Innovation in agriculture refers to the development and implementation of new ideas, technologies, and practices in the agricultural sector.

This can include a wide range of activities, such as the development of new crop varieties, the use of precision agriculture technologies, the adoption of sustainable farming practices, and the application of biotechnology to improve crop yields. Innovation in agriculture is crucial for addressing the challenges faced by the sector, such as feeding a growing population, reducing the environmental impact of farming, and adapting to the impacts of climate change. There are many organizations involved in promoting and supporting innovation in agriculture, including government agencies, research institutions, and non-profit organizations.

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Related Organisations

Content below is from across the PEP community and is not necessarily endorsed by Stewards or by PEP

Connected Content

Science for Sustainable Agriculture

Science for Sustainable Agriculture aims to ensure the positive contribution of scientific innovation in agriculture and food production is recognised in public life and policy making.

Knowledge

Farm-PEP aims to bring together all the sources of useful knowledge for Agriculture, whether from academic science, applied research projects, industry trials, farmers own trials or simple on-farm experience. Listed below are useful websites, organisations and websites that we know of.  Add any we've missed in the comments box or by adding as new content, or better still, as a new Group.  

Farm centric research

Farm-centric research generally involves On-Farm Experimentation and may be better described as 'Farm Action Research', i.e. research conducted at least in part by and for beneficiaries who also farm. 

FLIN Farmer-led Innovation Network

The Farmer-Led Innovation Network (FLIN) are UK based organisations driving farmer-led innovation - working together to power up and increase the impact of farmer led innovation initiatives.

Farming Innovation Programme (FIP)

The Farming Innovation Programme is part of Defra’s investment in innovation, research and development. Defra is partnering with UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) on the programme. 

Research Starter Projects

DEFRA funding in partnership with Innovate UK, which is looking to support farmers, growers, and foresters who have a bold, ambitious idea. 

Agri-tech

The agri-tech sector is vibrant and growing, with many exciting companies, organisations and networks are working to develop agri-tech solutions.

Funding

Funding available for research and knowledge exchange in the UK comes from a mix of public, industry and charitable sources

Innovate UK KTN

We create diverse connections to drive positive change.

Oxford Farming Conference 2023

OFC 2023 will explore systemic solutions to the cumulative biodiversity, climate, food and energy crises that collectively we are facing, with optimism and determination not to repeat the mistakes of the past.

Swift Detect

Rapid crop disease detection. SwiftDetect can reveal the level of disease in your crop even in the latent period, with results in 1 business day.

Farm491 Business Innovation Course

Business and Innovation Mentoring Course from Farm491 and RAU. We’re excited to launch our very own online course which can be accessed by any entrepreneur across the world. The course encompasses four interactive modules which will see you develop your business plan and understanding of your customers

Tesco-WWF innovation fund

Tesco and WWF are working together to halve the environmental impact of the average UK shopping

Research

Agricultural research is conducted by a range of organisations, from individual farmers, through advisors, distributors, manufacturers, charities, societies, supply chain companies, levy bodies, universities and research institutes.  This page aims to connect across these often disparate sources.

UKAP - UK Agriculture Partnership

A new Defra forum which will bring together stakeholders to identify and improve collaborative working on shared issues facing the agricultural sector.

EO4Agroclimate

BEIS and STFC supported programme aiming to explore the opportunities for Earth Observation to provide solutions for agriculture and climate change, through collaborations between the UK and Australia.

CEIA - Centre for Effective Innovation in Agriculture

Aiming to strengthen the impact and benefit of agricultural research at scale. Supported by the Elizabeth Creak Charitable Trust.

Path to Sustainable Farming - Agri-EPI Conference

Join renowned UK farmers, tech developers, and agri-tech sector representatives for a day of on-farm discussions, networking, and demonstrations at the innovative Shimpling Park Farm in Suffolk for Agri-EPI's Annual Conference 2022 on 27th October.

