IN the autumn of 2023 three Agri-Tech Centres – Agri-EPI, CHAP and CIEL – formally announced their intention to merge in April 2024 to form an integrated business spanning the entire agri innovation ecosystem.
This position was supported by Innovate UK. A Chief Executive Officer for the new business has now been appointed.
Dr Peter Quinn, Chair of the Transition Board responsible for the merger and the future Agri-Tech Centres and current Chair of CHAP, said: “I am delighted to announce that Phil Bicknell will be the CEO for the new Agri-Tech Centres business from April 1st. We conducted a comprehensive recruitment process, internally and externally, to identify the best candidate to lead the business. Phil clearly demonstrated his vision for the future, along with the experience, skills and energy he will bring to the role.
“This appointment represents an important step in our process, as we move into the final weeks before the merger. There remains a lot to do, in collaboration with our partners, but our talented teams are looking forward to the opportunity to make a real impact in the future through innovative agri-tech.”
Phil Bicknell described the transition to a single agri-tech business as "a pivotal move to accelerate innovation for our sector".
“By combining the centres’ UK-wide capabilities, with their world-class research facilities, investment and innovation expertise and extensive networks, the new business will be a hub for UK agri-tech to thrive," he said. "This merger will simplify the landscape, be completely inclusive and make it easier to navigate. That applies to everyone we engage with, here in the UK and internationally, meaning we all work smarter and more efficiently, removing sector and technology silos. It is the catalyst to think about the bigger picture, to challenge our food and farming systems and to think further forward.
He said the move will enable agri industries to form a strategic partnership with government, putting food and farming on the same level as sectors like digital, energy and satellite applications, which benefit from a long-term and joined-up focus.
"We’ll have critical mass and a single voice. There will be no excuses for us not being on the government's radar and vice versa," he said.
Each of the Agri-Tech Centres were established in 2015/16 as separate, independent, not-for-profit businesses.
Phil joined CIEL in 2021 and was made Director in June 2023, at which time he joined the Transition Board for the merger. Prior to CIEL he had a varied career across food and farming. He led the 50-strong market intelligence team at the Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board (AHDB) and was Chief Economist at the National Farmers Union (NFU).
