Farm491 is a modern, cutting-edge enterprise hub located at the Royal Agricultural University.

Farm491

Farm491

Royal Agricultural University

Growth Deal

£2,920,000


 

 

PROJECT STATUS

     

Contracted

In delivery

Completed

 

Summary 

 

Farm491, at the Royal Agricultural University, is a state-of-the-art agri-tech facility, designed to help innovators to grow their businesses by applying technology to growing environments.

 

What is the Farm491 project?

 

The Royal Agricultural University (RAU) in Cirencester holds an esteemed reputation for bringing modern thinking to ancient problems - namely agriculture. With years of experience training the best minds in the industry, the university wanted to build on its work in the agri-tech scene by building a world-leading facility to foster growth in this key industry.

Farm491 works with agri-tech entrepreneurs in a technology incubator environment, where the considerable network and contacts of the RAU make it a unique national offer. Utilising knowledge and experts from the academic, industry, and farming spheres - Farm491 provides support for raising investment, finding talent, and accessing new customers, all with the aim of helping the agri-tech industry grow to solve the significant world challenges in agriculture.

Farm491 offers physical space for businesses to operate and conduct research, access strategic advice, and test products on 491 hectares of farmland.

 

Who benefits from this project?

 

Gloucestershire’s agri-tech entrepreneurs now have access to a world-leading facility to help grow their businesses. The incubation space, testing and research centres, and in-house experts all have the potential to greatly accelerate business growth.

Current students of the Royal Agricultural University will also benefit from much closer links to business, as academia and industry become more enmeshed on the Cirencester campus.

 

What stage is the project currently at?

 

All 3 of Farm491’s buildings (Trent Lodge Enterprise Hub, Harnhill Workshops, and the Alliston Centre) are complete and open for business.

 

Why is the project important for Gloucestershire and the local community?

 

Like many other developments in educational environments, Gloucestershire will greatly benefit from the provision of advanced specialist skill training at Farm491. It gives the younger generations within the county yet another option to stay within Gloucestershire and receive world-leading training in niche areas.

Farm491 is also of nationally unique significance, so as well as providing much-needed space and facilities for Gloucestershire’s agri-tech entrepreneurs, it will also provide a ‘magnet effect’ in attracting new agri-tech businesses to base themselves in the area.

And many of these businesses, in the agri-tech industry, are working to solve challenges like world hunger, blight, and drought - so the impacts of Farm491 will extend far beyond the borders of Gloucestershire.

What are the final results of the project?

Farm491 has now open, and provides:

- Incubation space for agri-tech businesses

- Research and development labs for testing

- 491 ha of farmland for product testing and development.

Where can I find out more?

 

Business website

https://farm491.com/about-farm491/


 

If you’d like to help us in strengthening the economy of Gloucestershire, please get in touch, we’d love to hear from you.

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