Farming technology business Small Robot Company has been highly commended in the Heroes of Net Zero competition during an awards ceremony at COP26 in Glasgow.
The company and other entrants also made a commitment at the UK Business Climate Hub to achieve net zero by 2050, in line with the government’s own climate commitment.
The robotics and AI firm, based in West Dean, Wiltshire, were highly commended in the small business category for demonstrating a range of measures taken on its journey to net zero. This includes sourcing materials from sustainable suppliers, creating products and packaging with recycled materials and powering both robots and laptops using recycled batteries and solar power.
Ben Scott-Robinson, CEO and co-founder at Small Robot Company, said: “Our company is on a mission to help farmers feed the world while regenerating the planet. Creating a sustainable future for agriculture also means creating a sustainable path towards it.
“We are on cloud nine to be attending COP26 as finalists. For us net zero is one of the biggest challenges facing the planet today. It is an honour to be amongst innovative businesses looking to go green and reduce their impact.”
According to Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy data, agriculture, forestry and fishing is responsible for 10% of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions. Small Robot Company was recognised by the competition, hosted by Intuit, for it ambitions to create a sustainable future for agriculture.
The company has created a new model for regenerative and profitable farming called Per Plant Farming using robotics and AI. The new model provides intelligence to farmers on the condition of every plant in a crop field.
The Heroes of Net Zero competition is part of the government’s Together for Our Planet campaign and is supported by BT, SSE and NatWest Group, who contributed a prize package worth £4,500 for the winners in the small business category.
The panel of judges included the government’s Net Zero Business Champion Andrew Griffith. He presented Small Robot Company and other Heroes of Net Zero finalists with awards and celebrated their green achievements at COP26, held in the Scottish Event Campus.
Griffith said: “I am delighted to be celebrating The Heroes of Net Zero today at our special COP26 event. Representing a diverse range of industries and locations, the finalists spotlight the actions that UK businesses of any size can take to cut their own emissions and help us build back better.”
