The Eastern Agri-Tech Growth Initiative has invested nearly £1.4 million in a wide range of local businesses since its launch.
From a Suffolk based company looking at new ways to increase crop productivity by using nitrogen produced by fish, to a rhubarb growth research project in Norfolk, the successful projects represent the wide range of agri-tech activities that take place in the East.
Projects and businesses that have been awarded funding are as follows:
- Foster-Clarke, based at Harleston in Norfolk. Foster-Clarke are an established company concerned with agriculture, both livestock and arable. The funding will be used to investigate new methods of monitoring crop health by combining spectrums of light and imaging techniques. The research intends to help farmers boost their crop yields whilst lowering the need for pesticides and fertilisers.
- SMART Biosystems UK Ltd, Cambridge. SMART Biosystems UK Ltd supply Anaerobic Digestion (AD) plants and installations to companies across the world. The funding will help develop an innovative Hydrolysis Biomass pre-treatment tank for installation in new and existing AD plants globally.
- Hargreaves Plants Ltd, based in Hillington, West Norfolk. Hargreaves Plants Ltd is a leading producer of rhubarb, asparagus, soft fruit plants and ornamental plants. The funding will be used to grow new varieties of rhubarb that will improve the marketability of the product in terms of aesthetic appearance, whilst also improving the production and quality of rhubarb varieties to suit both consumer and grower demands.
- Aponic Ltd, based in Sudbury, Suffolk. Aponic Ltd will be use the funding to create an innovative growing system that uses vertical tubes attached to fencing, linked to small tanks containing fish that nitrify the water, to increase crop productivity and reduce waste water. The system can be used to grow food for individuals as well as on a commercial scale both sustainably and efficiently, and uses less resources and does much less damage to the environment.
Mark Reeve, Chairman of the Eastern Agri-Tech Growth Initiative and the Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough Enterprise Partnership (LEP), explains: “Since the launch of the Agri-Tech Growth Initiative in January 2014, we have already successfully provided over £1.4m of grant funding to the local businesses in the Agri-Tech sector. By investing this money into local businesses in the form of grants, we will enhance and develop the economic productivity of the local agricultural and research sectors.”
“From funding projects that investigate innovative farming methods to facilitating vital research, the Eastern Agri-Tech Growth Initiative aims to keep our region’s businesses at the forefront of the Agri-Tech industry. We have more money left to invest, and we look forward to helping even more businesses to grow.”
James Foster-Clarke from Foster-Clarke, said: “The funding support will enhance and accelerate our capability and understanding of aerial spectral imagery unlocking the wealth of hidden information in crop husbandry. We believe that this information technology will mean an increase in productivity and efficiency not witnessed since the mechanization of agriculture and we are proud to be a leading force in this amazing development.”
Rupert Hargreaves, Managing Director of Hargreaves Plants Ltd, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have been awarded this grant. Hargreaves Plants have been involved in the supply chain of Rhubarb plants for the last few years but it is evident the industry is crying out for some product development. There has been no formal research done on rhubarb since the 1990’s and rhubarb has gained tremendous popularity since then. This grant application will add benefits to all sectors involved in the ever expanding Rhubarb industry.”
George Dadoudis, Director of Smart Biosystems Ltd, said: “As a young company with pressure on cash-flows, financing R&D is always tough. This grant can help us substantially develop an innovation with global reach, and pave our way to getting first-mover advantages in an ever increasing marketplace, working towards our goal of becoming leaders in AD. As a made in the UK innovation, this can have substantial spill-over effects to the local economy and generate additional employment in value added British manufacturing and engineering.”
Jason Hawkins-Row from Aponic Ltd, said: “Aponic Ltd is thrilled to receive the backing of the Agri-Tech Board and the additional funding. We can now patent our idea and move forward with creating our plastic mould tooling for the manufacturing process of our innovative, domestic and commercial vertical growing equipment and research and develop future product innovations. Once our product is on the market it will save millions of gallons of water, millions of food miles and millions of tonnes of fertiliser run off, all using the magic of fish poo!”
Cllr Bev Spratt, Chairman of Norfolk County Council’s Economic Development Sub Committee, said: “To invest and grow, businesses need stability and long term certainty. This funding will provide a huge boost to the four successful local businesses, which includes one in Norfolk. Agri-tech is an important sector as it combines science and technology to help farming and food production. These grants will hopefully stimulate economic growth in the areas where the businesses operate and therefore potentially lead to the creation of jobs.”
Belinda Clarke, Director of Agri-Tech East, said: “The latest round of successful grants shows the flexibility of the scheme to support a wide range of business and R&D activities. We know the importance of innovation to support future business growth, and the application process is very straightforward, with a very simple application form, so I hope others will also be inspired to apply to the scheme.”
Chris Starkie, Managing Director of New Anglia LEP said: “It is great to see such innovating and inspiring businesses in Norfolk and Suffolk benefiting from this funding. They are pioneers in the Agri-Tech sector and it will provide a real boost to their development and business growth.”
The Eastern Agri-Tech Growth Initiative grants are available to those looking to invest in new market and supply chain development, ways to improve productivity and efficiency, and the progression, application and commercialisation of Research and Development.
You can find out more by visiting www.agritechgrants.co.uk or calling 01480 277180.
___________________________________________________________________________