Strengthening Digital Resilience in Gloucestershire’s Agri Tech Sector

Digital technology is becoming increasingly central to modern agriculture, offering new opportunities for productivity, sustainability and growth.

Yet alongside these advances come significant challenges, from fragmented data systems and connectivity gaps to growing cyber-security risks for farm businesses and supply chains.

Recognising both the opportunities and the need for structured support, Invest in Gloucestershire and the Gloucestershire Agri-tech Partnership recently hosted a Digital Resilience Roundtable at the Royal Agricultural University. The session brought together farmers, Agri-tech companies, cyber specialists, universities, insurers and national organisations including Innovate UK and the UK Agri-Tech Centre to explore how the county can strengthen its digital capability.

Discussions highlighted that while digital adoption is growing, the landscape is uneven. Larger farms and early adopters are benefitting from advanced systems, while many smaller or more traditional businesses face barriers relating to cost, interoperability and the day-to-day practicalities of integrating technology into farm operations.

Cyber-security emerged as a particularly pressing issue, with attendees noting the rising incidence of GPS theft, data vulnerabilities and the need for clearer, more accessible guidance for farm businesses.

Despite these challenges, the roundtable underscored significant opportunities for Gloucestershire. With its unique blend of world-class cyber expertise and a strong Agri-tech ecosystem, the county is well placed to lead the development of practical, secure and scalable solutions. Participants identified opportunities for collaborative demonstration farms, on-farm case studies, greater integration with university research and student talent, and better visibility of funding available to support digital innovation.

A series of clear next steps emerged from the session. Over the coming months, Invest in Gloucestershire and the Gloucestershire Agri-tech Partnership will work with stakeholders to develop a practical programme of activity, including:

- A digital resilience workshop series tailored to sector needs
- On-farm demonstrations to showcase practical solutions and good practice
- Opportunities for businesses to take part in case studies or pilot activity
- Work with insurers, supply-chain organisations and national bodies to support adoption
- Mapping of relevant funding and support programmes for local businesses

This work aims to position Gloucestershire as a leading region for secure, resilient and future-ready Agri-tech.

Organisations interested in participating in the next phase of activity or future workshops are invited to contact the Invest in Gloucestershire team.