AI innovator takes sting out of hornet threat with our support

The Far Out Thinking Company, based in the Isles of Scilly, has developed an AI-powered tool to track the spread of Asian hornets across the UK, creating a critical line of defence for the nation’s biodiversity and agricultural ecosystems. Innovate UK has helped it develop its technology and as a business, to maximise the impact it can have in its target markets and its contribution to UK economic growth.

Posted on: 04/11/2024

The Asian hornet is a highly predatory non-native species originating from East Asia and has spread rapidly throughout Europe after being inadvertently introduced in 2004.

“Each year, an Asian hornet’s nest could eat up to 11 kilograms of beneficial insects,” says Matthew Elmes, Director at The Far Out Thinking Company (TFOTC).

“Considering that UK insect biomass is already down by 60% since 1980, we really can’t afford ecosystem disruption on the scale that Asian hornets will bring.”

Existing human response mechanisms can’t match the reproductive cycle of the Asian hornet, so TFOTC is leveraging AI to meet the challenge, alongside its social enterprise, Pollenize.

Its solution, Hornet AI, is a device that houses a high-resolution camera above a fixed landing pad that emits an irresistible attractant. The device can capture detailed images, continuously analysing the data to identify potential Asian hornet activity. Once identified, it sends a real-time alert, empowering authorities to take immediate action.

The relationship between TFOTC and Innovate UK began in 2023. It has featured support from Innovate UK Business Growth and funding from Innovate UK BridgeAI to advance the company’s technological capabilities and propel it on its growth trajectory. As a result, the company has forged new partnerships and is looking forward to a period of expansion.

TFOTC is partnering with the National Bee Unit (NBU), which is part of the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) in the UK and plays a significant role in monitoring and managing this invasive species.

“Our aim is to reduce the National Bee Unit’s tracking time of Asian hornets by 80% from 50 hours to just 10 hours,” says Elmes. “This drastic reduction in time will enable us to respond swiftly to threats and better protect our vulnerable ecosystems.”

TFOTC has been supported along its journey by the team at Innovate UK Business Growth. Innovation and Growth Specialist, Angelo Spencer-Smith, developed a detailed growth plan with the leadership team focused on its priorities of marketing and funding.

Innovation and Growth Specialist, Heather Wright, was introduced to help the company segment its market opportunities, identify potential customers and refine its pitch decks. TFOTC is targeting organisations and individuals in environmental conservation, such as agri-tech companies, academic institutions, environmental projects, and government or NGOs focused on agriculture, biodiversity and sustainable practices.

“Heather really helped us to distil our message and ensured we were reaching the right audiences. It’s led to new projects with four or five farms, as well as a partnership with the Agri-EPI Centre.”

Innovation and Growth Specialist, Alan McLeod, was next introduced to help TFOTC refine its grant funding strategy. “Alan really helped us to identify the right funding routes and provided critical appraisal of our applications.

“On top of that, Angelo has been a great sounding board and has connected me with useful people at Exeter University and Digital Jersey, who we’ve since partnered with on innovation projects.

“But perhaps most importantly, the £99,000 Innovate UK BridgeAI grant we were able to secure has allowed us to significantly scale up our hornet-identifying technology,” Elmes concludes.

Innovate UK Business Growth will continue to support The Far Out Thinking Company as it scales its pioneering Asian hornet detection system, enhancing the resilience of the UK’s agricultural sector and safeguarding its wildlife population.

[But perhaps] most importantly, the £99,000 Innovate UK BridgeAI grant we were able to secure has allowed us to significantly scale up our hornet-identifying technology.

– Matthew Elmes, Director at The Far Out Thinking Company

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