Lincolnshire’s role recognised in national industrial strategy
Lincolnshire's leading role in the agri-food industry has been recognised in a major blueprint for national economic growth.
The county has been listed within the Advanced Manufacturing Sector Plan of the Government’s new Industrial Strategy - which aims to 'unleash' potential of city regions and clusters across a range of high-growth industries.
The University of Lincoln is internationally recognised for its leadership in agri-robotic innovation, controlled environment agriculture and research commercialisation.
Director of the Lincoln Institute for Agri-food Technology (LIAT), Professor Simon Pearson, said: “This is a defining moment for agri-tech innovation in the UK, and we strongly welcome the Government’s recognition that robotics and agri-technology are vital to the resilience, sustainability and competitiveness of the UK food systems.
“To be mentioned in a major government strategy as a key innovator within agri-food and technology highlights the fact that LIAT has become a leader within the industry and is a testament to the continued hard work and commitment of our team.
“We will continue to be at the forefront of driving growth within the agri-tech sector, and the recognition of this strategy continues to align our priorities with the government’s vision for how skills and innovation can underpin the economic success of key industrial sectors and regions.”
The university is working in partnership with the University of Cambridge and the University of East Anglia to tackle food security, global food prices and supply chain issues across the East of England.
The LINCAM partnership also seeks to expand its research into robotics and artificial intelligence across the Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire region.
The agri-food sector contributes £147 million in Gross Value Added to the UK economy and employs more than 30,000 people, according to the university.
This comes after it was awarded the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Further and Higher Education in 2023 for the work of the Lincoln Institute for Agri-food Technology.
This recognition follows a series of awards to the university for its research into agriculture and technology. The Lincoln Institute for Agri-food Technology at the university presented its research into robotics and automation to the House of Parliament in January this year.
In March this year, the Lincoln Agri-Robotics team won the Best Research Project at the UKRI Trustworthy Autonomous Systems Hub 2025 AI and Robotics Research Awards.
Vice Chancellor of the University of Lincoln, Professor Neal Juster, said: "We are proud to be recognised in the national Industrial Strategy for our innovations in agri-tech which are shaping the future of the UK’s vital food and farming industries.
“This acknowledgment highlights the university's ongoing commitment to pioneering high quality, impactful research and sector-leading approach to industry engagement.
“Our mission is to be an engine for regional and national growth, and we will continue to pursue research and innovation which helps businesses face real-world challenges and opportunities here in Lincolnshire and across the UK.”
