A ‘Fresh Produce’ Move for B-hive Innovations

To expand its operations in the fresh produce sector, B-hive Innovations has moved to new research and development facilities.

The move, which comes after significant funding from Innovate UK and Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) into projects that will sustainably change how potatoes are cultivated, stored, and delivered, will boost its project delivery and commercialized entity skills.

B-hive has moved to the new Alchemy Building in the Lincoln Science & Innovation Park, a facility specifically designed for R&D specialist occupants and funded by the European Regional Development Fund and the Midlands Engine, a regional partnership organization. Nearby to B-previous hive's workplaces at Boole Technology Centre, where the business was established in 2017, is the Alchemy Building, a component of the Science Park's ongoing development.

The Farming Innovation Program granted GBP2.06m to B-hive Innovations and several other businesses and academic partners in September to research innovative approaches that would help create a potato crop with a net zero carbon supply chain. The three-year project's success serves as an example of B-growing Hive's reputation in the fresh produce sector, and the new facilities are designed to accommodate the company's future growth. Meeting rooms, break-out areas, and a kitchen with integrated amenities are all included in the new 2,680-square-foot office. B-expanding hive's staff is housed in open-plan offices, and visiting researchers can work together on funded projects at hot desks.

As part of the cutting-edge technology developed for growers, B-hive has made a significant investment in the new office's machine learning cluster. B-hive has so far received more than GBP6m in research-based funding, which has assisted growers in raising their marketable production, improving the quality of their products, and lowering waste along the entire food supply chain.

“The new facility is a fantastic enabler for our rapidly expanding workforce and project partners to undertake pioneering agri-tech research and development. We hope to continue to expand our team, as we apply strategically for additional funding to develop agri-tech innovations. As well as the work we undertake at the office or laboratory, fieldwork is pivotal to project research and development, so it’s great that we can remain close to growers in Lincolnshire who we have established great working relationships with. Our East Midlands base also gives us a fantastic position centrally to liaise with our collaborators, including farmers and researchers up and down the country,” Dr. Andrew Gill, B-hive Innovations Ltd.’s general manager concluded.