Agri-Tech Catalyst Round 9 – Crop Production

Agri-Tech Catalyst Round 9 – Crop
Production Webinar
The webinar will begin at 10.00am (UK time).
Please note:
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box provided
• The webinar will be recorded
• Please ensure that you have connected your audio via
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Agri-Tech Catalyst Round 9
Agriculture and food systems innovation: Crop Production
Wednesday 6th November 2019 10.00–11.30am

Agenda
10:00 Introduction from the Knowledge Transfer Network
10:05 Introduction/Overview of the Catalyst from Innovate UK and DFID
10:30 Project case study – Jason Burbridge, AGCO Corporation
10:50 Question and answer session
11:00 Consortia building session where participants can post messages
detailing their capabilities offered/required and make connections,
introduced by KTN
11.30 Close

The Knowledge Transfer Network
What we do
KTN is the UK’s innovation network. It brings together businesses,
entrepreneurs, academics and funders to develop new products, processes and
services
We help business to grow the economy and improve people’s lives by capturing
maximum value from innovative ideas, scientific research and creativity
Register for KTN Agri-Food newsletters: https://ktn-uk.co.uk/newsletter

Charles Vander Broek – Knowledge Transfer
Network (KTN)
Debbie Tully – Knowledge Transfer Network
(KTN)
David Telford – Knowledge Transfer Network
(KTN)
Kathryn Miller – Innovation Lead, Innovate UK
Duncan Barker – Livelihoods Advisor,
Department for International Development
(DFID)
Welcome

Aims of today’s event:
1) Better understand competition objectives, scope and rules
2) Opportunities to develop ideas and partnerships for the competition
- Learn lessons from previously funded projects
- Consortia building session – via linkedin group and meeting mojo
Overall – Help you be successful!
Event overview

1) Questions
Type questions using the “Q&A” box in zoom (NOT the chat box as this is only for technical
issues please).
Please only ask questions relevant to wider audience - we will answer some during the
event.
If your competition question is not addressed or for private questions, please contact:
support@innovateuk.ukri.org
2) Linkedin group
Please feel free to register now for this linkedin group, as we will use it for consortia
building session (weblink also in the joining instructions email you were
sent): https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8766913/
How to participate today

3) Meeting Mojo
Please register via https://agri-webinar.meeting-mojo.com to ensure your profile is
available (you can use your linkedin profile if this saves time).
This tool allows you to connect with partners and facilitates introductions and online
conversations.
Please use the Capabilities Document we issued earlier this week, to identify people you
would like to connect with.
How to participate today cont’d

We work with the government
to invest over £7 billion a year
in research and innovation by
partnering with academia and
industry to make the impossible,
possible. Through the UK’s nine
leading academic and industrial
funding councils, we create
knowledge with impact.

Innovate UK drives productivity and
growth by supporting businesses to
realise the potential of new technologies,
develop ideas and make them a
commercial success.
Innovate UK
To stay competitive as an advanced
economy, we need to do things that
others cannot do, or to do things in
different and better ways.

Agri-Tech Strategy
• Launched 22 July 2013
• Aims to improve the translation of research
into practical application for agriculture and
related industries in UK and overseas
• £160M government investment over 5yrs:
• Agri-tech Catalyst (£70m)
• Centres for Agricultural Innovation (£90m) –
Agri-Tech Centres

• £10m investment to support competitions including rounds 7 onwards
• £15m additional funding through GCRF from round 8 onwards
Timeline:
₋ Round 9 – 14 October 2019 – 8 January 2020 (this competition)
₋ Round 10 – To be confirmed, provisional open date April 2020
₋ Round 11 – To be confirmed, provisional open date March 2021
Latest funding available

DFID and the Agri-Tech
Catalyst

- DFID is investing in the Agri-Tech Catalyst to test whether it can increase the pace of
development and scale of uptake of agriculture and food systems innovations in Africa by and
for:
- farmers/livestock keepers; or
- food systems actors (such as manufacturers, processors, retailers, distributors or
wholesalers).
- 75% of the poorest people are rural; depend on agriculture, livestock, forestry and fisheries for
their livelihoods.
- Innovation in developing country agriculture, particularly in Africa is low, and new innovation and
technology is needed to tackle emerging threats such as climate change and pests and diseases.
- To improve nutrition for all in both rural and growing urban areas, we need to make changes not
only in how food is grown and produced, but also how it is processed, transported, marketed and
consumed.
DFID and the Catalyst

