The SHAKE Climate Change entrepreneurship programme has secured £845,000 to invest in new science and technology backed projects aimed at tackling climate change in the food and agriculture industries.
Running for its fourth year, SHAKE pioneers a combination of investment and mentorship targeting agri-tech start-ups and entrepreneurs committed to enhancing sustainability within their sector.
The projects that succeed through all three stages of the programme will be rewarded up to £125,000 in funding as well as two years worth of expert guidance for their enterprises.
The programme is hosted and led by Rothamsted Research in partnership with three leading universities – Cranfield University, the University of Hertfordshire and University College London.
Director of Innovation for Rothamsted Research and member of the SHAKE Programme Steering Group, Rob Hill, said: “SHAKE is unique in the UK as the only research-led seed investment programme for agri-tech ventures with a positive impact on climate change.
“Virtually every step in the value chain associated with agriculture impacts on climate – from how food is grown or reared, to the way the food is harvested, transported, stored and distributed.
“In addition, farmers themselves face increasing pressure to deliver sufficient food sustainably, whilst dealing with increasingly unstable climates.
“At SHAKE, we believe Entrepreneurs have a unique role to play in countering these challenges; they are agile and flexible in their approaches and with the support from the extensive SHAKE network they are poised to make a real difference in the world.
“It has been a privilege to help shape some of these journeys,” said Hill.
SHAKE
Rothamsted Research is one of the longest-running agricultural research institute in the world having been founded in 1843 and employs 350 scientists and 60 Phd students.
The first four cohorts selected between 2019 and 2022 included a total of 64 entrepreneurs with 11 enterprises ultimately awarded for investment by SHAKE.
Seven of these projects have raised over 1 million in further investments following their success in the SHAKE programme.
Bristol-based Glaia benefitted from SHAKE funding and mentoring in 2019 and secured a further £1.3 million in investment funds for its initiatives which are transforming how plants grow.
Economad, which specialises in small on-farm biogas generators, has also broken the £1 million investment mark.
This year’s SHAKE 2024 cohort has received funding from the Societe Generale UK Foundation, Beeches Capital, the Lawes Agricultural Trust, and The Novo Nordisk Foundation.
“Having witnessed the breadth of ideas, entrepreneurial spirit and dedication of the ventures involved, as well as their scaling-up potential, the foundation is proud to have been part of SHAKE’s origins and we are pleased to continue to support it alongside new partners,” said chair of the Societe Generale UK Foundation, John Oberman, speaking about it’s partnership.
Senior scientific lead – Agriculture, at the Novo Nordisk Foundation, said: “Food systems transformation is a global challenge that requires entrepreneurial spirit and courage to address.
“Fulfilling the potential of research findings and translating them into solutions that make a positive difference in society is a challenging endeavour.
“The support and training provided by SHAKE Climate Change is central for fostering entrepreneurs and shaping their solutions to generate impact.”
The deadline for applications is January 6, 2025.
