The SHAKE Climate Change entrepreneurship programme has secured £845,000 to drive innovation in agritech projects that tackle climate change across the food and agriculture industries.
Now in its fourth year, SHAKE is pioneering a unique combination of investment and mentorship, targeting agritech start-ups and entrepreneurs committed to enhancing sustainability in the sector. Successful projects can earn up to £125,000 in funding, along with two years of expert guidance to support the growth of their enterprises.
Hosted and led by Rothamsted Research, the programme is in partnership with three leading universities – Cranfield University, the University of Hertfordshire, and University College London. Rob Hill, Director of Innovation for Rothamsted Research and a member of the SHAKE Programme Steering Group, highlighted SHAKE’s unique position within the UK landscape, saying, “SHAKE is unique in the UK as the only research-led seed investment programme for agritech 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 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,” added Hill.
Since its inception, SHAKE has shown a strong track record of success. Rothamsted Research, founded in 1843, is one of the world’s longest-running agricultural research institutions, employing 350 scientists and 60 PhD students. The first four cohorts of SHAKE, selected between 2019 and 2022, included a total of 64 entrepreneurs, with 11 enterprises ultimately receiving investment from the programme. Seven of these projects have gone on to raise over £1 million in additional funding after their success with SHAKE.
Among those thriving after SHAKE funding is Bristol-based Glaia, which received backing in 2019 and subsequently secured £1.3 million to advance its plant growth innovations. Economad, known for its small-scale on-farm biogas generators, also surpassed the £1 million investment milestone.
This year’s SHAKE 2024 cohort has garnered support from multiple prominent partners, including the Societe Generale UK Foundation, Beeches Capital, the Lawes Agricultural Trust, and The Novo Nordisk Foundation. John Oberman, Chair of the Societe Generale UK Foundation, praised the breadth of talent seen throughout the programme: “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.”
Speaking on the significance of SHAKE’s impact, a Senior Scientific Lead in Agriculture at the Novo Nordisk Foundation remarked, “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 to fostering entrepreneurs and shaping their solutions to generate impact.”
The deadline for applications to the SHAKE Climate Change programme is 6 January 2025, presenting a valuable opportunity for innovators eager to tackle climate challenges in agritech and agriculture.
