The British Farming Awards were held last week (16 October) at The Vox in Birmingham, where the UK Agri-Tech Centre had the privilege of presenting the Agri-Tech Innovator of the Year award.
Each year, the British Farming Awards, organised by Farmers Guardian and sponsored by Morrisons, shine a spotlight on the outstanding contributions of farmers and professionals driving the UK’s agricultural industry forward.
Now in its 13th year, the event recognises pioneering farmers and businesses across all sectors who are advancing progress in science, technology, food production and sustainability.
Honouring the very best in British agriculture, the awards highlight achievements across a range of categories, from innovative new entrants and multi-staff enterprises to the much-anticipated Innovator of the Year title.
This year’s Agri-Tech Innovator of the Year award went to Herdwatch, a company deeply rooted in farming innovation and known for transforming livestock management through smart digital tools.
Their recognition celebrates the concept of ‘Herd Intelligence’, embodied by the app’s virtual assistant, ‘Herdi by Herdwatch’.
The feature integrates farming expertise, local insight and advanced AI to deliver accurate, personalised advice to farmers directly through the Herdwatch app.
The software-as-a-service platform is now trusted by over 22,000 farmers across Ireland, the UK and the United States, allowing them to manage herds and flocks anytime, anywhere. This data-driven approach empowers farmers to make informed decisions that improve efficiency and productivity.
Since its early days, Herdwatch has experienced remarkable growth, expanding its team and operations. The company is now based at a state-of-the-art facility at the UK Agri-Tech Centre’s Midlands Hub in Newport.
Founder and CEO Fabien Peyaud began his journey in the IT sector and was given the opportunity to test his forward-thinking ideas before establishing his own venture. Balancing two jobs in the beginning, Fabien spent evenings and weekends developing the concept that would become Herdwatch.
By collaborating with partners to scale the business, the company has helped farmers boost productivity and reportedly save around three hours per week through smarter farm management.
James Greevy, Director of Product at Herdwatch, said: “The goal is to make complex farm data useful in real time. Farmers are drowning in data spread across too many places. Herd Intelligence brings it together—herd records, breeding information, compliance—and gives one clear answer a farmer can act on immediately. It is like having a farm manager, who is an expert in all of this plus knows everything about your herd.”
Pat Bolger, Director of Technology, said: “Your farm data never leaves your account. Herd Intelligence doesn’t share it, store it or learn from it—it’s private advice, built for you alone.”
Helen Brookes, Engagement Director at the UK Agri-Tech Centre, said: “The British Farming Awards was a fantastic event to celebrate the best of British agriculture and the essential role each business who attended plays. The competition was close, but it was a privilege to support the event by announcing Herdwatch as the winner of the Agri-Tech Innovator of the Year. We have witnessed Herdwatch’s business journey as they have grown within the hub and look forward to seeing what’s next for them.”
