Abundant Robotics prototype

Tesco is partnering with the World Agri-Tech summit in October, giving companies the chance to pitch new ideas to their agriculture team.

The supermarket giant will hold its own ‘T-Jam’ event during the summit to search for the latest “groundbreaking” agri-tech innovators from around the world, with the winning entry then selected to work with a Tesco supplier.

They are calling for solutions on some of the most pressing agricultural problems including sustainable feed, reducing emissions, on-farm sensor technology, soil health, water management and robots.

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.”

Ten 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 15 October.

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.

Deadlines for entries close on 17 August. Full details, entry form and criteria are online athttps://worldagritechinnovation.com/tesco-agri-t-jam