Rothamsted Enterprises was thrilled to sponsor the Start-Up Showcase at REAP 2025 for the seventh consecutive year. One of the most exciting parts of the conference as it gives a first glimpse of groundbreaking innovations poised to make a real difference in the agricultural sector.
This year’s conference theme – Connection, Co-Development and Co-Existence – aligns closely with Rothamsted’s mission to support early-stage companies; we provide start-ups with access to office and laboratory facilities, alongside grant schemes enabling small companies to utilise innovative equipment.
Nicole Sadd, CEO of Rothamsted Enterprises, said: “This year’s REAP conference was the largest and most dynamic I’ve attended – an outstanding venue, a diverse range of exhibitors, and content that truly reflected the needs of all our stakeholders. Minette Batters set the scene perfectly with her insightful overview of her government report and findings, while Belinda Clarke’s powerful opening remarks captured the significant changes our sector has faced over the past year and their impact on farming, innovation, and investment.
The Startup Showcase had some exciting new technologies transforming how we understand and manage the very foundation of farming. These advances are inspiring the next generation of agri-tech solutions.
With agriculture now recognised as a core theme within advanced manufacturing under the National Industrial Strategy, it’s clear we’re firmly on the government’s agenda -focused on driving impact and taking innovative research to market.”
The Start-Up Showcase featured an impressive line-up of companies, each presenting innovative solutions for the sector:
- Aeropod (By Muju Earth) – Lu Afolayan, Co-Founder, introduced Aeropod, a patent-pending, biodegradable capsule planted like a seed and triggered naturally by the environment.
- Oko Ag – Jasper Kaucky presented their AI platform for agricultural funding, which will launch a UK-wide directory of public and private funding this autumn.
- Swarm Ops – Kim Hein, UAV OPS Manager, showcased drones-as-a-service (DaaS) solutions, pioneering applications across agriculture, amenity, horticulture and forestry in the UK.
- Bactery – Jakub Dziegielowski, Founder and CEO, outlined soil-rechargeable bacterial batteries, a University of Bath spin-out developing a new method of harvesting clean electricity from soil.
- Elaniti – Scott Jarrett, CEO, discussed machine learning-driven statistical models that predict key crop outcomes based on soil biology, physico-chemistry and nutrient composition.
- Messium – George Marangos-Gilks, CEO, explained their remote nitrogen analysis technology, which combines hyperspectral satellite data with proprietary machine learning models to monitor crop nutrition.
- Soil Acoustics – Andrew Baker, Co-Founder, presented a novel approach to measuring soil health by analysing the sounds of soil invertebrates, reflecting their motto: “A healthy soil is a noisy soil®.”
The showcase audience were joined by this year’s Tesco T-Jam Winner, ProtonDx led by Bob Enck and Elliot Quigley, who triumphed from over 130 applicants for its rapid, portable livestock testing technology. A spin-out from Imperial College London, ProtonDx delivers lab-quality diagnostic results for multiple pathogens directly on-site.
ProtonDx has secured major partnerships and funding, launching PRRSV and Swine Influenza tests, with plans to expand into cattle, poultry, and additional livestock diseases.
Rothamsted Enterprises continues to champion innovation and collaboration in the agri-tech sector, supporting start-ups as they scale and translate research into real-world impact. The REAP 2025 Start-Up Showcase highlights the transformative potential of creativity, technology and science in shaping the future of sustainable agriculture.
Learn more about Rothamsted Enterprises here: www.rothamstedenterprises.com
