We recently held our fifth Campus Discovery event at Rothamsted, drawing together minds from science, technology, business, and innovation.

There was an excited energy in the room as guests gathered to hear from a powerful lineup of speakers, each showcasing the cutting-edge work happening across our site and beyond. It was a true celebration of collaboration, ingenuity, and progress.

The day kicked off with a warm welcome from Claire Wolstencroft, our Campus Sales Manager, who expertly guided the event from start to finish. Next we heard from Nicole Sadd, CEO of Rothamsted Enterprises, who set the tone with an inspiring overview of the Rothamsted ecosystem. Nicole shared updates on campus impact to date, as well as exciting strategic plans for growth – cementing Rothamsted’s position as a hub of agricultural innovation.

Laura Cardenas, Principal Research Scientist from Rothamsted Research, shared her expertise on soil processes and regenerative agricultural practices. Her work at the North Wyke campus in Devon is advancing sustainable farming through field experiments that explore how we can protect and enrich our land for generations to come.

Will Pelton from Phytoform captured everyone’s imagination with his talk on AI-led crop design. Will explained how combining genomic data with artificial intelligence is revolutionising crop yield and sustainability. His case studies on tomatoes were a lunchtime favourite, especially as guests enjoyed a delicious tomato-themed menu while continuing discussions sparked by his talk.

Helen Pollock, Clean Growth Manager at Hertfordshire Futures, shared a passionate and practical perspective on transitioning to net zero. Helen discussed the economic benefits of clean growth in Hertfordshire, highlighting opportunities in green skills development, the retrofit supply chain, and investment pathways. Her talk was a call to action for businesses ready to embrace a more sustainable future.

Vicki O’Brien, Director at Strategic Allies, introduced us to their work in open innovation – connecting global businesses with partners to meet R&D and commercial needs. With engaging case studies, Vicki showcased how her team helps companies discover new markets, technologies, and ideas, making a strong case for the power of collaborative thinking.

As Rothamsted’s newest tenant, PathQA is bringing a fresh perspective to the campus. CEO Rick Salmon shared how their roots in medical pathology can now be translated into exciting applications in agritech, by providing new insights, expertise and test environments opening innovative opportunities in agricultural science.

Closing the event were Andy Norris, Senior Geospatial Consultant and Anil Yilmaz, Satellite Systems Engineer from Satellite Applications Catapult. Their session was a fascinating dive into how satellite technology is transforming agriculture. From real-time crop monitoring to harvest logistics and grazing management, their work is a powerful reminder of how space tech can transform everyday challenges in agriculture.

The June 2025 Campus Discovery event was more than just a showcase – it was a glimpse into the future of sustainable agriculture, smart technology, and impactful partnerships. The day’s big takeaway? When passionate people come together, collaboration truly sparks innovation.

We’re already looking forward to the next one, see you on 2nd October!

Photos courtesy of Tori Deslauriers Photography