MARKET Weighton machinery importer and precision farming business Manterra Ltd has been selected as a supplier to CHAP (crop health and protection) consortium partner Stockbridge Technology Centre of Selby, in a new innovation centre for crop health and protection.

The launch of a new CHAP centre is part of the government’s agri-tech strategy, which was launched in 2013 to ensure that its investment in agriculture delivers material benefits for society and the economy in the UK and overseas.

CHAP will lead the way in developing solutions to the challenges facing world agriculture, bringing together the best expertise, knowledge and insight from leading research organisations and industries in the sector. It will give farmers and growers access to the best and most sustainable technologies, strategies and protocols to improve crop performance.

Of the initiative, Manterra founder, Andrew Manfield said: "This is a good way to make high-tech agricultural equipment accessible to farmers, research organisations and academia. We are pleased to supply Stockbridge Technology Centre with the unique three in one tillage, sowing and fertiliser system, Baertschi OekoSem IV ROTOR-Strip-Till and a comprehensive Trimble steering and control system to go with it. This equipment has great synergy with the work that we are doing with STC on wide row spraying technology and with our Unia and Duport ranges."

CHAP has secured £21.3 million of government investment over four years and will be headquartered at the National Agri-Food Innovation campus at Sand Hutton near York.

Manterra is also the key technology supplier to the Stockbridge Technology Centre's Tru-Nject project that has secured Innovate UK funding for a three year trial to commercialise innovative soil nutrient mapping technology that has the potential to revolutionise farming practices.