Landmark 2016

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LANDMARK 2016
9
Driving agritech
innovation
The Royal Agricultural University is pleased
to present Farm491, our new agritech
incubator which will provide state of the
art facilities for budding entrepreneurs
and agritech start-up companies.
Named after the 491 hectares of Cotswold
farmland which will be available to members
for research and testing, the project will
reinforce the University’s entrepreneurial
focus and encourage students to
start and develop their own agritech
business by providing valuable start-up
space. Businesses will have access to
farming data, research, and equipment,
and will be supported by a network
of farmers, entrepreneurs, business
advisors, investors, and academics.
Funded by the GFirst LEP (Local Enterprise
Partnership), RAU investment, private
donations, and funds from the Elizabeth
Creak Charitable Trust, Farm491 has
been launched in response to the 2013
Agritech Strategy – in which the UK
government identified agritech as a key
player in the future of UK farming.
Angela Simkins, Farm491 Centre
Director, said: “There is no doubt that the
combination of agriculture and technology
will be a significant contributing factor
to feeding a growing global population.
Farm491 will give a real focus for
the Gloucestershire heartland in the
development of agricultural technology.”
The first batch of business start-ups,
which range from drone mapping and land
management tools to equestrian solutions,
will move into the ‘hub’ at Trent Lodge
this summer. The new facilities at Harnhill
Manor Farm, and at the RAU campus, are
due to open in the next twelve months.
Get in touch
Farm491 would like to invite all
those interested in being a part
of the Farm491 community; in the
form of sponsorship, mentoring,
or becoming a member, to
contact Angela Simkins.
Whether you’re an agritech
entrepreneur, an investor, interested
in testing new technologies, or
simply want to learn more about the
initiative, we’d like to hear from you.
01285 889829
“Farm491 is a unique offering
of on-farm or in-field project
spaces along with on-campus
collaborative working for start-ups
and companies with new ideas.”
Angela Simkins, Director, Farm491
@farm491
Farm491