Agri-tech goal for region set out by mayor during visit to NIAB
Mayor Dr Nik Johnson used his visit to the National Institute of Agricultural Botany (NIAB) to reiterate his ambition for the region to become “a global hub of innovation in agri-tech”.
The mayor toured NIAB’s cutting-edge crop research facilities at Park Farm, Histon, led by NIAB CEO Prof Mario Caccamo.
Joined by Combined Authority Business Board chair Al Kingsley, and Business Board agri-tech lead Emma Garfield, they were visiting the site to find out how £3.5million funding for NIAB over five years has helped grow small and start-up companies specialising in cutting-edge areas like plant genetics, pest management, soil health, AI, and farm robotics.
The purpose-built facility, funded by the Combined Authority – an SME business incubator titled ‘Barn4’ – includes research laboratories, plant growth containers and vertical farming facilities.
Businesses which are part of the incubator can use the facilities to help develop their research and products. Business founders are also given broader support, such as mentoring, business planning and raising investment and applying for grants, to further break down barriers to growth. So far, around 120 small and start-up businesses in agri-tech have been supported.
The group moved on to the MacLeod Complex, 2,800m2 of research glasshouses, and learned more about NIAB’s research into legume and pulse crops. This is part of an industry drive to develop new opportunities for domestic protein production rather than relying on imported sources, with opportunities in this market for start-ups and SME businesses. One of the crop trials on show was chickpeas, where work is under way to develop a variety suited to the British climate.
They concluded with a tour of NIAB’s precision breeding facility.
Mayor Dr Nik Johnson said: “We want to make Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, along with partners in the East, a global hub of innovation in agri-tech. Combined Authority investment in NIAB, supporting new businesses and jobs, is part of our work to back the sector.
“It was fascinating to see the exciting research and commercialisation of some products which could be on our own dinner tables very soon, and fantastic that it’s happening right here, supporting our economy and creating skilled jobs.”
Chair of the Business Board, Al Kingsley, said: “This initiative with NIAB is a prime example of how targeted investment can drive innovation and create real opportunities for local businesses.
“Funding from the Combined Authority has not only helped support cutting-edge research in agri-tech but has also provided a vital platform for small and start-up companies to thrive. This partnership is helping to shape the future of sustainable farming and is a showcase of how our region is leading agricultural innovation.”
The agri-tech and food-tech sector in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough employs a combined 22,000 people and is worth about £1bn to the economy. There are increasing links with the area’s wider tech sector, especially in the fields of AI, big data and biotechnology, making the potential for future growth even stronger –just as urgent economic and climate challenges make progress urgent.