Farmer led innovation

Many of the most telling innovations that make a difference on-farm come from farmers themselves, or from close collaboration between farmers, advisors, industry and researchers

Policy

Policy plays a critical role in shaping the agriculture industry in the UK and Europe. Government policies can have a major impact on the way that farmers operate, the crops they grow, and the prices they receive for their products. Policy has a major effect on how land is managed and environmental outcomes.

Legume Innovation Network

Following the TRUE and LegValue EU projects this LinkedIn group with over 100 members continues to share resources for those interested in legume crops,

Pulse PEP
£16M Competition funding for novel low-emission food production systems from Innovate UK & BBSRC

Innovate UK and BBSRC announce new £16 million competition to drive forward novel, resource efficient, low-emission food production systems.

Application of Science to Realise the Potential of the Agricultural Transition

Report by Lord Curry (Food & Farming Futures), James Lowenburg-DeBoer and Michael Lee (Harper Adams University) into how agricultural science and extension can be supported and co-ordinated to address the productivity gap in UK agriculture.    

SoilEssentials

Precision farming company with 20 years experience, based in Scotland but active across the UK. 

Farming Futures: Automation and Robotics competition

Agri-tech businesses, farmers, growers and researchers can now apply for a share of £12.5m for developing cutting-edge innovation in automation and robotics.

Agri-tech Week

Agri-Tech Week features a mix of in-person and virtual events that are designed to showcase exciting developments in agri-tech. It is coordinated by Agri-TechE working closely with partners across the innovation ecosystem and aims to provide opportunities to attract new customers and partners and to broker collaborations and international connections.

Catalyst Farming

Five farming businesses, progressing through data analysis and knowledge exchange, to enhance the productive, financial and ecological results of our farming.

Comment - Wringing your hands or getting the ball rolling? Two approaches to decarbonising agriculture

As a thought-piece for Science for Sustainable Agriculture, science communicator Dr Julian Little examines two contrasting approaches taken by leading food businesses to promote more sustainable agriculture and food production – the apparently “unscalable” regenerative agriculture, and sustainable intensification. Which approach is most likely to deliver the necessary increases in global food production while at the same time reducing agriculture’s footprint, delivering net zero and leaving room for nature? And are they in conflict?

World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit

Connect and collaborate with over 800 top-level agri-food professionals over two days of panel discussions, networking and a full exhibition in London this September.

Webinar - Scaling up Innovation: From idea to market

Join partners Crop Health and Protection (CHAP) and Cranfield University as they celebrate Agri-TechE’s Agri-Tech Week and discuss what it takes to scale up agricultural innovation.

Breaking Down the Barriers to Agri-tech - Event

Farmers, growers, innovators and stakeholders coming together to maximise the potential of Agri-tech.  In person event at NIAB, Histon, Cambridge on 1 December

Let's Talk About ADOPT

In a free one-hour webinar BOFIN and a panel of experts will summarise the Accelerating Development of Practices and Technologies (ADOPT) programme, which opens for applications on 28th April and offers grants to support farmer-led trials of innovative solutions.

Inteliports

Inteliports: Pioneering Automated Drone Solutions for Agriculture. We are developing the technology and supporting infrastructure for automated drone services, seamlessly integrating robotics and smart infrastructure to support heavy-lift UAVs, such as our flagship Titan.

Biorenewables Development Centre

Open-access research, development & demonstration biorefining centre.

Big opportunities to increase pulse crop production

It’s worth reflecting on why we export most of the pulse crop we produce in the UK, or simply fee

TAPipedia: knowledge sharing hub on agricultural innovation (no need to register to access content)

Dear colleagues, since this group is about agricultural innovation, you might find useful to have

The Future of Food & Farming: Challenges and choices for Global Sustainability (Foresight Report)

Report by John Beddington setting out the case for Sustainable Intensification.

