This episode featured as part of the Agritech segment in partnership with Sensehub Dairy by MSD.

Six UK agritech startups have arrived in New Zealand to explore the market through the first Innovate UK Global Incubator Programme to run in the country, hosted by Sprout Agritech.

They touched down on Sunday ahead of Fieldays, says Kylah Morrison, head of programmes and partnerships at Sprout Agritech.

Three of the companies focus on horticulture and three on livestock, spanning waste treatment, herd housing, emissions data, seedling technology and solar.

“Their whole premise is to talk to farmers and growers, corporates, research organisations, to explore the market, not to push the product yet,” she says.

New Zealand’s lack of subsidies drew the strongest reaction from the group.

“That was probably the biggest light bulb moment this morning for them.”

Without subsidies, farmers focus on the most efficient and productive way to produce food, which makes the country a test bed for these ventures.

She says the sector is forecast to grow 18% a year through to 2030, against 14% internationally.

The startups return in October for a six-month programme.

This episode featured as part of the Agritech segment in partnership with Sensehub Dairy by MSD. Leading agritech innovation with SenseHub® Dairy — the modular, end‑to‑end dairy system combining animal behaviour monitoring, milk intelligence and automation in one connected platform, backed by MSD Animal Health. For more information visit www.sensehub.co.nz

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