AgriFood Innovation Showcase 2025 event highlights

The key moments from the event

When we decided to hold this AgriFood Innovation Showcase event in March 2025 to support innovators with building a sustainable food system, we underestimated the impact this event would have on those that attended throughout the AgriFood ecosystem. The event truly fed people’s appetite for connecting and collaborating whilst striving to create a pioneering business with over 150 attendees joining us on the day as well as 25 SME marketplace and business support zone exhibitors and 10 industry speakers.

The core aim of the event was to bring together key established stakeholders operating in the food system with innovative small businesses with solutions to move towards a sustainable, optimised food system. We wanted to build momentum and excitement around the latest Innovate UK funding that will enable businesses to the work on solutions to shared AgriFood and Agri-Tech challenges.

Making powerful connections

Innovate UK Business Connect is all about connecting people and making a positive change to the economy and society. With over 150 attendees on the day including innovators, retailers, manufacturers, funders and nature positive food system experts, these groups of people engaged in lively conversations about sustainable food production and the latest net zero agriculture technologies. This networking proved extremely popular and valuable as based on the feedback we received after the event, an average of eight new introductions made per person. Some event attendees even commented that the meaningful conversations that they had at the event along with the jam-packed exhibition area and talks from industry experts made this one of the best events in the sector that they’ve ever been to.

Showcasing innovation

21 SMEs exhibited in the marketplace,providing a short overview of their innovation throughout the day. Alongside the Innovate UK and Innovate UK Business Connect advisors, specialists attended to share their business support offering for AgriFood innovators in the business support zone. Finally, we offered all event attendees the opportunity to participate in a pitch to share their innovation with the everyone that attended the event. Get in touch with us if there if there are any innovators you would like to connect and collaborate with from the event.

Connecting the food system, from farm to fork

On the day we were delighted to welcome diverse representation and expertise from across the food supply chain including our opening presentation from Dr Vincent Walsh, Director of Decarbonisation at the Levy Group, who set the energy levels for the day. Vincent spoke about a new initiative from Levy Group to invest millions into businesses that can drive decarbonisation of their food system and supply chain. Vincent is also a farmer (RegenFarm), and during his presentation he was interrupted by fellow farmer octogenarian Derek who called him very excitedly, to say how many frogs there were on the farm where Vincent had recently installed integrated hydrology. Demonstrating positive change at every step of the food system.

We also heard from several speakers that presented projects funded by Innovate UK and the impact achieved to date including:

• Leo Campbell from Modern Baker SUPERLOAF

• Dini McGrath from Zest (formerly The Wonki Collective)

• Clive Stephens from Cranswick Country Foods PLC

• Sarvesh Kumar from Singular Intelligence

• Salina Docherty from Satarla

View the full list of speakers here.

Innovation funding and impact

Leo Campbell, Founder of Modern Baker shared his emotional story of how a family illness drove him to mass produce a “science-based” approach to baking, focusing on improving the quality of dietary carbohydrates and using technology to create healthier, gut-friendly breads and baked goods. Innovate UK grant funding was key to making this happen. He also provided everyone with a Superloaf to take home, which very much brought his innovation to life.

Collaboration for a nature positive food system

Events, particularly those in-person, can be so powerful and a great chance to connect and ignite discussions around forming collaborative partnerships that can continue after the event has taken place. As the AgriFood sector evolves over time, global businesses need to continue to work with SMEs to improve manufacturing processes and retail products on shelves for consumers to buy.

What’s next?

We are hoping to do it all again in 2026. If you would like to get involved as an exhibitor or speaker in next year’s event, please contact Debbie Tully, Knowledge Transfer Manager – Food at Innovate UK Business Connect.