- Official Development Assistance (ODA) is defined as flows to countries and territories on
the DAC List of ODA Recipients
- Only research directly and primarily relevant to the problems of developing countries may
be counted as ODA
- This includes research into tropical pests, diseases, livestock and crops for developing
country conditions.
- The costs may still be counted as ODA if the research is carried out in a developed
country.
www.oecd.org/investment/stats/34086975.pdf
Official Development
Assistance and Research

Official Development
Assistance and Research
- ODA eligibility is a key component of the assessment process.
- Applications must clearly demonstrate that they propose work that will benefit
agriculture and food systems in Africa and how they will deliver this benefit.
- During the lifetime of a project, it may not impact large numbers of people, but
proposals must show how a project will build a pathway to future development
impact.
- There can be benefits to the UK – companies/researchers – but this must be
secondary in nature.
- Activities in the UK must clearly be for challenges in Africa, not for the UK
market.

Taken from the Global Panel on Agriculture and Food Systems for Nutrition
Agriculture and Food
Systems
- To improve nutrition for all, we need to make changes in the food we produce, and how it is
processed, transported, marketed and consumed.
- The food environment from
which consumers should be
able to create healthy diets
is influenced by four
domains of economic
activity:
- Agricultural production
- Markets and trade systems
- Consumer purchasing
power
- Food transformation and
consumer demand

- Projects must show the potential to deliver impact for poor people through the
uptake of agricultural and food systems technology and innovation
- Scope of the Catalyst includes:
- primary crop and livestock production including aquaculture
- non-food uses of crops, excluding ornamentals
- challenges in downstream food processing, distribution or storage and value
addition
- Improving availability and accessibility of safe, healthy and nutritious foods
- Your project’s innovations must:
- be sustainable in the context of environmental challenges such as climate
change and resource scarcity
- minimise negative effects such as pollution, food losses and waste
Agri-Tech Catalyst Round
9: Scope

Areas of interest
Livestock
• genetic improvement for productivity/disease resistance
• development and access to livestock vaccines and medicines
• control of livestock pests and diseases including penside
diagnostics
• increasing the value of production to smallholders
Crops
• speeding up the development of new varieties for current and future
conditions.
• reducing post harvest loss on farm and through the value chain
• control of crop pests, weeds and diseases
• increasing the value of production to smallholder
Food Systems
• downstream food processing,
distribution or storage and value
addition
• innovation that supports food systems
to deliver nutritious, healthy and safe
food
• meeting quality standards and
improving productivity
• addressing food safety issues through
the value chain
• new food technologies and data-driven
food systems, including for urban areas
• Cross-cutting issues:
big data, AI, providing information to farmers, integrating smallholders into supply chains

To find out more about the Agri-Tech Catalyst, including the competition brief
and Guidance for Applicants documents follow this link: https://apply-for-
innovation-funding.service.gov.uk/competition/449/overview
DFID’s Conceptual Framework on Agriculture:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/
file/472999/Conceptual-Framework-Agriculture2.pdf
Further Information

Eligibility Criteria
Project Eligibility
• must be collaborative
• must include a partner from an eligible African country, who can be the
technical lead
• must include a UK-based administrative lead
• must be carried out in the UK or an eligible African country or both
• must include at least one business in the consortium
Project costs
• Early stage feasibility studies: £100,000 to £500,000, 12 to 18 months.
• Mid stage industrial research: £250,000 to £1 million, up to 3 years.
• Late stage experimental development: £150,000 to £800,000, up to 18
months.
Projects must start by 1 July 2020

Eligibility Criteria
Early Mid Late
Stage ✔ Feasibility ✔ Industrial ✔ Experimental development
Administrative Lead
✔ Recipient of award
✔ Manage and be accountable for the project’s finances
✔ UK registered business of any size, academic institution, charity, public
sector or research organisation
✔ Recipient of award
✔ Manage and be accountable for
the project’s finances
✔ UK registered business of any
size
Technical Lead
✔ Lead on the development of the
scope and work packages
✔ Can be partner organisation
from any country
✔ Business of any size, academic
institution, charity, public sector
or research organisation
✔ Lead on the development of the
scope and work packages
✔ Can be partner organisation
from any country
✔ Be a business (of any size)
✔ Lead on the development of
the scope and work packages
✔ Business of any size from any
country
✔ Can be administrative lead if a UK organisation

