A new initiative — FASTA — backed by the UK Agri-Tech Centre and delivered in partnership with the Carbon Trust, has been unveiled to accelerate the adoption of advanced technologies supporting sustainable agriculture across the UK.
FASTA is designed to drive the rollout of Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) systems — tools vital for credible sustainability claims, enabling access to finance and supporting the country’s push toward net-zero emissions.
The scheme comes at a significant time, with agriculture responsible for around 10% of greenhouse-gas emissions in the UK. Accurate MRV tools can deliver the transparency and data needed to track emissions, validate environmental impact, and steer climate-smart decision-making on farms.
FASTA is inviting UK-based innovators to register between 6 and 23 January for tailored support from industry experts and investor networks, helping bring pilot-ready solutions to market.
The programme is open to a wide range of technologies, including soil-health monitoring, remote sensing and geospatial analytics, emissions monitoring, AI-driven per-farm decision tools, carbon-footprint modelling, data-aggregation platforms, financial technologies, and supply-chain traceability systems.
Leaders from both partners highlighted the urgency and potential of the initiative. Sarah Laidler, Global Practice Area Head for Agriculture, Food & Drink at the Carbon Trust, said FASTA offers “unparalleled access to industry and corporate networks,” mobilising the agricultural supply chain to pilot and scale solutions grounded in real-world farming needs.
Iain Meager, Director of Innovation at the Carbon Trust, added that the scheme “provides the bridge” linking innovators to real-world insight and networks, helping move ideas from concept to deployment.
Meanwhile, Ruth Bastow, Chief Technology Officer at the UK Agri-Tech Centre, emphasised the critical role of MRV technologies in enabling sustainable farming and carbon reduction. By combining technical and commercial support, she said FASTA is intended to accelerate the commercialisation and market adoption of promising agri-tech solutions.
FASTA signals a concerted effort to harness innovation and data to support the UK’s shift towards more sustainable, transparent and climate-resilient agriculture.
