This funding will help to support the growth of agricultural science and technology sectors in the UK, which already employs nearly four million people and is one of the world's fastest-growing markets.

The 15 projects will receive £12.1M funding from Government with £5.7M co-investment from industry. They are all led by UK companies and span three key areas of the agriculture sector – crops, livestock and aquaculture.

The Agri-Tech Catalyst, run by BBSRC and the Technology Strategy Board, forms part of the UK's Industrial Strategy for Agriculture – a long term plan and £160M government investment which sets out how the government, researchers and industry will build on the strengths of the UK agricultural technologies sector.

Names of the 15 Agri-tech Catalyst Award winning projects:

Antimicrobial technology to control disease in potato production

Organisations:

• Advanced Pest Solutions Ltd (lead)
• Agrico UK Limited
• Branston Limited
• McCain Food (GB) Limited
• Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA)
• Scottish Agronomy Limited

Preservation and sequencing technology to address food security and production efficiency in the poultry sector

Organisations:

• Cobb-Europe (lead)
• The Roslin Institute

New strawberries optimised for growing without soil

Organisations:

• East Malling Services limited (lead)
• Agrovista UK Limited
• Botanicoir Limited
• CPM Retail Limited
• East Malling Research
• Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd

Using light to extend the shelf-life of fresh produce

Organisations:

• Finlay Flowers UK Limited (lead)
• Adas UK Limited
• Lambda Photometrics Ltd
• May Barn Horticultural Consultancy Limited
• North Bank Growers Limited
• Nutricycle Limited
• University of Nottingham
• Wight Salads Group Limited

An automated system for precision application of fertiliser and plant growth compounds

Organisations:

• Growhow UK Limited (lead)
• Adas UK Limited
• Chris Harry-Thomas Consulting
• Hill Court Farm Research
• Patchwork Technology Limited
• Precise Crop Nutrition Limited
• Syngenta Seeds Ltd

Developing technology for an organic natural based pesticide

Organisations:

• Hockley International Limited (lead)
• Almac Sciences Limited
• Bangor University

Improving efficiency and reducing environmental harm of fertiliser production

Organisations:

• ITM Power (Trading) Limited (lead)
• BPE Design and Support Limited
• FERA Limited
• University of Sheffield
• Waitrose Limited

Wheat research and breeding project to improve food security in India and Pakistan

Organisations:

• KWS UK Limited (lead)
• Global Crop Innovations PTY Limited
• Indian Agricultural Research Institute
• University of Sydney

Improving the production of farmed salmon to reduce its environmental impact

Organisations:

• Marine Harvest (Scotland) Limited (lead)
• Biomar Limited
• Pharmaq Limited
• University of Stirling

Ground and aerial sensors to improve wheat production and breeding

Organisations:

• Masstock Arable (UK) Limited (lead)
• RAGT Seeds Limited
• University of Nottingham Institute for Enterprise and Innovation

Increasing the efficiency and quality of strawberries grown without soil

Organisations:

• PlantWorks Limited (lead)
• Agrovista UK Limited
• Berry Gardens Limited
• East Malling Research

Protecting peas and beans from beetles without blanket insecticide spraying

Organisations:

• Processors and Growers Research Organisation (lead)
• BASF Public Limited Company
• Exosect Limited
• Oecos
• Rothamsted Research

Optimising 'big data' to drive improvements in crop production and utilisation

Organisations:

• Produce World Group Limited (lead)
• Cranfield University

Breeding lamb for more taste and less waste by scanning live animals

Organisations:

• WM Morrisons Supermarkets PLC (lead)
• Scotland's Rural College (SRUC)

Technology to automatically monitor pigs for the early detection of health and welfare problems

Organisations:

• Zoetis (lead)
• Harbro Limited
• Innovent UK Limited
• Newcastle University
• RAFT Solutions Ltd