Top UK-based agritech startups to watch in 2023; 3 of them are hiring

The United Kingdom’s agricultural landscape is undergoing a transformation driven by technological advancements and a renewed focus on sustainable practices. 

As the world faces complex challenges such as a growing global population, climate change, and resource scarcity, the agritech sector has emerged as a ray of hope, revolutionising traditional farming methods and shaping the future of agriculture. 

In 2023, a myriad of UK-based agritech startups have risen to the occasion, harnessing the latest technologies to tackle these challenges head-on and redefine the way we produce food.

From robotic harvesters to precision agriculture systems, these startups are propelling the UK to the forefront of the global agritech scene. 

By leveraging data-driven insights, remote sensing technologies, and automation, these companies are enabling farmers to make informed decisions and optimise every aspect of their operations, leading to increased yields, reduced waste, and minimised ecological impact.

This symbiotic relationship between agriculture and technology is giving rise to a new generation of farmers – ones who wield smartphones alongside tractors and deploy drones as readily as they do ploughs. 

This convergence is redefining the narrative of what it means to be a farmer, opening doors to a more interconnected, efficient, and sustainable future.

We have listed out the most promising UK-based agritech startups that are poised to make significant waves in 2023 and beyond. Some of them are hiring too

Materra

Founder/s: Edward Brial, Edward Hill, and John Bertolaso 

Hiring status: Yes | Apply here

Materra is a London and Ahmedabad-based planet-centric company accelerating the production of climate-resilient, future-proof cotton at scale. 

From experimental hydroponics to mass-market regenerative practices, the company’s seed-to-bale solutions enable brands of all sizes to reach their sustainability goals with confidence and speed.

Materra consists of a growing multidisciplinary team made up of designers, engineers, farmers and innovators, and is based in London, UK and Ahmedabad, India.

Muddy Machines

Founder/s: Christopher Chavasse and Florian Richter 

Hiring status: No

Muddy Machines is an AgTech and robotics company developing small robots that help farmers with labour-intensive field tasks, providing reliable access to ‘mechanical labour’ and enabling a more sustainable future for farming.

The UK company’s robotic platform, Sprout Robot, can deploy various harvest tools in specialty field corps. It can drive through fields harvesting accurately for up to 16 hours a day with no need for breaks and no decline in performance.

Gardin

Founder/s: Sumanta Talukdar

Hiring status: No

Gardin develops optical phenotyping technology and analytics to optimise food production. 

The UK company’s optical remote sensing technology, machine vision, and analytics, allow producers to measure plant physiology and proactively adjust parameters for optimised operations. 

The platform’s end-to-end control reduces waste, improves efficiency and margins, and ensures healthier consumers by measuring nutritional content.

Better Dairy

Founder/s: Jevan Nagarajah

Hiring status: Yes | Apply here

Better Dairy develops animal-free dairy products by employing a process called precision fermentation.

The methodology behind precision fermentation draws inspiration from the traditional fermentation methods used in activities such as beer brewing. 

However, what sets it apart is the tweaking of yeast and fungi. Instead of generating beverages like beer or sake, these microorganisms are re-engineered to produce alternative proteins, specifically mirroring milk proteins at a molecular level.

Deep Branch Biotechnology

CEO: Pete Rowe

Hiring status: No

Deep Branch creates sustainable, high-value food and feed ingredients to support a more sustainable food system. 

The company’s proprietary technology uses CO2 and hydrogen as clean and renewable carbon and energy sources to deliver next-generation bio-based products.

Deep Branch Biotechnology works with feed producers in industries such as aquaculture and partners with upstream companies such as CO2 suppliers to deploy its technology efficiently and safely. 

The UK company has already established relationships with major international stakeholders such as Drax, BioMar, and Sainsbury’s.

Observe Technologies

CEO: Hemang Rishi

Hiring status: Yes | Apply here

Observe Technologies has developed the world’s first artificial intelligence platform to transform how aquaculture farmers manage their farms through actionable insights.

The platform combines computer vision and machine learning to improve the welfare and yield of fish farms, working with existing equipment to automate the feeding process. 

By monitoring any deviations and abnormalities, the company’s platform helps them to manage your fish farm site more efficiently, minimise feed waste, and increase profits.