A groundbreaking initiative aimed at propelling the adoption of sustainable farming technologies in the UK has opened its doors for registrations. The Food Agriculture System Technology Accelerator (FASTA) programme, a collaborative effort by the UK Agri-Tech Centre, the Carbon Trust, and key industry stakeholders, is set to accelerate the implementation of Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) systems.
MRV systems are crucial for agricultural businesses to make credible sustainability claims. They provide the necessary data and transparency to track emissions, validate impact, and guide smarter decisions. This is particularly important when scaling climate-smart practices, carbon markets, or building trust across the value chain.
Innovators can register to participate in the FASTA programme from 6-23 January through the programme website. The programme offers bespoke expert support from key industry stakeholders and investor access to bring tested MRV solutions closer to market. The initiative is seeking UK innovators with technically viable solutions in areas such as soil health monitoring, remote sensing and geospatial analytics, environmental emissions monitoring, AI-powered decision support systems, carbon footprint and sustainability modelling tools, data aggregation and interoperability platforms, financial platforms, and supply chain traceability and verification.
Matthew Willis, Senior Manager at the Carbon Trust, expressed his enthusiasm for the programme, stating, “FASTA combines industry experience and technical innovation, to deliver scalable, impactful solutions underpinned by robust MRV systems, addressing the challenges of modern farming. We aim to empower innovators and industry leaders to drive meaningful change within the sector.”
Paddy Tarbuck, Head of Sustainability at the UK Agri-Tech Centre, echoed these sentiments, adding, “FASTA gives innovators the support to scale proven MRV solutions and embed them into real-world supply chains. By accelerating adoption, we’re helping technologies deliver impact at industry level, driving credible sustainability claims and measurable progress towards Net Zero.”
The FASTA programme is a significant step towards fostering sustainable farming practices in the UK. By providing a platform for innovators to scale their technologies, the initiative is poised to drive meaningful change and contribute to the UK’s Net Zero ambitions.