Black Sheep Technology (BST) is a UK-based Agri-tech SME with a proven track record delivering award-winning technology that supports farmers across the UK. Farming subsidies are transitioning away from the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) to a new Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) scheme. Many farmers make a net loss without subsidies, and the removal of them could lead to business collapse (Leeds University, 2023). The proportion of farms expected to produce a loss increases from 16% to 42% with the removal of BPS (Harper Adams, 2022). Defra's ambition is for 70% of farmers to be supported by the new SFI scheme by 2028 (DEFRA, 2023). However, SFI is extremely complex to interpret and not all farmers possess the skills required to benefit from the scheme, necessitating the outsourcing of such activities to land agents, often incurring excessive costs (Leeds University, 2023). To address this challenge Black Sheep Technology will develop an innovative platform specifically designed to help farmers gain access to SFI subsidy support. The platform will standardise the application process, breaking down the complex SFI guidance into a user-friendly questionnaire. Utilising the latest advances in Generative AI (Gen-AI) and Large Language Models (LLM), the platform will identify relevant SFI schemes, provide guidance, and help generate the documentation required to apply.

FlockFinder is a UK-based agri-tech SME with a core project team of James Stretton (Project Lead) and Thomas Neeld (Technical Lead). Farmers face challenges in rearing profitable, sustainable livestock while meeting regulatory requirements. Selective breeding can help increase lamb growth, ewe productivity and overall profit by improving bloodlines. However, analysing bloodlines is complex and requires evaluating multiple traits. Existing software cannot perform this analysis, making it difficult to identify high-performing bloodlines. Without these tools, farmers cannot exploit the benefits of selective breeding. To address this unmet need, FlockFinder is developing a platform that uses ML/AI technologies to analyse farm data and deliver insights to help improve farm performance. FlockFinder's platform will enable farmers to make better, data-led decisions around breeding selection to improve flock performance and farm profitability by 5-10%, with a permanent and cumulative effect on profitability. The platform could also enable genetic improvements that deliver economic benefits across the £1.3bn sheep farming industry. By encouraging digital record-keeping for farm compliance, FlockFinder could help further increase farmer income by 3.5%. Also, FlockFinder's innovation will support significant cost savings and improved animal welfare.

Livestock diseases apply constant pressure to sheep profitability by increasing labour and medicine use and decreasing productivity (Delabouglise-et-al.,2017). Focusing on key sheep diseases, including Lameness, Abortion, Ectoparasites, Intestinal Parasites, and Liver Fluke, the annual cost of these diseases to the UK sheep farming industry exceeds £400 million. FlockFinder is developing a platform that uses generative AI technologies that will be able to identify underlying illness/disease from observed symptoms. Timely, and accurate, diagnosis will help reduce livestock disease, increase animal welfare and ultimately improve farm performance and profitability. This new functionality be delivered through FlockFinders existing livestock management app, enabling farmers to access the advice and make data-driven decisions while in-the-field. By utilising a AI to improve the identification and treatment of disease, FlockFinder can also help reduce the use of antibiotic and anthelmintic medication, reducing the build-up of resistance within the industry. FlockFinder's project aims to deliver a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) capable of providing farmers with tailored advice to detect and treat livestock diseases early, ultimately minimizing their impact on farm performance. This will improve farmers' livelihoods as well as support the broader rural economy. The project offers a compelling blend of significant economic impact and an outstanding return on investment for the UK economy.