UK agritech firms join New Zealand incubator scheme

Six UK agritech companies have joined the Innovate UK Global Incubator Programme in New Zealand, where the programme is being delivered for the first time.

The group will work with Sprout Agritech, a New Zealand agritech accelerator and investor, to pursue pilots, partnerships, investment and research links in the local market. Their technologies span livestock systems, carbon and nutrient tracking, agricultural waste processing, horticulture, crop breeding and solar generation for protected cropping.

The selected companies are Cleobury Project Management, Galebreaker, GyroPlant, HiFe Plants, Polysolar and x10NI. Together, they reflect a broad range of areas in which New Zealand producers and food companies are under pressure to improve efficiency, manage emissions and reduce waste.

Cleobury Project Management converts agricultural waste streams such as slurry into fertiliser powders with standardised nutrient content. Galebreaker focuses on controlled-environment livestock housing using automated ventilation, sensing and artificial intelligence.

GyroPlant has developed a reusable plant-support system intended to replace single-use growing media in hydroponic production. HiFe Plants is developing non-GM high-iron pea varieties for use in food ingredients and supplements.

Polysolar has developed lightweight, flexible solar photovoltaic material for polytunnels and other protected cropping environments. x10NI offers a digital twin and measurement, reporting and verification platform to track carbon and nutrient flows across livestock supply chains.

Market links

The six-month programme includes two in-market visits and is intended to give the companies exposure to farmers, processors, investors, researchers and commercial partners in New Zealand.

Sprout described the initiative as a two-way exchange rather than a one-sided market-entry scheme, pointing to New Zealand's mix of agricultural production systems, scientific research and export-focused agribusiness as a reason for UK companies to test products and build local relationships.

"When I joined Sprout, I was clear about one thing: the biggest problems in our food system won't be solved by any one country working alone," said Sandhya Sriram, chief executive of Sprout Agritech.

"New Zealand is one of the most sophisticated agricultural markets in the world - diverse conditions, world-class science, and industry partners who understand what it takes to scale globally. Partnering with Innovate UK to bring their best agritech companies here is a signal that the international innovation community sees New Zealand as a co-creator of solutions the world needs."

Innovate UK said the arrangement would help British businesses better understand the New Zealand market while building commercial and research ties. The agency is part of UK Research and Innovation.

"Our partnership with Sprout as part of the Innovate UK Global Incubator Programme gives UK businesses a genuine opportunity to understand the New Zealand market from the inside, and to build collaborations that will help them innovate, scale and grow internationally," said Jon Hazell, partnership manager for the Global Incubator Programme at Innovate UK.

Sector scale

The programme links two agricultural technology markets with different strengths. New Zealand's food and fibre sector generates NZD $59.9 billion in annual export revenue, accounts for about 80% of total goods exports and contributes 10% of gross domestic product, according to figures cited by the organisers.

The UK agritech sector includes more than 1,200 businesses generating GBP £13.1 billion in turnover and employing more than 25,000 people. It is also described as Europe's leading destination for agritech venture capital investment.

David Thompson, the UK agriculture counsellor for Australia and New Zealand, said the UK sector had expanded sharply over the past decade and that both countries shared an interest in more sustainable and efficient food production.

"The UK agritech sector has experienced rapid and sustained growth over the past decade, expanding approximately forty-fold," said Thompson, of the British Consulate General in Sydney.

"We are excited to support collaborations between these two countries with deep ties and a shared ambition to produce food more sustainably and efficiently. Both nations bring exceptional science bases and a genuine commitment to solving the hardest problems in agriculture."

Local network

For the UK cohort, part of the attraction is access to New Zealand's established agribusiness and research networks. Sprout said its connections include major industry groups such as Fonterra, Gallagher, LIC, T&G Global, Silver Fern Farms and Zespri, alongside the country's public universities and research institutions.

That network may be particularly relevant for businesses seeking field data, commercial trials or validation in different production environments. Several of the selected firms are developing tools closely tied to on-farm conditions, including housing design, nutrient management and emissions measurement, where local testing can influence market adoption.

The mix of companies also highlights how agritech investment is broadening beyond machinery and farm software. The cohort includes systems for circular waste use, alternative growing inputs, crop nutrition traits and distributed energy generation - areas drawing increasing attention as producers face tighter margins and greater environmental scrutiny.

For New Zealand, the arrival of the UK group provides a route to technologies that might otherwise take longer to reach the market. For the participating businesses, success will depend on whether local producers, processors and researchers see enough value to move from introductions to trials and commercial agreements.

Sprout said its aim is to connect the cohort with industry players that can test and develop solutions in real farming and food production settings.