Innovation
Rothamsted has a long history of creating innovations in agriculture including many improved commercialised products and practises that have influenced farming and the agricultural industry. Pyrethroid insecticides, still widely used today, and push-pull are but two examples. We are strengthening this through new mechanisms to accelerate future innovations in farming and agri-food.

We innovate

Rothamsted Research operates a dynamic, open-innovation model that turns scientific insight into agricultural impact.

From idea to impact 

Rothamsted’s research is driven by the big challenges of our time: feeding a growing population sustainably, protecting crops from pests and disease, improving soil health, and mitigating climate change. Research ideas are nurtured early, and innovation is integrated throughout the research process. Promising concepts are tested in collaboration with stakeholders, moving from lab or theoretical work through to field trials and commercial application.

Early engagement & co-creation

Rothamsted involves stakeholders from the outset—farmers, industry, agritech businesses, government bodies, and other research organisations—ensuring that innovations are relevant, tested under real conditions, and more likely to be adopted. The use of ‘ideas labs’ and hackathons helps bring together diverse expertise and accelerate problem solving. We also lead an entrepreneurship programme in consortium with Cranfield, UCL and University of Hertfordshire to help founders and start-ups who are combating climate change with science or tech-based ideas in the areas of agriculture and food production - SHAKE Climate Change.

Strong IP and robust pipelines

Intellectual property is carefully managed but with a focus on delivery and uptake. We have a strong intellectual property portfolio, reflecting its success in turning research outputs into products and practices. There is a clear pipeline for delivery: innovation project funding, entrepreneurial mentorship, and translational research in partnership with industry.

Institutional culture of innovation

Rothamsted encourages innovation not just through projects but through its culture—researchers are challenged to spot innovation early, incubate ideas, work with entrepreneurial mentors, and engage in translational work. Infrastructure (labs, analytics, computing, field platforms) is oriented to support this. 

 

ROTHAMSTED ENTERPRISES

Launched in 2015 by Rothamsted Research, the Lawes Agricultural Trust and BBSRC, Rothamsted Enterprises offers conferencing and agri-business incubation. It is a world-leading Agri-Tech campus that combines 180 years of agricultural science excellence with state-of-the-art labs, 800 acres of trial land, and direct access to globally recognised researchers. From start-up incubation to scale-up growth, businesses benefit from flexible facilities, specialist equipment, mentoring, funding support, and an active innovation ecosystem – all within an Enterprise Zone offering tax incentives and exceptional transport links. It’s the ideal place to launch, collaborate, and scale climate-smart and science-driven Agri-Tech solutions.

Find out more here.

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