Former Microsoft Director joins Government-backed UK agri-tech start-up
Dr. Matthew Smith, former Business Development Director at Microsoft, has been appointed Chief Product Officer at Agrimetrics –
a UK start-up building the World's first marketplace for food and farming data, and one of four 'National Agri-Tech Centres for Agricultural Innovation' founded with a £90m public investment,
Dr. Smith's appointment is seen as a major vote of confidence in the work Agrinetrics is doing, breaking new ground in the application of artificial intelligence and big data to agriculture. Previous projects have included collaboration with chemicals giant BASF to produce a smartphone application which helps protect waterways from pesticide run-off. And with Barfoots, one of the UK's largest food and farming companies, to .create predictive models which streamline supply chains by forecasting harvest dates.
"The last few years have taught us the features and capabilities required by the market," says David Flanders, Agrimetrics CEO. "The coming months will see Agrimetrics launch a platform which makes these capabilities easily available. In doing so, we will accelerate the development of the solutions, applications and models which the sector so desperately needs. Matthew will be vital in driving that forward."
It is also a testament to the success of the Government's innovation strategy, fronted by the strategic investment agency, Innovate UK. This sits alongside other achievements, including a partnership with Aerospace giant Airbus, which is helping to harness satellite imagery for farming. Agrimetrics is also one of the few UK companies to be awarded a place on Microsoft's prestigious AI for Earth programme, which provides access to Microsoft’s advanced AI and cloud-computing technology.
Matthew has a PhD in Applied Mathematics and his previous experience includes stints at Kew Gardens and the Santa Fe Institute. However, it was this drive to apply big data and scientific methods to real-world applications which drove Matthew to Microsoft. Twelve years later, it was this same drive which motivated his decision to join Agrimetrics.
"Since day one, my goal has always been to help stakeholders manage our environment more intelligently. Gradually, I realised that the area in which I could have the most impact was agriculture. By joining Agrimetrics, I am able to devote 100% of my time to helping organisations use data to create a more productive and sustainable food system."
In his spare time, amongst other things, Matthew manages an allotment in West London, which is currently planted with winter crops and nitrogen-fixing beans.
"I'm practically-minded. I want to be on the ground when the magic happens. I want to see people using our solutions to make decisions which lead to tangible benefits. Hearing it second-hand or seeing it modelled on a computer isn't enough. I guess my allotment is one way of connecting me with a tiny piece of the real-world challenges commercial growers face."
Resources:
Matthew speaking at Oxford Farming Conference 2019: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpwD1PD9L0U
Matthew, whilst at Microsoft, speaking about Agrimetrics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fG564I_xx6Y