● Kenya
● Lesotho
● Liberia
● Madagascar
● Malawi
● Mali
● Mozambique
● Niger
● Nigeria
● Rwanda
● Sao Tome and Principe
● Senegal
● Sierra Leone
● Somalia
● South Africa
● South Sudan
Eligible Countries
● Angola
● Benin
● Burkina Faso
● Burundi
● Cameroon
● Central African Republic
● Chad
● Congo (Brazzaville)
● Congo, Democratic Republic of
● Côte d'Ivoire
● Eritrea
● Ethiopia
● Gambia, The
● Ghana
● Guinea
● Guinea-Bissau
● Sudan
● Tanzania
● Togo
● Uganda
● Zambia
● Zimbabwe

For Early Stage feasibility studies and industrial research awards, you
could get up to:
• 70% of eligible project costs for micro or small business
• 60% for medium-sized business
• 50% for large business
For experimental development projects which are nearer to market, you
could get up to:
• 45% of eligible project costs for micro or small business
• 35% for medium-sized business
• 25% for large business
Grant intervention rates for business

• For early-stage feasibility studies and mid stage industrial research
projects the total costs for your research partners must not exceed 50%
of the total project costs
• If your consortium contains more than one research organisation, this
maximum will be shared between them
• For late stage experimental development projects: research base
partners cannot claim funding but can participate as subcontractors.
• Universities can claim 100% (80% of Full Economic Costs)
• Other research organisations can claim 100% of their project costs
• Public Sector Organisation or Charity can claim 100% of their project
costs
Research partner participation rules

Key dates
Timeline Dates
Competition Open date 14th October 2019
Briefing and Networking Event - Birmingham 24th October 2019
Online Theme Specific Brokerage Events
6th November 2019
• Crop
• Livestock & Aquaculture
• Food Systems and Nutrition
Online Competition Briefing 30th October 2019
Submission Deadline 8th January 2020 Noon
Applicants informed April 2020
Projects to start July 2020

Search for a funding competition and
review criteria

Applicant: create an account
• To create your account:
• UK based businesses - Use
Companies House lookup as it
speeds up our checks by providing
your company number and your are
unable to enter it at a later date
• Research organisations,
academics & Universities - Enter
your information manually so you’re
not listed as a business on IFS and
ensure you receive the correct
funding

• Application Team
• Collaborators: Invite organisations who you are working with on the project
• Contributors: Invite colleagues from your own organisation to help you complete
your application
• Application Details
• Title, Timescales, Research Category, Innovation Area & Resubmission (y/n)
• Project Summary
• Short summary and objectives of the project including what is innovative about it
• Public Description
• Description of your project which will be published if you are successful
• Scope
• How does your project align with the scope of this competition?
• If your project is not in scope, it will be ineligible for funding
Project Details

Application Questions
Application form
Question 1 Business opportunity
Question 2 Market opportunity
Question 3 Project results
Question 4 Official development assistance (ODA)
Question 5 International development (gender equality) act
Question 6 Technical approach
Question 7 Innovation
Question 8 Risk
Question 9 Project team
Question 10 Financial commitment
Question 11 Added value
Appendix Q6
Appendix Q9
Appendix Q8
Appendix Q4
Detailed Guidance
Available on IFS

Customer Support Services:
0300 321 4357 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5:30pm)
Knowledge Transfer Network: www.ktn-uk.co.uk
Innovate UK: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/innovate-uk
Contact Us

@InnovateUK Innovate UKInnovate
UK

Introduction
37
• In October 2017, AGCO Future Farm in Zambia started a mechanisation pilot project
in collaboration with the Department for International Development in the UK, Harper
Adams University, and two Zambian Agro-Dealers.
• The hypothesis of the project was “To measure the impact on an Agro-Dealers’
existing business by adding a mechanisation package and determine what affects it had
on the business, the local community and performance of the machines”.
• Two mechanisation packages were supplied and supported directly from the Zambia
Future Farm. Data collected so far has been analysed and used to construct the basis
of what has now become the new project called ‘Farm in a Box’.
• Many challenges leading to frequent periods of ‘down-time’. Solutions to all these
challenges have been engineered by the project group in close collaboration with the
Future Farm teams. and these solutions have been bundled together and placed in a
modified shipping container.
• Data shows remote mechanisation packages are ineffective if left un-monitored and un-
managed. The FIAB concept was borne out of the Agro-Dealer project.

