The UK Agri-Tech Centre welcomed a Spanish delegation to the UK, comprising of representatives from the Department for Business and Trade in Spain, CAJAMAR, Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology (IRTA), and the Institute of Natural Resources and Agrobiology of Salamanca (IRNASA-CSIC). Through the Tactical Fund project, the UK Agri-Tech Centre has actively engaged in bilateral visits to and from Spain, with continued collaboration between the two countries. These engagements will foster knowledge exchange, broaden networks, and cultivate collaboration opportunities within the agri-tech sector.
This delegation visit was aimed at showcasing relevant UK capabilities and assets in the agri-tech ecosystem, including UK Agri-Tech Centre facilities such as the Crop Technology Hub at Cranfield University, the Midlands Agri-Tech Innovation Hub, and the South West Dairy Development Centre, and other state-of-the-art facilities such as the Digital Phenotyping Lab at Rothamsted Research and the Innovation Hub for Controlled Environment Agriculture at the James Hutton Institute.
James Kayam, International Business Development Manager at the UK Agri-Tech Centre said:
“These visits underscore our commitment to fostering international collaboration and driving innovation in the agri-tech sector. The tactical fund has not only aided in knowledge exchange but also enhanced our understanding of each organisation involved, uncovering potential areas for collaboration in agri-tech innovation between the UK and Spain.”
Duncan Ross, Business Development Manager for Crops and Horticulture at the UK Agri-Tech Centre, said:
“Hosting the Spanish delegation was a great opportunity to showcase the capabilities of the UK Agri-Tech Centre and our close research collaborators, specifically those developing solutions to our shared international challenges of labour, climate change, and productivity. We are looking forward to continued communication around opportunities to collaborate”.
The UK Agri-Tech Centre facilitates cross-sector collaboration and a systems-wide approach to agri-sector innovation on a global scale. Our aim is to address global challenges, strengthening connections between science, business and funders to accelerate R&D that overcomes the agri-industry’s most critical challenges.