Affiliations

Knowledge is more powerful when it’s shared. Exchanging ideas, data and technical expertise with our partners across the industry helps us all make better business decisions and drives the CEA and vertical farming sector forward as a whole.

Customers

IAG and the University of Essex have joined forces, installing our GrowFrame360™ technology as part of the University’s £3million new Smart Technology Experimental Plant Suite (STEPS).

As the first commercial vertical farm installed at a UK university, this installation represents a significant milestone and underscores our joint commitment with the University of Essex to pushing the boundaries of agritech education and research.

The collaboration between IAG and Sparsholt College marks a pivotal moment in agritech education, with the installation representing more than just the introduction of cutting-edge technology; it signifies a shared commitment to advancing education and shaping the future of agriculture.

By integrating the GrowFrame360™ system into Sparsholt College's curriculum, we are bridging the gap between theory and practice, providing students with hands-on experience in vertical growing. It will not only enhance cross-faculty curriculum integration but also create new opportunities for students to excel in the field of agritech. The introduction of T-Levels in Ornamental Horticulture and Crop Production, facilitated by the GrowFrame360™ system, aligns with apprenticeship requirements and opens doors to research opportunities for students pursuing degrees in Agriculture, including PhD studies.

Stakeholders

Keystone Cooperative, the result of the successful merger between Co-Alliance Cooperative, Inc. and Ceres Solutions Cooperative, Inc., is one of the largest agribusinesses in the Midwestern United States, with locations across Indiana, Michigan, Illinois and Ohio.

A farmer-owned powerhouse with over 1,700 employees and an annual revenue of $3billion. The co-operative holds a stake in IAG, and one of their Senior Executives currently sits on IAG’s Advisory Board, providing expert knowledge in agronomy, agri-energy, supply chain and sales distribution.

Associates

IAG and the University of Reading have established a dynamic collaboration aimed at advancing research and practical understanding in Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA).

We regularly host students from the University of Reading at our Bracknell site, allowing students to gain first-hand experience in various aspects of CEA, from crop cultivation to the scientific principles underpinning modern agricultural practices.
Our collaboration extends to joint funding initiatives. Together we are exploring opportunities to leverage the expertise of the University’s Flavour Centre and Sensory Science Centre with the aim to analyse the flavour and nutrition profiles of our crops, enhancing our understanding of flavour chemistry and optimising growing environments to produce high-quality crops. The collaboration also offers the potential for research funding to investigate new sustainable sources of growing substrate. By combining our resources and knowledge, we seek to identify innovative solutions that contribute to the sustainability and efficiency of our systems.

The collaboration between IAG and Royal Holloway, University of London (RHUL) is driving forward plant science research and innovation.

Within this collaboration Felix Trimmer, a Molecular Biologist from IAG's plant science team, is undertaking his PhD research alongside two lead academic Plant Scientists based at RHUL. Together, they are conducting ground-breaking studies in light spectrum research to enhance plant health and yields. This collaboration demonstrates a shared dedication to advancing scientific understanding in plant biology and agritech.
Together, the collaboration leverages expertise and resources to address challenges in both agricultural and medical fields, shaping the future of agriculture and contributing to global scientific progress.

Memberships

IAG is one of the only vertical farming companies in the UK to be Red Tractor accredited.

Founded in 2000, Red Tractor is a world-leading food chain assurance scheme that underpins the high standards of British food and drink. It is the flagship logo of British produce, providing assurance at every stage of the production process – the logo can only be used on food that has been produced, transported, stored and packed to the required standards.

Red Tractor develops standards based on science, evidence, best practice and legislation that cover animal welfare, food safety, traceability and environmental protection. Around 50,000 British farmers are accredited to Red Tractor standards, which form the basis of buying and sourcing specifications for major supermarkets, household brands and restaurant chains. Red Tractor works with over 450 independent inspectors, who conduct over 60,000 inspections a year to ensure the most robust assessments possible.

IAG is one of the only vertical farming companies in the UK to be GLOBAL G.A.P. accredited.

GLOBAL G.A.P. is a brand of smart farm assurance solutions developed by FoodPLUS GmbH in Cologne, Germany, with cooperation from producers, retailers, and other stakeholders from across the food industry. These solutions include a range of standards for safe, socially and environmentally responsible farming practices.

The most widely used GLOBAL G.A.P. standard is Integrated Farm Assurance (IFA), applicable for fruit and vegetables, aquaculture, floriculture, livestock and more.

Over 200,000 producers are now under GLOBAL G.A.P. certification across 134 countries. Nearly 150 employees around the world are dedicated to the mission of spreading responsible farming practices to ensure safe food for future generations.

NFU is the leading advocate for agriculture in England and Wales, championing British farming and campaigns for sustainability.

As the authoritative voice, NFU lobbies for crucial changes with in-house expertise and a broad regional presence. Passionately defending the industry, NFU represents farmers at all government levels, striving for a thriving future with due recognition in food production.

Agri-TechE is a business-focused membership organisation.

They support the growth of a world-leading network of innovative farmers, producers, scientists, technologists and entrepreneurs who share a vision of increasing the productivity, profitability and sustainability of agriculture.

UKUAT is a cross-industry group devoted to promoting urban agri-tech as a solution for food and environmental crises.

UKUAT influences policy by sharing information, educating, and communicating practitioner needs as one, and promoting the uptake of agri-tech in urban and peri-urban settings by uniting to attract funding and customers.

Founded in 1919, the NIAB Group is the UK’s fastest growing crop science organisation.

Today NIAB’s scientific capabilities span the crop improvement pipeline: from underpinning research into higher yielding, more climate-resilient crops, through to the extensive trials data, agronomy expertise and advice required to ensure these advances are transferred effectively onto farms.