving sustainability across the environment and lives.
“Our work is having tangible impacts in the UK and worldwide and showcases the incredible potential of collaboration and publicly funded research to drive positive change.”