AgriFood Innovation Showcase 2025 - Building a sustainable food system
Join us to discover the future of the UK’s largest manufacturing sector at the AgriFood Innovation Showcase. This event unites innovators, stakeholders, and experts to inspire sustainable solutions, drive collaboration, and shape a healthier, nature positive food system.
About this event
The UK food and drink industry is a vital part of the nation’s £120 billion farm-to-fork food chain. It is also the UK’s largest manufacturing sector, contributing £29 billion to the economy and employing 440,000 people.
Today the food system and wider society face several challenges. Therefore, innovation will play a critical role in the drive towards a sustainable and safe food system that delivers healthier affordable food.
Who should attend?
This event is for stakeholders, people and organisations involved at all stages of the food and drink supply chain and is designed to inspire, connect and empower those driving change. If you are interested or active in innovation to find solutions for a nature positive food system, don’t miss this chance to shape the future of this critical sector.
Why should you attend?
The event will foster cross-sector collaboration, bringing together a diverse community to exchange ideas, forge strategic partnerships, and explore innovation opportunities. Companies and innovators will showcase their pioneering products and technologies, providing attendees the chance to connect with key players in the industry, and potential future partners.
Those that join us at this event will benefit from attending as we will be:
- Bringing together key stakeholders operating in the food system.
- Raising awareness to the benefits and impact of working with Innovate UK and Innovate UK Business Connect, and of the products and services available.
- Facilitating new connections and innovative discussions around working better together, and the adoption of existing innovative technologies to support with the ‘net zero journey’ in agriculture and food production.
- Connecting the supply chain to support innovation across its component parts.
- Identifying priority areas for research and development.
- Building momentum and excitement around the potential of innovating together and working on solutions to shared challenges.
- Showcasing Innovate UK/UKRI funded projects.
- Providing the opportunity for previously funded projects to connect, establish synergies and innovate further.
- Disseminating opportunities around Innovate UK funding and innovation support.
- Encouraging sector engagement with Innovate UK and Innovate UK Business Connect.
Key event details
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There is a lot to look forward to at this event. The following will be taking place during this AgriFood Innovation Showcase:
- Healthy Living and Agrifood System session: Hear from speakers who will share insight on innovation projects that address and impact this area.
- Net Zero session: Discussion on retailers and manufacturers needs around net zero and challenge areas for which they seek solutions.
- Technologies session: Hear from experts and innovators on advances in this area.
- SME Marketplace: SME exhibition, short pitch sessions and networking. To register your interest in exhibiting within the marketplace register here (Application deadline: 21 February 2025).
- Business support zone: Find out what industry support is available.
- Hear from funders: Dissemination of relevant funding opportunities for the sector that are live/upcoming.
- Cross-Industry collaboration: enabling the cross-pollination of ideas and sparking new innovations that will drive future success.
- Networking: introductions and innovation exchanges.
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During the event, we will be joined by several industry-leading speakers who will be sharing valuable insights throughout their talks. Take a look through our jam-packed schedule to find out more:
9am-10am: SME Marketplace networking and coffee
10am-10.20am: Welcome and introductions to the day
- David Telford, Head of AgriFood, Innovate UK Business Connect
- Ian Noble, Senior RDQ Director, Mondelēz International
10.20am-10.30am: 1 minute pitches from 5 innovative businesses from the SME Marketplace
10.30am-11.45am: Healthy living and circular food systems in practice
- Dr Vincent Walsh, Director of Decarbonisation, Levy UK
- Project presentation: Leo Campbell, Modern Baker
- Project presentation: Dini McGrath, Co-Founder, The Wonki Collective
- 1 minute pitches from 5 innovative businesses from the SME Marketplace
11.45am-1pm: Lunch and networking in the SME Marketplace and Business Zone
1pm-1.10pm: 1 minute pitches from 5 innovative businesses from the SME Marketplace
1.10pm-2.15pm: An overview of the opportunities in AgriFood technology and data
- Andrew Martin, Head of Food, Drink and AgriTech, Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre
- Project presentation: Clive Stephens, Head of Research & Development, Cranswick PLC & Sarvesh Kumar, Founder and CEO, Singular Intelligence
- Farm Balance project presentation: Salina Docherty, Agriculture Lead and Sustainability, Satarla
- 1 minute pitches from 5 innovative businesses from the SME Marketplace
2.15pm-2.45pm: Coffee and networking
2.45pm-3.30pm: Net zero, sustainable food system innovation
- Iain Clunie, Net Zero Programme Director, Scotland Food & Drink Partnership
- Claire Hughes, Director of Own Product Development and Innovation, Sainsbury’s
3.30pm-4pm: Summary and closing remarks
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Network with our exhibitors at the SME marketplace and find out more about the business support on offer, sector funding opportunities and discover the pioneering products or services that will be showcased during the event. The following companies will be joining us including Agrifood X, Algenuity, Amybo, Cdotbio, Clubzero, FermTech, Funki Drinks, Grounds For Good, HUID, LanoTech Ltd, Libereat, Lytegro, Omni Heating and Advanced Food Innovation Centre, One Good Thing, ProSauce UK, Soil Benchmark, SPG Innovations, The Good Pulse Company, UK Food Valley and UPP Farm.
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Alongside the Innovate UK and Innovate UK Business Connect advisors, specialists will be joining us to share their business support offering for AgriFood innovators from:
- Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)
- Centre for Process Innovation (CPI)
- Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC)
- National Alternative Protein Innovation Centre (NAPIC)
- The Institute of Food Science and Technology (IFST)
- Reading Scientific Services Ltd