The new £2 million Hartpury Agri-Tech Centre has been officially opened by National Farmers’ Union (NFU) President Minette Batters in a ceremony attended by 100 guests from the agriculture industry.

Among them were Clive and Sylvia Richards, whose charity donated £150,000 towards the project, and David Owen, Chief Executive of the GFirst Local Enterprise Partnership, which provided £1 million in match funding.

The state-of-the-art centre is a unique complex of purpose-built facilities enabling farmers, Hartpury students and organisations involved in agriculture to enjoy easy and comprehensive access to the latest commercial technology.

Based at Hartpury University and Hartpury College, it showcases the production, welfare and financial improvements that smart farming technology can bring to farmers and producers, to further increase their overall farm performance and

productivity.

“I think the Hartpury Agri-Tech Centre is absolutely brilliant and what’s been done here is phenomenal,” said Minette Batters. “This is all about empowering Gloucestershire farmers, both young and old, with access to new skills and

technology.

“It is really important that as an industry we continue to up skill and push ourselves

forward.

“The centre offers farmers a great opportunity to access the latest commercial technology and explore how they can embrace innovation on their farm.

“As our industry aims to become more productive and sustainable, access to new technology will be absolutely crucial.”

She and Russell Marchant, Vice-Chancellor of Hartpury University and Principal of Hartpury College, unveiled a plaque to commemorate the opening.

Mr Marchant said the centre aimed not only to educate young students but also, crucially, provide the right environment for industry to come and see technology in action - ‘to get the overalls on and have a hands-on experience of making it work’.

“The Hartpury Agri-Tech Centre is part of our ambitious 10-year vision to create a Digital Innovation Farm, in response to an increasingly digital world with global demand for new technology in farming,” he said. “Our plans for the next decade will provide essential support for agricultural businesses and professionals in Gloucestershire and beyond.”

GFirst LEP CEO David Owen said the ‘Tech-to-Plate’ initiative complemented previous projects funded by the organisation within the county, namely Farm 491 at the Royal Agricultural University in Cirencester, and would lead the work of increasing productivity in the sector.

The Clive and Sylvia Richards Charity (CSRC), established in 1986, focuses on supporting education, healthcare, heritage and arts.

It makes annual charitable donations of £1 million to £2 million, with all funds donated exclusively by Mr and Mrs Richards, whose current business interests include a commercial fruit farm on their 2,000-acre estate in Herefordshire.

They said they were pleased to support the new centre, specifically the Diagnostic Suite for data gathering, diagnostics, analysis, knowledge exchange and research.

“We’re looking forward to developing a successful long-term partnership with Hartpury, which will include welcoming agriculture students to our fruit farm and our senior staff discussing aspects of course content they can support.”