New partnership to drive agri-tech manufacturing forward in the UK
Friday 17 October 2025
New partnership to drive agri-tech manufacturing forward in the UK
WMG, University of Warwick is part of a unique cross-Government partnership, with Defra digital, data, technology and security; Innovate UK and the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC), to support businesses to scale up agri-tech manufacturing in the UK.
Angela Eagle, Minister for Food and Agriculture announced the six-month pilot accelerator programme, AgriScale, at the World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit.
By focusing on accelerating product manufacturing, AgriScale fills a critical gap in the innovation pipeline, helping promising technologies move from validated prototypes to market quickly and reliably.
Solving scale-up challenges with Catapult expertise
Through the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, five businesses will receive tailored support from WMG and the MTC to address specific manufacturing challenges exemplified through carefully selected UK based companies.
Emilio Loo Monardez, WMG’s Principal Engineer and AgriScale project lead explained: “AgriScale is about reducing the risks that prevent promising innovation from reaching the market and helping businesses expand their strategic ambitions. By working alongside government, academia and industry, we are helping businesses to accelerate innovation, overcome manufacturing challenges and drive adoption and commercialisation to strengthen the sector and boost farmer productivity.”
This hands-on approach will accelerate the development and commercialisation of new technologies, helping to grow a globally competitive and sustainable agri-tech manufacturing base in the UK.
The challenges faced by the selected organisations range from design for manufacture; technology roadmap calibration; to manufacturing process optimisation, and key technology development. They reflect the realities of UK-based innovators transitioning from prototype to commercial deployment and adoption.
Championing agri-tech scale-up
Backed by the Modern Industrial Strategy and aligned with the Manufacturing Sector Plan, AgriScale draws on the successful scale-up models in the automotive and aerospace sector. This approach ensures that the UK’s agri-tech businesses have the support and expertise needed to grow and compete on the world stage.
The recognition marks a pivotal shift by the Government - acknowledging the sector’s potential to drive growth, enhance productivity, strengthen climate resilience, and reduce agricultural emissions - while prioritising a sustainable and secure food supply for the UK.
It sends a strong message to motivate new technology developers and manufacturers to pivot into agriculture, and to contribute and address the current challenges in the ‘food system.
This also aligns with the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs(Defra) new food strategy for England, to tackle UK food resilience and enhance supply chains, while protecting nature and biodiversity.
Find out more about Warwick Agri-Tech here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXC3jzqrga0
