Frequently asked questions
The Centres for Agricultural Innovation (or Agri-Tech Centres) form a key part of the UK Government's Agri-Tech Strategy which was announced by the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) in 2013.
4 Agri-Tech Centres have been launched since 2015/16 to help the UK:
- turn agricultural innovation into commercial opportunities for UK businesses
- encourage inward investment
- improve farming practice
The Centres are designed to:
- improve the economic performance of UK farming through the development and uptake of technologies, knowledge, and practices
- recreate UK leadership in this area by joining-up existing excellence
- resolve challenges that no one part of the sector can address alone
- open up opportunities for transformational change in the sector not possible in current structures
Please click here for more information on the Family of Agri-Tech Centres.
CIEL works to identify key challenges to the UK’s farmed animal industries and provide world-leading, applied solutions through a research base of 12 leading UK academic institutions. We have helped to co-fund the development of new research facilities which are designed to bridge the gap between basic academic research and commercial products, utilising a range of projects, from small, pilot-scale experiments through to commercial-scale trials.
We act as a ‘one-stop-shop’ for the livestock sector, helping to simplify the research & innovation process by drawing together expertise, trial facilities and contracts across multiple institutions.
Please get in touch to find out how we might be able to work together.
Primarily we work with universities, large businesses, SMEs, trade groups, levy bodies and Government. Industry Members range from the supply trade pre-farmgate, processors and retailers to the animal health sector and SME innovators. We're always interested in working with anyone who’s passionate about livestock production and have the ambition to be involved in research and innovation. We take a collaborative approach and actively work with the other Agri-Tech Centres on projects where appropriate, as well as other organisations directly involved with the livestock sector.
We provide a wide range of support for SMEs. We run a broad programme of technical events and Research & Development Committee (RDC) meetings, which allow for interdisciplinary networking. We can also help with securing public funding for internal R&D, inclusion in larger project consortia, managing projects, helping with dissemination or exploitation, and general business development assistance.
Please get in touch to find out how we might be able to work together.
We’re always interested in partnering with large organisations that can have a significant impact on a sector or market. We can help you to secure public funding for competitive work or develop a specific consortium of interested parties for a pre-competitive project.
Please get in touch to find out how we might be able to work together.
We're working to deliver solutions across dairy, beef & sheep, pig and poultry. Whilst we don’t have individual farmers as Members we work with the Levy Boards and businesses across the supply chain.
These Members all have their own farmer networks, so an individual farmer might not realise they are working with us as an Agri-Tech Centre, but they often are through one of their own networks.
To become involved with one of our existing projects, you’ll need to become a member of CIEL – either directly or as a member of a CIEL registered trade body e.g. BSAS or AIC. Occasionally, we promote open project calls in which we invite wider industry to get in touch and work with us.
Please get in touch to find out how we might be able to work together.
We’re always interested in hearing about potential project ideas which will help us develop climate smart food systems whilst maximising production & profitability and enhancing animal health & welfare. Key areas we focus on include:
- Antimicrobial Resistance
- Gene Technology
- Farm Decision Support Tools
- Resource efficiency
- Food quality & integrity
- Health diagnostics
- Precision Nutrition
If you have a viable proposal that could fit into one of these themes, or another idea with potential for a commercial return, please get in touch.
Our multidisciplinary team offers core services in:
- project management,
- funding identification,
- bid writing
- innovation brokering & consortium building
- market analysis
- route to market analysis
- knowledge exchange & SME engagement
These services can be utilised across a broad range of projects across the livestock sector.