How many UK engineering and manufacturing companies will be in a position to develop the innovative ideas evolving as a result of the government’s Agri-Tech strategy funding?

“IAgrE has launched a survey designed to answer this question,” said Alastair Taylor, CEO of IAgrE at LAMMA last week. “We will be looking at how ready UK industry is to develop the engineering and manufacturing supply chain opportunities that will arise as new Agri-Tech systems develop."

Started at LAMMA, IAgrE are now questioning engineers to get a snapshot of how fit businesses are to meet this challenge.

“There are some serious questions to be asked. For example, I wonder how many engineering and manufacturing companies are embracing the opportunities which are coming out of AgriTech. Are they well placed to use technologies such as rapid prototyping, computer coding, electronics applications, 3D printing, novel sensors and robotics? added Alastair.”

The survey will also cover aspects of education and training and how engineers overcome any barriers to introducing new technologies and whether companies understand and use the grant and funding opportunities available from government departments such as Innovate UK.

As well as reporting to the agricultural engineering industry, the results will be analysed and shared with the government Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

This new report is the second to be prepared by the Institution. The first, published in 2012 was stimulated by discussions with the Government‘s Chief Scientific Adviser and others and called “Agricultural Engineering – a key discipline enabling agriculture to deliver global food security.”

You can access the survey here:

www.iagre.org/agri-tech-systems-survey