AI is everywhere right now. It’s squeezing its way into every sector, every conversation, and every pitch deck. And if you follow the noise, you’d think the most exciting work is happening in those glossy, futuristic spaces where everything feels brand new.

But at Tekh, we’re seeing the biggest opportunities in sectors that have been around forever.

Agriculture is one of them.

It accounts for 69% of the UK’s land and contributes £14.5 billion to the economy, employing nearly half a million people. It’s one of the most critical industries, and yet it so often operates under the radar. That’s exactly why innovation here matters.

And with the UK relying on a 60:40 split between domestic production and imports for its food, this isn’t just about economics. It’s about resilience, security, and long-term stability.

A sector under pressure

Right now, UK agriculture is under strain. Around 40% of farmers are aged 65 or over, while only 15% are under 45. This shapes how the industry operates. When the focus is on managing today’s workload and protecting what already exists, long-term investment becomes harder to prioritise.

At the same time, the workforce continues to decline, and income remains volatile. Farmers have little control over the prices they receive, and external factors such as weather can shift outcomes quickly. Add rising costs into the mix, and the picture becomes clear.

This is a sector operating in survival mode – and yet, opportunities for change are often met with hesitation.

Stalled innovation

There’s a tendency to assume agriculture is slow to change because it resists new ideas. In reality, it’s more practical than that. Around 45% of farmers cite unclear return on investment as a key issue. 41% point to upfront costs, and 24% to a lack of knowledge around how to apply new technologies.

It’s not surprising, therefore, to discover that despite the growth of agri-tech, only around 10% of farmers are currently using AI to support business decisions.

The opportunity is there, but the path is not clear, and the stakes are too high to get it wrong.

At Tekh, that gap is what we’re interested in.

A focus on farms

Here at Tekh, we’ve made a deliberate decision to invest in agriculture.

Is it the fastest route to growth? Absolutely not!

Agriculture is a long game. It can take years to see meaningful change, and it is unlikely to deliver the kind of scale seen elsewhere. But it is meaningful.

A large part of our work comes from government-funded projects. That means taxpayers’ money. And so we firmly believe some of that value should be reinvested into areas that directly benefit the public, such as agriculture.

We don’t strive to chase profit. We want to create impact.

Solving real problems

The work we’re doing in this area all stems from the practical challenges affecting UK farming today, such as pest management.

Aphids alone are estimated to cause around £190 million in losses to UK agriculture every year. Managing that risk is time-consuming, resource-intensive, and often reliant on large-scale chemical use.

We’re exploring how dual-use, edge-based AI can support pest management. We’re using technology developed in other environments to create systems that allow drones to scan fields, identify infestations early, and give farmers a clearer view of what’s happening on the ground.

We’re also proud to be working with partners such as Thetford Farms to improve soil and water health. Around 38% of arable soils in England and Wales are already degraded, resulting in issues such as compaction, erosion and loss of organic matter. The cost is an estimated £1.5 billion each year.

Used properly, data can help people make better decisions about how they manage their land.

We’re not trying to force agriculture into being something it is not. We’re not applying technology for the sake of it. We’re looking at real problems, understanding the constraints, and building tools that genuinely help.

Does that mean accepting that progress may be slower and that returns may not be immediate? Sure. But it also means the outcomes are more meaningful.

Shining a light on agriculture

Agriculture is not going away. In fact, it’s becoming more important than ever.

Climate pressure, supply chain instability and population growth all suggest that the sector will need to adapt, but it needs to do so in a way that works for the people within it.

And that’s where we fit in.

Not as an ‘AI company’, and not as a disruptor for the sake of it. But as a partner that helps make things better, using the right tools, in the right way, for the right reasons.