The potential to increase productivity of wheat and oilseed rape in the UK

Report by ADAS in 2009 for Government Chief Scientific Advisor John Beddington. Authore

Innovate UK

NCSPulse PEP
Lincoln University

AKIS

The Agriculture Knowledge & Innovation System

Farm491

Where Growing and Innovation Meet. Let’s Grow Business, Farm491 is a UK based leading technology incubator and innovation space focused on the future of farming and food systems.

STFC Food Network+

The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) Food Network+ (SFN) brings together STFC researchers and facilities with research and industry in the agri-food sector.

Unlocking the potential of agricultural science and technology

In July 2022 the Science and Technology Committee of the House of Commons took evidence on how to unlock the potential of agricultural science and technology.

Innovation in Post-harvest Management of Fresh Produce Workshop

This face to face workshop at ADAS Postharvest Innovation Centre in Chatteris, Cambridgeshire, will showcase advances in storage technologies and supply chain management to reduce post-harvest losses.

The Future Farming Expo Scotland 2023

The agricultural industry is heading toward a more sustainable, profitable, and efficient future. Future Farming Expo will bring together forward-thinking Scottish farmers, advisors, and rural businesses over two days for knowledge hubs, discussion, and networking across a busy exhibition hall.

REAP Conference 2023 Report

Adaptation Through Innovation; Beyond the Comfort Zone.

Improving the sustainability of lupins through conventional and next generation methodologies

Investigating whether lupin can become a sustainable alternative for imported soya is being explored in a collaborative project, part of the sustainable farm-based protein competition funded by Defra and delivered by Innovate UK. This two-year feasibility study is being led the UK Agri-Tech Centre in partnership with Phytoform Labs and Soya UK. 

Pulse PEP
The BOFIN Dinner: Celebrating On-Farm Trials and Innovation

Join us for The BOFIN Dinner, a night of sharing latest innovations, invaluable insights and delicious food!

Pulse PEP
How Manufacturing Principles Can Be Applied to Agriculture

Manufacturing and agriculture are interconnected sectors driving innovation in food production and sustainability. Yet ideologically are they less compatible 

ADOPT funding opportunity information webinar

30 April 2025, 10am-12pm | Online

REAP Conference 2025: Connect, Co-Develop, Co-Exist

In its 12th year, the REAP Conference is Agri-TechE’s flagship event unites our ecosystem around a topical theme. It attracts researchers, innovators, government officials, agribusiness leaders and farmers from across the UK and beyond. With over a decade of experience, REAP has built a reputation for uniting the agri-tech ecosystem around a pressing, topical theme.

UK Farmer and Grower Research Priorities

Report launched by the NFU, Innovate UK and CEIA, reveals challenges that UK farmers and growers want researchers to prioritise solving. 

World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit 2025

September 22-23, 2025 • InterContinental O2, London

Agri-Tech In Action : Cranfield facility tour

The UK Agri-Tech Centre invites you to join us for an Agri-Tech in Action event at our Crop Technology Southern Centre Hub.

Agritech Adoption on Farm: Cold Harbour Farm Tour & Workshop

The UK Agri-Tech Centre invites you to attend a Farm Walk & Farm Innovations Workshop at Cold Harbour Farm in Bishop Burton, Beverley.

Round the World - Australia

We’re travelling Round the World with a digital flight to Australia and AgriFutures growᴬᴳ.

Earthly Biochar / University of Reading

I’m a PhD researcher at the University of Reading and founder of Earthly Biochar. My academic work and enterprise are both focused on understanding and accelerating the adoption of biochar across different farm systems in the UK and globally. Through my PhD, I’ve been researching biochar’s potential as a tool for regenerative agriculture, particularly its role in improving soil health, water retention, and nutrient cycling. In parallel, I’ve been designing and building small-scale biochar kilns used by growers worldwide, running hands-on workshops, and collaborating with composters, horticulturalists, and land managers to test biochar in real-world contexts.

