Speaking to us at the recent World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit in London, Brookes emphasized the event’s value as a platform for identifying promising agri-tech solutions from both domestic and international innovators. “We do a lot of listening,” she said, noting the centre’s role in balancing farmer feedback, research breakthroughs, and government priorities to guide innovation adoption. To counter this, the centre leverages its farm networks – including its South West Dairy Development Centre and smart farm – to provide real-world testing, trials, and demonstrations. Funding the future of agri-techThe centre is funded by Innovate UK via the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. From soil health to satellite tech, she sees data-driven innovation as central to the next generation of agri-tech solutions.