Mid and north Wales agri-Tech and food-Tech firms secure backing for R&D projects
Mid and north Wales agri-Tech and food-Tech firms secure backing for R&D projects
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A wave of innovation is sweeping across Mid and North Wales, with 13 pioneering businesses securing funding to tackle some of the agriculture and food sector’s most pressing challenges, from sustainable farming to food safety and smart processing.
The support comes through Innovate UK’s “Nurturing Innovation in the Agri-tech and Food Technology Cluster” programme, part of a drive to build a more sustainable and data-driven food system. Each business received funding under the Minimal Financial Assistance (MFA) scheme, aimed at enabling small-scale R&D and feasibility projects with growth potential.
The selected projects span a broad range of solutions including AI-powered crop forecasting, eco-friendly fertilisers, robotics for fruit picking, and turning waste into valuable products such as lubricants, feed, or bioethanol. Among the recipients are Agroceutical Products Ltd (Powys), working on a sustainable lubricant made from Welsh sheep wool, and Amped PCR Ltd (Ceredigion), which is developing a real-time contamination detection dashboard to improve global food safety.
Full list of funded projects:
- Agroceutical Products Ltd: Lubricants made from sheep wool.
- Amped PCR Ltd: Smart dashboard for pathogen detection.
- Arcitekbio Ltd: Eco-friendly sugar alternative from waste.
- Chitexo Ltd: Mealworm biorefinery using food waste.
- Cleobury Project Management Ltd: Sustainable fertiliser using eggshells.
- Conwy Kombucha Ltd: Smart home-brewing system with health benefits.
- Data Dynamics Ltd: AI system for crop yield prediction.
- Diagnostig Ltd: Early detection blood test for Johne’s disease in cattle.
- Neurabotics Ltd: Robotics feasibility study for fruit farms.
- Pennotec (Pennog Ltd): Sugar/fat replacements from underused local crops.
- Terrafarmer Agriculture Ltd: Testing natural soil-improvement products.
- Ymchwil Tetrim Research Cyf: Functional nutrition for ageing populations.
- Yr Ardd Fadarch Eryri Cyf: Converting mushroom waste into bioethanol and health products.
Innovation for a sustainable economy
The initiative is part of a broader strategy to strengthen rural economies through technological advancement and sustainability. It is managed by the Cluster Management Organisation for Mid and North Wales, part of Growing Mid Wales.
“These projects show how even small-scale funding can unlock transformative ideas,” said Barbara Green, Project Manager at Growing Mid Wales.
“They are helping to build a more resilient, forward-thinking rural economy.”
Louise Jones, Wales Manager at Innovate UK, echoed the sentiment: “This first wave of MFA funding highlights the breadth of innovation across the region. We’re excited to see how these ideas develop and contribute to real-world solutions in food and farming.”
Elliw Hughes, Growth Deal Programme Manager at Ambition North Wales, added: “This is innovation-led growth in action – not just for agri-food, but across the wider Welsh economy.”
New funding round opens soon
A second funding competition will open on 30 June 2025, with further support available for Agri-tech and Food-tech firms in the region. An applicant webinar will be held on 3 July, offering guidance on making successful submissions.
More details and registration links are available on the Innovate UK website.
Over the next 18 months, the programme will continue to coordinate innovation activity and funding opportunities in the region. Businesses interested in joining the clusters can learn more via the Growing Mid Wales website: www.growingmid.wales/AgriTechFoodTech.
