British agriculture needs to become more efficient and one way to do that is to improve nutrient efficiencies both in crops and livestock, according to Timac Agro UK.

To meet these standards, it has relocated its head office to Rothamsted – the oldest agricultural research station in the world – to allow it to develop new technologies, open its field trials to visitors, and benefit from innovative research partnerships.

A specialist business in plant and animal nutrition, speaking at the opening of the firm’s new office, Cyril Cappe, its general manager, said: “Agriculture needs to be more efficient and sustainable and we’re offering customised solutions to enhance the soil mechanisms, to ensure the plant is fed as per its needs, and to improve livestock health and productivity.”

Its relocation to Rothamsted means it will be able to set up demonstrations on the facility’s 400 ha farm, featuring different fertiliser products and biostimulants, and examine their effect on wheat, oilseed rape, barley and grass. It has also sponsored a four-year PhD project on the genetic variation and chemical control of tillering in wheat.

“There are many strands to improving farm efficiencies,” added Mr Cappe. “Our staff are meeting farmers every day to understand their needs, so they can recommend the right products. And we need to be able to manufacture and deliver those products, while developing new technology – in conjunction with more than 90 R and D organisations worldwide – to create solutions for tomorrow.

"Finally, we need to make those solutions accessible to farmers as quickly as possible. Being part of RoCRE helps us to deliver all of those strands.”