Agri-Tech Accelerator Programme explores UK-India collaboration   -OxBig News Network

To promote collaboration in late-stage R&D, investment, and market access for cutting-edge agricultural technologies, five UK-based agritech businesses that were selected in a competition visited International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT).

The five-day UK-India knowledge exchange in innovative agricultural technologies as part of the UK-India Agri-Tech Accelerator Programme took place from March 17 to 21. The teams covered Delhi, Hyderabad and Bengaluru.

According to officials, the five companies — Mutus Tech, LinearWorks, Green Crop Tech, AgriSound, and LettUs Grow — offer diverse services including use of AI and ML platform to monitor pest attack, plant health, pollination activity to use of environment friendly bio-stimulant and aeroponics.

The programme spearheaded by the UK Agri-Tech Centre in collaboration with the UK government, aims at identifying key challenges in India’s agricultural sector and opportunities for collaboration in agri-tech, encouraging networking to showcase UK expertise and foster partnerships, supporting businesses to commercialise technologies optimised for Indian markets, and accelerate export opportunities and foreign direct investment.

According to British Deputy High Commissioner (AP & Telangana) Gareth Wynn Owen, “The UK-India Agri-Tech Accelerator Programme demonstrates the strong partnership between British and Indian innovators and helps UK businesses engage with India’s dynamic agri-tech sector. The Programme fosters innovation, collaboration, and long-term commercial partnerships that benefit both India and the UK.”

Director-General, International Crops Research Institute, Himanshu Pathak, lauding the UK-India collaboration said the Accelerator programme aligns with India’s mission to drive innovations that create tangible benefits for the world’s most vulnerable dryland communities.

Through the visit, officials added, the participants will gain an immersive understanding of India’s agricultural ecosystem to lay the groundwork for partnerships that benefit farmers and agri-tech businesses from both the countries.