Agri-tech

Peterborough’s agri-tech sector has enjoyed tremendous growth, powered by fantastic connectivity and world-class manufacturing and hi-tech specialists.

Peterborough’s agri-tech sector has enjoyed tremendous growth, powered by fantastic connectivity and world-class manufacturing and hi-tech specialists.

Peterborough plays a vital role in the food and drinks supply chain.  Agri-tech accounts for 8% of all businesses in the region, many of whom are pioneering robotics and artificial intelligence solutions to improve product turn-around, quality control, sustainability, and supply chain visibility.

Over 60% of the UK’s Grade One land within a 40-minute drive, a plethora of food and drink manufacturers, processors, and specialist trade and research bodies have established themselves in the area and it’s no wonder 60% of the region’s food processing manufacturers source their produce from the local area.

The sector at a glance

10,250

Agri-tech employees in Greater Peterborough

2,225

Agri-tech businesses in Greater Peterborough

£22.5 Billion

Increase in UK food and drink exports since 2007

Quality food producers like Alan Bartlett, Produce World, Meadow Foods, and Greenvale, have given rise to a thriving agri-tech sector which boasts the food and drinks manufacturing expertise of the likes of OAL and Baker Perkins, as well as household names like McCains, Hotel Chocolat, Del Monte, Purina Foods.

The sector is also underpinning the growing pharmaceuticals market with cannabidiol production in Spalding, and ALS Pharmaceuticals in Ely and Chatteris, which conducts world class research and drug development and has seen demand increase so much it’s doubled its workforce in Ely.

Greater Peterborough annually produces

Sugar Beet
One fifth

of England’s sugar beet

250 million

loaves’ worth of wheat

24%

of all English potatoes

agri-excellence-map

Four Centres of Excellence are within an hour’s drive, ranging from robotics and crop breeding to statutory bodies underpinning cross-sector innovation:

8

international airports within 2.5 hours’ drive

6

ports within 2.5 hours’ drive

9 million

customers within 1.5 hours’ drive

With the A1(M) on our doorstep, and easy access to the A47, it’s easy for businesses to access the rest of the UK while also servicing international markets. Smart warehousing is taking off in the city with companies like Coloplast, IKEA, URBN, and Amazon are expanding and consolidating their logistical operations here to take advantage of Peterborough’s prime position in the country.

Among the area’s 2,700 logistics businesses are heavyweights like Yearsley Group, Lawrence David, Barnack, and Fowler Welch, as well as specialist transporters like Chiltern Cold Storage, and Fenland Haulage and Storage.

Next Steps...

To find out more about what Peterborough has to offer, talk to Opportunity Peterborough