Digital Catapult, a UK centre that helps startups and businesses experiment with new technologies, has selected nine AI-first startups for its accelerator programme to help them develop and scale practical AI solutions in the agrifood sector. The companies will develop and scale tools for more sustainable agriculture, tackling challenges such as dairy forecasting, disease detection, biodiversity monitoring, and supply chain resilience.
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
A central element of the programme is collaborating with industry partners to explore practical applications of AI in addressing major challenges in the UK agrifood sector while supporting its long-term stability and efficiency.
The programme will connect startups with industry leaders including Nestlé, Dale Farm, Hartpury University, and Peacock Technology, giving participants access to real world testing opportunities and industry feedback. The accelerator runs for 14 weeks, with participating companies also gaining investment readiness support and consultancy.
By supporting AI-first startups through the BridgeAI programme, we are giving them the tools, partnerships and confidence to transform bold ideas into scalable solutions
According to Digital Catapult, effective collaboration and partnerships are critical to success of the programme. Partnering with industry leaders such as Nestlé and Dale Farm will help demonstrate how AI can help to solve some of the sector’s most pressing challenges. AI driven solutions can offer a clear pathway for sustained growth, enabling UK agrifood sector to modernise practices, optimise resource use and strengthen resilience while also improving productivity.
Overview of Supported Startups
FarmSmarter is developing a tool to help farmers in West Africa detect Cocoa Swollen Shoot Virus, aiming to improve early disease diagnosis even in remote areas with limited connectivity. Carbon Rewild is testing an AI bird classifier to deliver biodiversity insights from field audio recordings. Wilder Sensing is also refining its bioacoustics monitoring platform to validate habitat classifications and support environmental impact assessments.
Also read: Coca-Cola, MIT Partner to Protect Global Citrus Supply using AI
Barefoot Lightning is linking farmer data with its feed platform to raise production quality and cut carbon emissions. Mozaic Earth is scaling a smartphone supported system that measures site level biodiversity and above ground biomass to support Scope 3 emissions reporting. Crop Intellect is enhancing AI-driven monitoring, reporting, and verification system to track nitrous oxide removal projects.
Data Dynamics is validating its geospatial monitoring tool using cocoa farming datasets in West Africa. FISCROP is building a modelling tool to improve crop disease management and feed efficiency. Rubik is conducting trial on its Data Mule business intelligence platform to forecast milk volumes in dairy production.
Digital Catapult is working with industry partners to provide guidance and support to the accelerator participants, helping them develop practical AI solutions for the agrifood sector. These technologies are being tested and implemented to help the agrifood sector use resources more efficiently, better cope with environmental and market challenges, and manage farming and supply chain practices in a more sustainable way.