The UK Government has just named Agri-Tech a frontier industry — and it’s about time.
With a bold new strategy and significant funding commitments, agri-tech is being recognised as a critical engine for growth, innovation, and sustainability in the UK economy. And if you’re working in urban or controlled environment agriculture, this is your moment.
Why It Matters
The numbers speak for themselves:
- Agri-tech start-ups have increased 40-fold in the last decade
- The UK agri-food chain contributes £147 billion to the economy
- Over 30,000 people are now employed in agri-tech
- One UK company is leading a £140 million export to the Gulf region
But behind the buzz is a serious ambition. As outlined in the Government’s strategy, the goal is clear: a more resilient, productive and sustainable food system that supports the transition to net zero.
And that’s where urban agri-tech shines.
What the UK Government Is Doing
The strategy focuses on precision agri-tech — think:
- Controlled environments
- Automation and robotics
- AI and advanced sensors
- Engineering biology
- Data-driven systems
Sound familiar? These are the very technologies our members are already using to advance the sector.
To support this, the Government has announced:
£200 million through the Farming Innovation Programme (FIP)
- Funding for high-potential projects that boost productivity, reduce emissions, and cut reliance on seasonal labour.
A new Agri-Tech Export Accelerator Programme
- Helping scale-ups enter global markets, build resilient supply chains, and pitch collaboratively in priority regions.
Expansion of the Investor Partnerships scheme
- Public-private finance blends that back high-potential agri-tech SMEs. To date: £14 million+ in matched funding, with more rounds coming in 2025 and beyond.
Launch of the ADOPT Fund
- Designed to trial technologies directly with farmers and generate ROI data, helping de-risk adoption across the industry.
Why Urban Agri-Tech Is Central to This Vision
While much of the policy speaks to ‘traditional’ agriculture, the underlying goals of the strategy — resilience, sustainability, productivity, and export potential — map directly to the work being done by UKUAT members.
Urban and peri-urban agri-tech already delivers on:
- Controlled growing environments with year-round yields
- Integration of data, sensors, and AI for resource efficiency
- Climate-resilient models reducing pressure on land and logistics
- Scalable systems that can grow with investment
- Sustainable food supply close to consumers
Urban farming is not just a small part of the agri-tech sector — we’re helping traditional farmers shape the UK’s food future.
What Now?
With ambitions to grow the sector to a £20 billion turnover by 2035, there has never been a better time to act.
Here’s how UKUAT members can engage:
- Partner through our RFP programme – Access real-world collaboration opportunities through our RFP system, designed to match urban agri-tech businesses with researchers, growers, or tech partners for joint bids and pilots.
- Connect – From monthly networking lunches to active forums, UKUAT makes it easy to connect with like-minded peers, form partnerships, and share what’s working across the sector.
- Stay in the Loop – We break down key updates from government, funding bodies and policy shifts — so you don’t have to. Our newsletters, blogs and social channels keep you informed and ready to respond to opportunities.
- Build Your Case for Growth – Need to demonstrate ROI, impact, or adoption readiness? UKUAT helps members showcase value to funders, investors and policymakers, and signposts useful toolkits and success stories along the way.
- Be Part of the Bigger Picture – Urban agri-tech is shaping the future of sustainable cities, skills, and food systems. UKUAT gives your work visibility at the national level and champions your role in the frontier of food innovation.
Final Thoughts
Urban agriculture is not a side note in the agri-tech story — it’s one of its most agile, scalable, and exportable chapters.
As the UK ramps up investment, sets clear targets, and positions agri-tech as a key pillar of economic growth, UKUAT is here to make sure urban and vertical farming remains part of the national conversation — and the national opportunity.
Curious About How UKUAT Can Support You?
Whether you’re an organisation exploring opportunities or an individual looking to stay plugged into the UK agri-tech scene, we’d love to chat.
No pressure, no obligations — explore our membership tiers and click the one that fits to start a friendly chat about how we can support you. Let’s discover what’s possible, together.
