Digital Catapult has launched a new cohort of nine AI-first startups as part of its High Growth AI Accelerator, aimed at transforming the UK’s agrifood sector through deep tech innovation.

The 14-week programme, delivered in partnership with industry leaders including Nestlé, Dale Farm, Hartpury Digital Innovation Farm, and Peacock Technology, will focus on real-world challenges such as disease detection, milk yield forecasting, and digital biodiversity monitoring. The initiative is part of Innovate UK’s BridgeAI programme and follows a successful year that saw £2.4 million in funding unlocked for participating startups.

Projects being trialled include AI platforms for carbon emissions tracking, crop disease diagnostics in low-connectivity regions, and smart tools to enhance animal welfare and farming efficiency. Companies involved include Rubik, Barefoot Lightning, FISCROP, Crop Intellect, Carbon Rewild, Wilder Sensing, Data Dynamics, Mozaic Earth, and FarmSmarter.

Jessica Rushworth, Chief Partnerships Officer, at Digital Catapult, said: “What underpins the importance of this intervention is the need to ensure that agrifood businesses will be future-ready and as adaptable as possible to fluctuating yields and unprecedented environmental challenges like we’ve seen this year."

"Critical to the continued success of this programme is effective collaboration and partnership, and we’re excited to partner with industry leaders like Nestle and Dale Farm to jointly demonstrate how AI can help to solve some of the sector’s most significant challenges and ensure continued growth in the years to come.”  

The programme concludes with a public showcase of the solutions later this year.