The UK’s largest retailer Tesco has announced the launch of its T-Jam 2025 start-up pitch competition, which is seeking companies in the agricultural sector focused on nature protection and animal welfare.
In partnership with Leading Edge Only (LEO, which describes itself as a “global innovation marketplace”, Tesco is looking for organisations that can support its sustainability strategy.
The grocer is particularly interested in solutions that contribute to:
- Reducing greenhouse gas emissions across the supply chain
- Nature protection and restoration, including improving soil health and resilience, supporting biodiversity, and improving water quality and water use
- Promoting responsible reduction in chemical inputs such as pesticides
- Minimising agricultural and food waste and reducing crop losses
- Improving animal health and welfare, including reducing the use of antibiotics, and enabling rapid disease diagnostics.
Tesco said it expects the programme to build on the success of previous years, and it hopes the work will result in finding organisations that can empower its supply chain to achieve its “critical sustainability goals”.
Successful applicants will be introduced to Tesco’s supplier network through LEO, and will gain expert feedback and dedicated mentoring from Tesco’s sustainable agriculture and fisheries team. One overall winner will be selected, and they will receive a potential trial with one of Tesco’s supply chain partners to test their offering in a real-world setting.
Natalie Smith, head of sustainable agriculture & fisheries at Tesco, commented: “We’re committed to developing and implementing innovative sustainable agriculture practices across our supply chains.
“Agri T-Jam is now an established gateway into the Tesco network for start-ups and innovators, and we’re hopeful the competition can help all our finalists further develop their work in the sector.”
Jayden Halliday, CEO at Leading Edge Only, added: “This initiative offers a fantastic opportunity for early-stage companies to gain crucial insights into the needs of the agri-food supply chain and to build meaningful connections with potential partners.
“Continuing the exciting partnership, the winner of the 2025 Tesco Agri T-Jam will also be awarded Agri-TechE membership and a prestigious speaking slot at the Agri-TechE REAP (Realising Our Economic and Agricultural Potential) conference, scheduled for November 2025.”
REAP conference, is Agri-TechE’s flagship event and brings together a diverse range of stakeholders from the agri-tech and science industries, to try and tackle some major global challenges together.
Applications for the 2025 Tesco Agri T-Jam are now open and will close on Monday 30 June. Following the application and selection process, up to ten animal welfare, nature protection and restoration-focused start-ups will be shortlisted to present their innovations at T-Jam pitch day.
The 2024 Tesco T-Jam was won by FloMo – A Better Way to Fish, which secured introductions to Tesco’s supplier network and a trial with one of the retailer’s supply chain partners.
Read more about Tesco on Green Retail World
[image credit: Green Retail World]
