The World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit, set to take place in London from September 30 to October 1, promises to be a pivotal event for the future of European agriculture. This year, the summit will spotlight 44 start-ups that are reshaping the agricultural landscape with cutting-edge technologies aimed at enhancing productivity and sustainability. These start-ups have been meticulously selected to present scalable solutions addressing some of the most pressing challenges in agriculture today.
Among the early-stage innovators taking center stage in the Start-Up Arena are companies like OlsAro from Sweden, which is pioneering the development of salt-tolerant wheat to cultivate previously unusable land. France’s FoodPilot is another notable participant, offering a supply chain data collection platform designed to help farmers and the food industry accelerate decarbonization efforts. Meanwhile, the UK’s Pherosyn is making strides in natural crop protection through the integration of species-specific pheromones to combat insect pests.
Other promising start-ups include GreenImpulse from France, which has developed patented disease control technologies aimed at mitigating emerging resistance and supporting plant health. Ensemo from Austria is pushing the boundaries of biologicals adoption with its high-throughput mechanical solution that introduces beneficial microbes into seeds. Nigeria’s Foodlocker is a market access platform connecting smallholder farmers with essential resources such as credit, inputs, expertise, and markets.
The UK’s Biographica is leveraging machine learning and in silico modelling to rapidly identify genomic modifications that can enhance any crop trait. Meanwhile, Luxeed Robotics from the Netherlands is developing a smart agricultural machine that employs lasers and AI to identify and eliminate weeds without chemicals. Map My Crop, a US-based start-up, combines AI and satellite imagery through its 360° Agro Suite platform to help farms optimize yields and conserve resources.
Mid-stage companies will also have a significant presence at the summit, sharing insights gleaned from successful funding rounds. Notable names include BioScout, FA Bio, Salicrop, Agreena, Muddy Machines, Reshape Biotech, and Klim. These companies will provide unique perspectives on scaling up and achieving market penetration.
In addition to showcasing start-ups, the summit will feature accelerators and investors like CGIAR, Cultivator, EIT Food, EBRD, and The Yield Lab Europe. These organizations will present start-ups from their cohorts, offering a glimpse into the future of agricultural innovation. For instance, CGIAR will introduce ready-to-scale solutions in AI, monitoring, and crop protection from companies like Artemis, ACIMATAR, MyFarmTrees, Tumaini, and Terra-i. Cultivator will feature a rapid-fire pitching session with start-ups from Canada and the UK, including AgGene, Livestock Water Recycling, 4Ag, Abazyne, Susterre, Vetson, Pathoscan, BugBiome, and Agtelligence.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will highlight the winners of its AgVenture competition, focusing on start-ups addressing green issues across the food value chain. EIT Food will bring together a European cohort including MyEasyFarm, SeedForward, NOOVI, Constellr, EVJA, and Ficosterra.
A new addition to this year’s summit is a reverse pitching session where start-ups like Pherosyn and Phytoform Labs will have the opportunity to quiz Mark Durno, Managing Partner AgriFood at Rockstart, on the key factors for successful partnerships and essential support strategies for early-stage companies.
The World Agri-Tech summit is renowned for being a launchpad for innovation, having showcased over 200 start-ups since its inception. These innovative solutions and the brilliant minds behind them are highly sought after by senior strategic innovation leaders, government agencies, and investors attending the summit.
Detailed profiles of the start-ups, including their technologies and funding rounds, are available on the summit’s website. Pre-summit networking will commence on September 16, allowing delegates, speakers, start-ups, and exhibitors to connect and schedule meetings ahead of the event. The full programme, speaker details, and delegate registration information can also be found online.
This year’s summit is set to be a landmark event, offering a unique platform for the exchange of ideas and the forging of partnerships that will drive the future of agriculture forward.