In early February 2025, the UK Agri-Tech Centre, supported by the Department for Business and Trade and the UK Science and Innovation Network, led a focused delegation to Spain. This initiative, part of a UK Government-funded Tactical Fund project, aimed to unite leading UK and Spanish research institutions and agritech companies to foster knowledge exchange, build networks, and explore collaborative opportunities.
The delegation included representatives from innovative UK agri-tech companies such as Crop Intellect, Antobot, SugaROx, and FOTENIX, as well as renowned research institutions including The James Hutton Institute, Rothamsted Research, NIAB, and Harper Adams University. Over the course of a week, participants engaged with key Spanish agricultural entities, including the research experimental station IRTA Mas Badia in Girona, bio-incubator ICECYL with the Institute of Natural Resources and Agrobiology of Salamanca (IRNASA) in Valladolid, sugar beet cooperative ACOR, and the University of Almeria and Cajamar cooperative in Almeria.
The project aims to strengthen relationships and enhance collaboration between Spanish and UK organisations, identify and showcase critical technologies, promote the strengths of both nations’ science and research landscapes, explore collaborative project opportunities, and create R&D and commercial prospects through bilateral knowledge exchange visits.
Nicholas Harrap, UK Senior Science and Innovation Officer at the British Embassy Madrid, emphasised the importance of such visits: “Delegation visits provide a platform for participants to explore ways to work together and get to know the research institutions and companies in the different countries. It was useful to hear about the work being undertaken by UK participants and to see and hear about the projects being done in Spain. We hope the visits will lead to productive collaborations.”
James Kayam, International Business Development Manager at the UK Agri-Tech Centre, highlighted the significance of the Spanish agriculture sector to the UK: “The Spanish agriculture sector is a key supplier to the UK, exporting a significant volume of produce including citrus, stone fruits, vegetables, wine, olive oil and pork – collectively accounting for around 50% of Spain’s total agri-food exports to the UK.
“This visit has been a great opportunity to showcase the strength of UK science, research and innovation during key visits across Spain. We are already witnessing meaningful connections taking place, with complementary research and development opportunities emerging between the UK and Spain that support the agricultural sector.”
Richard Glass, Innovation Lead at the UK Agri-Tech Centre, noted the focus of the research observed during the visit: “The research we were shown on the visit was very much focused on the key crops in each region, from low-cost retrofitting of equipment for precision application for stone fruit, to complex sensors and data integration for greenhouse environments. There are always good collaboration opportunities with local growers keen to see the potential benefits of new ideas and technologies.”
Shona Brown, Senior Trade and Investment Adviser at the British Embassy Madrid, added: “This type of mission is invaluable for connecting with key stakeholders in the Spanish regions and promoting British excellence and innovation in agriculture, creating commercial and scientific collaborations.”
The Tactical Fund project is set to continue with a reciprocal visit from Spain to the UK in March 2025, further solidifying the collaborative efforts between the two nations in advancing agricultural technology.
