CASE
STUDIES

British Apples and Pears, in collaboration with Niab, utilised one of our small grant programmes to trial novel treatments for apple scab. The project identified a promising alternative to lost chemical fungicides and proved that a risk-based spray programme could reduce application costs by £65 per hectare.

Asplins Producer Organisation and Niab utilised our R&D support to investigate whether specific strawberry and raspberry varieties could naturally resist spotted wing drosophila (SWD). While the project ultimately proved that varietal selection alone does not resist the pest, the research provided the industry with vital data, redirecting focus toward other essential control strategies.

Cecii Health utilised our business support ecosystem to transform a handmade fermented juice shot into a scalable, market-ready product. By combining technical R&D from our Food Accelerator with expert business mentoring, founder Cecilia Wu has refined her formulation, become a finalist for the Nourish Awards, and is now scaling up for national retail.

Inspro, supported by Growing Kent & Medway, successfully demonstrated a circular solution for organic waste using Black Soldier Fly larvae. By converting waste streams into nutrient-rich "frass", the project validated a sustainable alternative to synthetic fertilisers that boosts soil health and microbial diversity.

Deep Planet, in collaboration with Niab and leading UK vineyards, utilised our support to develop an AI-driven disease monitoring system. By analysing satellite imagery, the project successfully demonstrated a cost-effective solution to predict fungal infections, protecting the UK's growing wine sector from yield losses.

Re-generation Earth, in collaboration with the University of Kent, utilised one of our large R&D grant programmes to establish an on-farm "Living Lab" for biochar production. The project demonstrated that while biochar is most effective as a nutrient carrier rather than a standalone fertiliser, it offers significant potential for long-term carbon sequestration and soil health improvement.

Root Mylk, a Kent-based wellness brand, successfully stabilised their plant-based Tigernut drinks using advanced processing techniques supported by Growing Kent & Medway. By collaborating with the University of Greenwich, they developed a clean-label formulation that eliminates separation and increases shelf life, paving the way for a major retail launch.

British soft fruit growers could cut their carbon footprint by up to 40% by switching to recycled coconut coir. A large R&D grant project, supported by Growing Kent & Medway, enabled Kent-based Overland and Niab to scientifically validate a new recycling process. The trials proved the recycled material performs as well as virgin coir, cuts water use, and tackles the industry's massive waste problem.

A C Hulme and Sons, a Kent farm, led a collaborative project supported by Growing Kent & Medway to tackle apple cold storage energy costs. One of our medium-sized grant programmes funded R&D using AI and sensors to test Demand Side Flexibility (DSF), providing vital data to help the horticulture sector move towards net-zero.