New UK Agri-Tech Centre CEO announces fast-track growth support for agri-tech start-ups
The UK Agri-Tech Centre has announced new access to fast-track support for UK agri-tech start-ups and scale-ups as it sets out its priorities and focus to accelerate their commercial success.
At a reception at the House of Lords on 3 February 2026, incoming CEO Steve McLean, who joins the UK Agri-Tech Centre from his position as Marks & Spencer’s head of Agriculture & Fisheries Sourcing, outlined plans to build a vibrant UK agri-tech sector that boosts agricultural resilience and sustainability.
The move will provide critical de-risking for investors by ensuring technologies are market-ready, fit for purpose and commercially viable.
The UK Agri-Tech Centre will deliver this through access to resources that allow ventures to test, validate and demonstrate their ideas, proof-of-concept, and return on investment in real-world commercial and farming environments.
By brokering strong industry and supply chain connections focused on driving adoption at scale, the UK Agri-Tech Centre helps bring the best of UK agri-tech innovation to commercial application.
Steve McLean, CEO, UK Agri-Tech Centre comments: “As we enter a new technological era driven by data, automation, robotics and AI, the agri-tech sector is poised for growth.
“The recognition of agri-tech as a Frontier Sector in the government’s 10-year Modern Industrial Strategy elevates its importance across the economy, and sets our context and our purpose.
“Our goal is clear: to make the UK one of the world’s most successful environments for agri‑tech innovation, attracting and growing the most capable, impactful ventures.
“We will support the agri-tech sector in achieving its full potential by accelerating the commercialisation and scale-up of UK agri-tech ventures, by enabling access to advice, connection and capabilities.
“Our role in supporting agri-tech ventures on their growth path will support them in achieving commercial success with viable businesses.
“Combining my commercial background from one of the UK’s largest retailers with experience from across the entire agri value chain consolidates our strategic position in supporting ventures in this high potential sector.”
The UK Agri-Tech Centre has, to date, supported more than 300 agri-tech businesses across the UK with a clear plan to provide business support, test, trial and demonstration capabilities, and wider agri-tech sector support to address barriers to innovation, investment challenges and scaling internationally.
This support will focus on priority technologies in the government’s 10-year Modern Industrial Strategy: robotics and automation; advanced sensors; data and AI; controlled environment agriculture and engineering biology.
The House of Lords reception is a highlight of the UK Agri-Tech Centre’s Growth Week, designed to help agri-tech ventures tackle barriers to growth, and showcase the success stories of the businesses supported by the UK Agri-Tech Centre.
Exciting opportunities for agri-tech ventures launching in February include an Agri-Tech Solution Sprint – which is focused on providing one-to-one support to overcome technical and commercial challenges, and a Global Growth Accelerator – helping UK ventures scale by validating their technology in international markets, starting with New Zealand.