Last week, we welcomed over 100 attendees — including scientists, businesses, innovators, partners, and funders — to Rothamsted for Campus Discovery, our bi-annual event showcasing the science, enterprise, and partnerships shaping the future of agriculture.
The day brought together diverse voices across the AgriTech landscape, offering a rich programme of talks exploring new scientific insights, commercial innovation, and opportunities for collaboration.
The morning opened with a powerful joint keynote from Professor Martin Broadley and Professor Adrian Collins, who outlined Rothamsted’s science vision and mission strategy.
Their session explored the Institute’s long-term commitment to food security, sustainable agriculture, and evidence-based innovation. They highlighted how Rothamsted’s new science strategy will deliver impact across themes including soil health, agri-data science, climate resilience, and bio-innovation — providing real-world solutions for farmers, industry, and policymakers.
Alejandra Mones, Director & COO of EcoNomad, shared the company’s bold vision for circular agriculture through decentralised energy systems.
She introduced key EcoNomad developments, including:
- BioNomad — a modular system enabling small farms to convert waste into renewable energy.
- Twin Farm — a smart micro-scale platform that learns, predicts, and optimises on-farm biogas generation in real time.
Her talk showcased how low-cost, scalable technology can empower farmers, reduce emissions, and create new value from agricultural waste.
Next, Dr Sarah Dewhirst from Arctech Innovation presented their mission to pioneer Odour as a Service — using scent data as a powerful tool for crop protection, environmental management, and plant health diagnostics.
She highlighted how their bespoke sensor arrays and digital scent technologies can detect subtle biological and chemical signals, unlocking new capabilities in plant disease detection, biodiversity monitoring, and ecosystem management.
Dr Hongtao Zhang delivered a compelling session on the role of proteomics in modern agricultural science — and why proteins provide a more accurate and functional readout of biological systems than genetics alone.
Key points included:
- Proteins are the functional effectors in biology.
- They capture post-transcriptional regulation invisible to genomic tools.
- Post-translational modifications (PTMs) determine function, response, and activity.
- Protein turnover and degradation offer real-time insight into plant stress and adaptation.
His talk demonstrated how proteomics is transforming crop science, soil biology, and agricultural biotechnology.
Karen Boakes from Innovate UK Business Growth outlined the extensive support available to innovation-driven businesses based on or partnering with Rothamsted.
More than 6,000 innovators benefit from Innovate UK Business Growth’s tailored advisory support each year — and businesses on campus are encouraged to tap into this expertise
Campus Discovery once again demonstrated the strength of the Rothamsted ecosystem — where scientists, entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and funders come together to turn innovation into real-world impact.
From bioenergy to scent-based diagnostics, from proteomics to strategic science for global food security, the event highlighted the breadth of expertise and the collaborative spirit that defines our campus.
Thank you to everyone who joined us. We look forward to building on these conversations and continuing to grow a community committed to a more sustainable and resilient agricultural future.