Farm in a Box
Agro Dealer Project
2018 - 2019
38
• Chongwe District
• 1 x MF385 tractor
• 1 x 3 tine ripper
• 1 x off-set disc
harrow
• 1 x 3-row planter
• 1 x 3 tonne trailer
• Magoye District
• 1 x MF4708 tractor
• 1 x 3 tine ripper
• 1 x off-set disc
harrow
• 1 x 3 row planter
• 1 x 3 tonne trailerTo date, the Project has identified a number of critical success factors, some
examples are:
- Supporting mechanisation through remote monitoring is key (FUSE)
- Conservation Agriculture practice. Resource preservation (soil & water)
- The ‘sweet spot’ in Africa is 75-85hp. Tillage is too difficult using sub 75hp
before the rainy season
- Cost-effective parts and service support needs to be local - situated in the
community
- Affordable financing options are key
- Operators require weekly contact and guidance to ensure machinery is used
correctly and responsibly
- Farmers need constant access to local language speaking mechanisation
support through apps or phones

Exec Summary
39
• The future of farming in Africa rests heavily on the small scale and emerging middle
class farmers.
• Agricultural mechanisation has emerged as a priority on the African Development Goals
agenda.
• Many challenges to the industry
- Lack of finance
- low capacity levels
- Lack of support and poorly supported machinery
- Complicated logistics
- Fluctuating economies
- Political instability
- Poor access to proven technology
• AGCO has strong focus in this sector
The ‘Farm in a Box’ is a world-first initiative that brings together all the key solutions into a
single box. Using cutting edge telemetry technology, operators are fully trained, monitored
and well supported.
.

40
“No matter what happens in world politics, the fight against starvation
goes on. World population outstrips food production. Soil erosion reduces
the number of cultivated acres. What can we do to get more food at a price
the poorest can afford… without robbing the farmer of his livelihood”.
Harry Ferguson
https://www.agcofiab.co

Farm in a Box
What comes with the
FIAB?
41
1. 45 - 130 Hp tractor options with 2 or 4 wheel drive. (other HP options
available)
1. Matched implements (supplied separately according to requirements)
1. Tractor Service parts up to 3,000 engine hours.
1. Recommended parts stocking list based on the Agro-Dealer project history
1. Workshop bench and tools, air compressor and generator
1. Administration office linked to local Distributor and the Future Farm Call
Centre
1. Training Programs for mechanisation and agronomy (HA, Ops, Franchise)
1. Telemetry tracking and monitoring of all tractors
1. Smart-phone App linked to Future Farm for mechanisation and agronomy
support
1. Women and Youth in Ag options (4H)
1. Additional options from AGCOs’ strategic partners. Irrigation, vegetable
seedlings, fertilisers, green house etc.

Farm in a Box
Media
https://www.agcofiab.com/
https://drive.google.com/drive/u/1/folders/1weVrXUfiPhJf0RF0jshCM1_-
mrb8dDbo?ogsrc=32
https://youtu.be/oVpECZjsFys?t=2212
http://africabusiness.com/2019/01/21/agco/

Farm in a Box
FAO Project Option
46
SCALING UP SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE IN THE CONTEXT OF
CLIMATE CHANGE
Inadequate knowledge of sustainable farming practices
Inadequate access to sustainable inputs
Inadequate availability of sustainable mechanization
OUTPUT 1. Set up of agri-business hubs and accreditation of private sector
companies and banks
OUTPUT 2. Strengthening of the resilience of crop systems
OUTPUT 3. Strengthening of seed systems
OUTPUT 4. Strengthening access to sustainable mechanisation and transport
OUTPUT 5. Facilitating access to advisory and support services
Parent Account Parent Account Description Amount (USD)
5011 Salaries Professional 56 000
5013 Consultants 150 000
5014 Contracts 180 000
5021 Travel (national and international) 185 000
5023 Training 280 000
5024 Expendable Procurement 50 000
5025 Non Expendable Procurement 90 000
5027 Technical Support Services 80 000
5028 General Operating Expenses 50 000
Subtotal 1 123 019
DURATION: 1 year from March 2019 to June 2020

Summary of Key principles (SP/GB:
10/01/18)

