The UK agricultural landscape is undergoing a transformation driven by technological advances and a renewed focus on sustainable practices.

As the world faces complex challenges such as a growing global population, climate change and resource scarcity, the agritech sector has emerged as a beacon of hope, revolutionizing traditional farming methods and shaping the future of agriculture.

In 2023, a host of new UK-based agritech companies have emerged, as we leverage the latest technologies to meet these challenges head-on and redefine the way we produce food.

From robotic harvesters to precision farming systems, these emerging technologies are propelling the UK to the forefront of the global agricultural scene.

By leveraging data-driven insights, remote sensing technologies and automation, these companies enable farmers to make informed decisions and optimize every aspect of their operations, resulting in higher yields, reduced waste and minimized ecological impact.

This symbiotic relationship between agriculture and technology is giving rise to a new generation of farmers: those who use smartphones alongside tractors and deploy drones as easily as plows.

This convergence is redefining the narrative of what it means to be a farmer, opening doors to a more interconnected, efficient and sustainable future.

We have listed the most promising UK-based agritech startup projects that are set to make big waves in 2023 and beyond. Some of them are also hiring

Kindergarten

Founders: Edward Brial, Edward Hill and John Bertolaso

Hiring status: Yes | Apply here

Kindergarten is a planet-focused company, based in London and Ahmedabad, accelerating the large-scale production of climate-resilient, future-proof cotton.

From experimental hydroponics to consumer-grade regenerative practices, the company’s seed-to-shell solutions enable brands of all sizes to confidently and quickly achieve their sustainability goals.

Materra is made up of a growing multidisciplinary team of designers, engineers, farmers and innovators, and is based in London, UK and Ahmedabad, India.

muddy machines

Founders: Christopher Chavasse and Florian Richter

Hiring status: No

muddy machines is an AgTech and robotics company developing small robots that assist farmers with labor-intensive field tasks, providing reliable access to “mechanical labor” and enabling a more sustainable future for agriculture.

The UK company's robotic platform, Sprout Robot, can deploy various harvesting tools on specialised field bodies. It can roam fields harvesting accurately for up to 16 hours a day without needing breaks and without any decrease in performance.

Garden

Founder(s): Sumanta Talukdar

Hiring status: No

Garden develops optical phenotyping and analysis technology to optimize food production.

The UK company’s optical remote sensing, machine vision and analytics technology enables growers to measure plant physiology and proactively adjust parameters for optimized operations.

End-to-end platform control reduces waste, improves efficiency and margins, and ensures healthier consumers by measuring nutritional content.

Best dairy products

Founder(s): Jevan Nagarajah

Hiring status: Yes | Apply here

Best dairy products develops animal-free dairy products through a process called precision fermentation.

The methodology behind precision fermentation is inspired by traditional fermentation methods used in activities such as brewing.

What sets it apart, however, is the adaptation of yeasts and fungi. Instead of producing beverages like beer or sake, these microorganisms are re-engineered to produce alternative proteins, specifically mirroring milk proteins at a molecular level.

Deep branch biotechnology

CEO: Pete Rowe

Hiring status: No

deep branch creates sustainable, high-value food and food ingredients to support a more sustainable food system.

The company's proprietary technology uses CO2 and hydrogen as clean, renewable carbon and energy sources to deliver next-generation bio-based products.

Deep Branch Biotechnology works with feed producers in sectors such as aquaculture and partners with upstream companies, such as CO2 suppliers, to implement its technology efficiently and safely.

The British company has already established relationships with major international players such as Drax, BioMar and Sainsbury's.

Observe technologies

CEO: Hemang Rishi

Hiring status: Yes | Apply here

Observe technologies has developed the world's first artificial intelligence platform to transform the way fish farmers manage their farms with actionable insights.

The platform combines computer vision and machine learning to improve fish farm welfare and performance, working with existing equipment to automate the feeding process.

By monitoring all deviations and anomalies, the company’s platform helps them manage their fish farming site more efficiently, minimize feed waste and increase profits.