One Year of Ceres Research: A Look Back and a Leap Forward

It’s hard to believe it’s been a whole year since Ceres Research officially launched! What started as a spark of an idea – bridging the gap between research insights and practical farming know-how -has grown into a vibrant hub of technical expertise, knowledge exchange, and community. So, as we blow out the candle on our first birthday cake (yes, there is cake!), we thought it was the perfect moment to reflect on how it all began, what we’ve achieved, and where we’re heading next.

How It All Started

Ceres Research was born out of a clear need: farmers and growers were calling out for independent, data-driven advice to practical farming challenges that didn’t just sit in a lab or a policy paper. They wanted real-world solutions, grounded in science and research, but tailored to the field. With our sister company, Ceres Rural, already offering boots-on-the-ground independent consultancy, we saw the opportunity to complement that by bridging the gap between them and the latest cutting-edge research and industry intelligence.

From day one, our mission was simple: to empower progressive farmers and agri-businesses with the latest science, digital tools, and practical insights. And we’ve stuck to that promise.

What We’ve Done This Year

It’s been a whirlwind! We kicked off with technical events like “Reflect & Project” in Essex, where we unpacked the 2024 harvest and looked ahead to 2025 with a brilliant panel of experts from our Research and Rural teams, including Dr Alexander Setchfield, Jock Willmott, Alice Andrews, and Dr Dannielle Robb.

We have delivered bespoke research projects and consultancy for innovative businesses, bringing new innovations to the forefront of farming and mapping where they sit in the market, to providing non-profits with insight and on-the-ground intelligence on water catchments, and where farmers see the potential for  policy to support them. We have also collaborated and partnered with various other organisations on funding opportunities such as Innovate UK ADOPT to trial farmer and grower-led research on farm, and to bring companies (like OptiGene and Timac Agro UK) and their technologies closer to their target audience – the farmer or agronomist– along with independent data validation.

Our membership service launched with a bang, offering monthly digests, podcasts, webinars, and interactive dashboards covering everything from agronomy planning to benchmarking yields, labour and machinery. The Agronomy Club became a regular fixture, with lively discussions on various topics including slug management, BYDV risk, climate modelling, and blackgrass control – plus some brilliant insights from our members and collaborators.

Now, we look ahead to our AgriStrategy Conference. An event that will become a key date in the diary, to look at profitability and productivity in farming – bringing attendees the real cutting-edge insights to maximise the future of farming in the UK. Dr Danni Robb, Research and Knowledge Exchange Assistant, says “Our AgriStrategy Conference takes a brief look back on harvest 2025, but then the theme of the day is looking forwards. Sessions cover viable rotations for 2026 and beyond, the future role of CS and SFI, next generation IPM strategies, data-driven biologicals, the role of technology in future farm profitability, and diversification opportunities. Speakers cover Ceres expertise across the Group from Rural, Property and Research, alongside excellent external speakers too. This is the first of its kind in terms of something so practical, cutting-edge and future thinking; I’m glad to be a part of it!”.

Tim Isaac, CEO, says “It’s incredible to see how far Ceres Research has come in 12 months, from a seed of an idea about bridging the gap between innovation and adoption, to a fully-fledged business which has already become an established name in agricultural research and knowledge exchange. There is already a full service offering for both clients and members from across the agri-food sector which gives a great foundation for further growth and development. Ceres Research is ready and able to help drive the industry forward and the opportunities for the future are both exciting and endless.”

What’s Next?

Looking ahead, we’re doubling down on our strategic priority: to improve the sustainability, profitability, and resilience of farming by harnessing the latest innovations. Dr Alex Setchfield, Research and Knowledge Exchange Manager, says “The need to bring technical and scientific innovation, especially AI-driven solutions, onto farms and into practical use by farmers and growers has never been more urgent. Working with Ceres Rural, we believe Ceres Research is uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between innovation and on-farm adoption, offering a distinctive combination of scientific expertise and practical farming insight.”

We’re committed to helping farmers drive agricultural productivity, while protecting the environment and supporting long-term business resilience. To do so, we’re building out our technical capability, expanding the reach of our service offerings, and continuing to turn research into actionable insights and solutions for our growing number of clients.

We’re also excited to expand our membership community, refine our digital tools, and explore new collaborations -whether that’s with established market players, tech innovators, water companies, or research institutions, ultimately supporting farmers and growers to trial and adopt  new approaches on the ground.

And yes, we’re still learning. This first year has been about listening, adapting, and laying strong foundations. Year two? That’s about scaling our impact.

Want to know more or get involved?

If you’re interested in innovation, whether you’re a farmer, grower, agronomist, retailer, institution or tech start-up, and are interested in collaborating with us, why not join us on our journey and reach out by contacting one of the team.

Dr Dannielle Robb – dannielle.robb@ceresresearch.com

Dr Alex Setchfield – alex.setchfield@ceresresearch.com