Shaping the future of agriculture

The first Agri-tech Week event to be held at Essex gave businesses the chance to see the latest ways our research is benefiting the agricultural sector.

At Essex Agri-tech Expertise, business leaders heard Essex scientists speak about projects in areas including drone technology, image analysis, measurement of plant performance and stress and disease monitoring.

Rob Singh, Deputy Director (Enterprise), said: “It was great to see existing and potential new business partners on campus, to see our work or plant productivity and look at how AI and robotics might shape the future of agriculture.  With increasing funding for R&D through the Government’s Industrial Strategy, there has never been a better time to for business to engage with the University.”

Essex is a leading university for business engagement and in the agricultural sector is currently working with: 

• Cultinova – developing an intelligent LED lighting system to enhance plant productivity
• ADC Bioscientific – enhancing plant monitoring and gas analysis systems 

Essex Agri-tech Expertise was part of Agri-tech Week organised by Agri-tech East, which showcases innovation in the eastern region. The event visitors included pea, mushroom, carrot, berry, peppers, salad and apple growers. The University also exhibited at the week’s REAP Conference in Cambridge.