Farming Forward: Innovation in Action

This Farm of the Future event will bring together practical demonstrations, forward-thinking discussions, and real-world solutions for nature-friendly farming. Date: Thursday, 12th June 2025 Time: 10:00am – 2:30pm Location: Lackham Campus, Wiltshire College & University Centre, Lackham, SN15 2NY

The ADOPT Fund: Is it for me & how do I access it? Support for Farmer-Led Innovation Trials

8:30am-9:30am – Online zoom webinar Join Innovation for Agriculture (IfA) and a panel of experts for an interactive Zoom session answering YOUR questions about the newly launched ADOPT (Accelerating Development Of Practices and Technologies) fund from DEFRA and UKRI.

Farm Business Innovation Show 2025

The Diversification Event for Farmers

Review of research and innovation that will impact the English agricultural and horticultural workforce - Executive summary

The nation’s farms and farm workers need to adopt new technologies to compete effectively in the global marketplace. This study has looked forward at the innovation horizon in agriculture and horticulture and investigated how the skills base and training provision in the UK is addressing the changing needs of farming into the future.    

Agri-Tech in Action: South West Dairy Development Centre

Join us at the state-of-the-art South West Dairy Development Centre for a facility tour and an action-packed day centred around on-farm innovation.

ADOPT - Agroecology Research Collaboration Webinar

The Agroecology Research Collaboration warmly invites you to this webinar about ADOPT. 

The unnatural nature of food (Part 2)

Thought piece from Mat

Lead the Field with BOFIN (webinar)

Are you ready to take your place at the forefront of agricultural progress? The British On-Farm Innovation Network (BOFIN) has launched its ‘Lead the Field’ campaign, calling on growers to join four Defra-funded projects and help shape the future of UK agriculture.

NCSPulse PEP
Regenerative dairy offers economic resilience and short term opportunity

Regenerative dairy farming can provide farmers with economic resilience as well as short term opportunity, but for industry-wide benefit regeneration must be delivered throughout the entire value chain.   Article by ffinlo Costain originally posted on LinkedIn  

CROPTEC 2026

We’re delighted to announce that in 2026, CropTec will co-locate with LAMMA, to deliver an unmatched experience for arable farmers and industry professionals.   By bringing together these two leading events, this co-location creates an unparalleled one-stop shop, providing visitors with a streamlined experience where they can explore everything the arable sector has to offer, all in one place.   The 2026 event promises to set a new standard in agricultural exhibitions, offering farmers an expanded, enriched experience that will strengthen the industry and pave the way for future success. 14 - 15 January 2026  •  NEC, Birmingham

Pulse PEP
Farm of the Future study tour - the Midlands

Farmers are invited to join RASE and Innovation for Agriculture for a two-day Farm of the Future study tour in the Midlands.

Farm of the Future study tour - Devon

Farmers are invited to join RASE and Innovation for Agriculture for a two-day Farm of the Future study tour in Devon.

National Conference 2026: Innovation for a Resilient Tomorrow - Reimagining Forestry and Arboriculture

International Convention Centre Wales | 19 & 20 May 2026

Innovate UK KTN AgriFood webpage

Innovate UK KTN helps organisations interested in AgriFood innovation access the expert informati

We need a much better conversation about science and technology in agriculture

Meeting humankind’s burgeoning food and energy requirements sustain

ADOPT (Accelerating Development of Practices and Technologies)

ADOPT (Accelerating Development of Practices and Technologies) is a funding competition designed to support farmer-led, on-farm trials and experiments. Funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and delivered by Innovate UK, it aims to generate, test, and demonstrate innovative solutions to challenges in agriculture, horticulture, and forestry. 

UK partnership launched to tackle agricultural challenges

George Eustice launched a new partnership to foster collaborative working on shared agricultural

New Farming Innovation funding competitions open in March

Farming Futures R&D Fund – Theme 1 (Expression of Interest) This

H2020 LIAISON project website and resources

The multi-ac

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