This year, Tesco is partnering with the World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit in London in October to give agri-tech companies the ‘chance of a lifetime’.

The Summit international conference is networking and deal-making event for agribusinesses, solution providers, entrepreneurs and investors.

According to event officials, the goal of the annual summit is to “accelerate the commercialisation of advanced agricultural technologies by generating global partnerships and collaborations.”

Tesco will join in on the Summit’s Pitch Day, by hosting their own ‘T-Jam’ event, in the search for the most exciting breakthrough agri-tech innovators around the world.

George Wright, commercial director for fresh food at Tesco said: “Many of the suppliers, farmers and producers we partner with lead the way in innovation and technology in agriculture, so we’re really excited to be partnering with the World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit to discover the next generation of agriculture start-ups and innovators.

“The winning entry will get the opportunity to partner with one of our suppliers and help provide affordable, sustainable, healthy food to all our customers.”

Have you got the goods?

Tesco’s agriculture team will be out in force on the day of the event looking for businesses that will “step change” how farms and the supply chain operate today.

Areas that are of particular interest to the global food corporation:

  • Sustainable feed and crop production
  • Reduction of farm-level emissions;
  • Responsible use of antibiotics;
  • Meat grading and quality;
  • On-farm sensor technology and remote sensing;
  • Soil health and water management;
  • Automation and robotics;
  • Waste reduction.

Following an application and selection process, 10 companies will be invited to present their technology to the Tesco panel and a selected audience of investors and agribusinesses at the World Agri-Tech pre-summit Pitch Day in London on October 15.

One start-up will be selected by the panel to be fast-tracked by Tesco to a trial with one of its key supply chain partners, also benefitting from direct feedback and mentoring by the Tesco Agricultural team.

The Pitch Day ‘winner’ will also present as part of the main World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit programme, to its audience of over 400 international agribusiness leaders.

All finalists will be invited as guests to the two-day summit to maximise their visibility and networking, gain valuable market intelligence and benefit from feedback on their technology from the senior executive audience.

The deadline for entries is August 17 with full details, entry form and criteria available online at: https://worldagritechinnovation.com/tesco-agri-t-jam.