Innovation for Growth Series: Agri-Innovation for Food Resilience

Innovation for Growth Series: Agri-Innovation for Food Resilience

There is an urgent need to transform agri-food systems towards higher levels of efficiency, resilience, inclusiveness, and sustainability. Agri-tech innovation plays an important role in this transformation with 78% of farmers across the UK using some form of agri-tech.

This event brings together RAU academics, Farm491 members and other businesses from the Greater Bristol, Bath, Wiltshire, or Gloucestershire area to learn more about funding, potential partnerships and other agrifood opportunities in the area.

Who should attend?

If you are a business working with farmers, in food production and/or supply across the agri-food value chain located in the Greater Bristol, Bath, Wiltshire, or Gloucestershire area this event is for you.

Why attend?

• Get insight into potential routes to funding your innovative business ideas
• Identify possible opportunities for partnership and collaboration
• Network with RAU academics and other businesses working in this area

• 09:45  – Registration and brunch
• 10:00  – Welcome and Introduction by RAU Host – Professor Mark Horton – Director of Research and Enterprise
• 10:10  – Keynote Address: Dr Colin Cooper – Innovate UK Head of Commercialisation and Collaboration
• 10:15 – Innovation Funding opportunities for businesses.  One minute pitches: Innovate UK Edge, Innovate UK, KTN, British Business Bank and Defence and Security Accelerator
• 10:25  – Exploring the Agri-Innovation Support landscape

Professor David Main: Transdisciplinary support for global transition in food systems
Professor Tom MacMillan: Working with farmers to boost adoption
Sarah Carr – Head of Farm491: Converting your idea or technology into a viable and successful business

• 10:50 – Panel discussion: Opportunities and challenges for industry and business collaboration
• 11:10 – Networking
• 11:40 – Closing remarks – Professor Mark Horton
• 11:45 – Stakeholder Conversation Session (opportunity for businesses to talk one to one to the stakeholders)
• 12:00 – End

Our Hosts and Stakeholders

Farm491  is a leading UK based AgriTech incubator and innovation space based at the Royal Agricultural University, supporting entrepreneurs as they advance their business with potential for impact in the agricultural sector.

There are a vast array of strategic business support and funding initiatives available. Understanding and deciphering which is the most suitable to address your specific need can often be a challenge. At Innovate UK KTN our mission is to connect ideas, people, and communities to respond to business challenges and drive positive change through innovation.

Other stakeholders at this event include Innovate UK, Innovate UK EDGE, The Defence and Security Accelerator and The British Business Bank. The round table discussions will enable us to delve into the most pressing regional business challenges by bringing together business leaders, with academic experts and potential solution providers, and highlighting the different funding opportunities available to support your strategic business needs, such as Knowledge Transfer Partnerships.

About Innovate UK KTN

Our mission is to connect ideas, people, and communities to respond to business challenges and drive positive change through innovation.

Please note: entrance to the building is via Bristol Street car park, (SN1 5EQ) and this is the best postcode to use for directions to the building. As you enter the car park you go up a slight hill, then bare to the right and the RAU (CHI) Swindon building is in the far bottom right hand corner of the car park.

Please note you will also need to beware of the bus gate on Bristol street, if you are approaching from the east. It does have cameras and fines are issued.