• These are actual costs (true costs) depicting market rates/conditions in rural Zambia.
• What these demonstrate is that it is possible to make a profit/viable business.
• BE = 4.74 years
• To run the tractor alone (ie between farms/recreactional driving) = ~ US $ 15 - 20/hr (depending
on fuel, depreciation, driver cost etc)
• What is the impact of this?
• For example, if there were 200 hrs of non-revenue generating activity/tractor use (out of 1,200
hrs = 16.7%). This cost is anything between US $ 3,000 and $ 4,000. In the model depicted, this
activity can reduce profits by between 25% - 30%. (ie 13,221 – 3,500 = 9,721 (26.5%)).
• Although not completely avoidable, it is critical to minimize tractor activity that does not directly
generate revenues.
o Planning/scheduling of activities essential.
o These get better with time as market and operational routines become established. (ie
the first year of operation is expected to be the most difficult).
o Technological support critical to managing this effectively.
• Small improvements in efficiency translate to large gains in financial
modelling
10/01/18)

Sensitivity analysis:
The impact of improving field operational efficiencies by 10% is huge.
(Work voulmes = hours worked are maintained. Ie do more in the same amount of time)
∙ BEP reduce to 3.87 yrs (ie by ~ 19%).
∙ GP increases from US $ 13,221 to US $ 16,193 (ie by ~ 22%)
Critical success factors:
∙ There must be a market for the service = demand
∙ The market participants must have the ability to pay for the services
∙ The franchise operator must be enabled/supported to maximize operational efficiencies
(telemetry, technology, training)
10/01/18)

Farm in a Box
Why & What
51
Why?
- Africa needs to produce more food (60% by 2050)
- Make Mechanisation accessible to Farmers (tillage, haulage, shelling)
- We need more capacity to improve yield and increase efficiency
- We need to preserve natural resources
What?
- A farm mechanisation system for the operation of a hire / contracting service
- A mechanisation package offering tractor/s with condition-matched
implements
- Locally based service and parts centre for the region
- Linked to The Zambia Future Farm Support Centre through phone or Apps
- A responsible mechanism for deploying new technology

Farm in a Box
Strategic Partners
- Crop diversification is important in Sub-Saharan Africa, with a strong drive to
produce food with higher levels of protein.
- Maize continues to be the staple food of choice for most Africans though the
nutrient levels are not high as other crops such as legumes and vegetables.
- Farm in a Box project is being developed in collaboration with a number of
Strategic Partners to provide agronomy, irrigation, crop protection and
mechanisation solutions
- Well proven, well supported and backed up by carefully tailored Training
Programs.
- As part of the ‘Farm in a Box’ concept, the partners are able to provide
products and services as additional options.

Questions
Type questions you have using the “Q&A” box in webex (NOT the chat box, this is to
be used for technical issues only).
Please only ask questions relevant to wider audience - we will answer some during
the event. All questions will be answered across all three webinars and a document
will be circulated at a later date.
If your question is not addressed or for private questions, please contact:
Questions and Answers Session

This session aims to help you find potential partners.
1) Capabilities document
a) Over 200 people registered for the three webinars we are conducting today.
b) Please refer to the document we sent out on Monday along with the joining
instructions, which lists the capabilities offered or required for projects from
attendees.
c) Please use this document for personal use only, and do not share it more widely.
d) We encourage you to use the linkedin group or Meeting Mojo to request
connections or message those you might like to partner with.
Consortia building session

2. Linkedin group: If you haven’t already done so, please register now for this linkedin
group https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8766913/
Detail is also included within the joining instruction detail we sent out and I will leave
up the link at the end of the webinar.
Background: This group was initially set up to facilitate conversations for Agri-Tech
Catalyst Round 8 and proved to be very successful in supporting collaboration and
engagement.
Currently 284 members in the group.

a) See the rules listed in the group (Sidebar at the right of the webpage).
b) Post to the whole group using the “start a conversation in this group” function –
and please see examples posted already about providing a concise post, with
relevant information.
c) Or contact individuals privately by selecting one of the group members, and
sending a private message using the “message” function.
d) Once a member, you can also invite individuals to join this group.

• Posting to the whole group – Example of a live post with a need

• Posting to the whole group – Example of a live post with a capability

3) Meeting Mojo
Please register via https://agri-webinar.meeting-mojo.com to ensure your profile is
available.
Simply click on the “Register” tab at the top of the page and add your organisation,
website, profile details.
Once registered this tool allows you to search for and connect with partners. In the
first instance you can organise virtual meetings and online conversations.
Please use the Capabilities Document we issued earlier this week, to identify people
you would like to connect with.
Consortia Building Session

There is no time limit on using Linkedin and Meeting Mojo
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8766913/
https://agri-webinar.meeting-mojo.com
THANK YOU

Agri-Tech Catalyst Round 9 – Crop Production

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