Experts from the UK Agri-Tech Centre recently joined an engaging discussion on the Poultry.Network’s podcast, delving into science-led research, sustainability and the challenges facing the poultry industry today. Dr Fiona Short and Paddy Tarbuck, both Innovation Leads at the UK Agri-Tech Centre, sat down with Tom Willings for a special edition of the Sustainability Hub podcast.
During the conversation, they explored how scientific advancements and research initiatives are shaping the future of agriculture, as well as the various types of support available for farmers and industry professionals.
A key topic of discussion was the recent merger of the UK Agri-Tech Centre, which marks its first anniversary in April 2025. Fiona and Paddy highlighted the centre’s role in facilitating funding opportunities, connecting businesses with leading academic and scientific expertise and providing project management skills to drive investment and innovation.
The podcast also tackled the impact of supply chain pressures—whether they have accelerated or hindered the adoption of new technologies and sustainable farming practices.
With Fiona’s specialisation in poultry nutrition, the conversation covered the regulation of novel proteins, supply chain challenges and the benefits of split-feeding. Meanwhile, Paddy, who focuses on agri-food sustainability, shared insights on resilience and risk awareness as crucial factors in the sector.
Regardless of the area of focus in the farming industry, the UK Agri-Tech Centre can help bring potential and ideas to life and create lasting value within the farming industry.
Paddy Tarbuck, Innovation Lead for Agri-Food Sustainability at the UK Agri-Tech Centre, said:
“On the back of the merger and growing from quite a small group at CIEL to a large group overnight has meant we’ve got this blend of expertise, new capabilities and research facilities that we didn’t have before, which is enormous in terms of opportunity.
We’ve been unpicking and unlocking the potential of that through a variety of different forms, such as our projects, commercial research and development, research and development on our farms and our farm network and that has meant that we are extremely busy which is a good sign and a privilege.”
Paddy added that from a poultry perspective, it is often a forgotten sector, particularly when we talk about environmental impact and net zero in livestock.
“It’s one of the fastest-growing sectors in the UK with an enormous amount of innovation and technology potential.
We’d love to be able to support this growth through coordinated and strategic research, as well as supporting job and skills growth in the sector, and we’re doing exactly that at the minute, bringing in good people and recruiting where we can.”
Dr Fiona Short, Innovation Lead for Animal Health & Nutrition at the UK Agri-Tech Centre, said:
“Our work is about involving the industry at an early stage and talking to them about their technology, how it works for them and any feedback that can improve the way it works for them. It’s about helping the farmer, and the wider industry, get the best outcome in the long-term and that’s where the UK Agri-Tech Centre comes in.
We can bring industry together to network at our workshops and other events because we know that they listen to each other and can learn from one another. For those who want to be involved, the best thing is to contact us, visit the website or come and see us at the many events we attend throughout the year – we will be happy to listen and assess your needs and find a way to help. We have many contacts in the industry that we can link in with for various enquiries.”