CASE STUDY: Nofence - Gateway for agri-tech innovation

24th November 2022

Nofence’s innovative technology is helping to make farming more sustainable and its Telford base is proving to be fertile ground for growth. 

Asking people to change a key feature of their business that hasn’t altered for the best part of a century sounds like a tall order.
But if you find the ideal location and are able to tap into key networks, it becomes a whole lot easier.

Norwegian firm Nofence opened its first UK base at the Agri-EPI Centre located on the Harper Adams University campus, in 2021.

Its product has the potential to revolutionise farming by driving greater efficiency and reducing environmental impact. In a nutshell, it involves using GPS collars, a web portal and app to negate the need for physical fencing and give farmers far greater control over where animals graze.

The technology plays audio sounds to control animals’ movements, resulting in a multitude of benefits – from improved soil health to lower maintenance costs.

It’s fair to say the product is going down well. In the first year alone, Nofence grew its client base from 25 to almost 400 and the firm’s Telford base has been a key factor, says UK manager, Synne Foss Budal.

‘We were looking for more than just an office space, it had to be the best place for the business we are in.

‘This is an ideal location because it’s on the west side of the country – where most of the livestock is, all the way from the south west of England to Scotland. When you are in Telford you have access to pretty much all of it and that’s important as we need to meet our clients face to face.

‘But it’s also because Telford is becoming a place of excellence for agri-tech and you can see that it’s a really important focus for the area.

‘Being connected to the Agri-EPI Centre creates networks which wouldn’t happen otherwise. When you’re a new business working in agriculture in the UK, networking and having conversations with the right people at the right time is so important.’

From recruitment support to help with PR, Synne has found the backing of the council and other local agencies invaluable.

She adds: ‘One of the things that surprised me is just how keen farmers here are to adapt to new technology. When you have Telford & Wrekin Council saying they want to support businesses like us to develop, farming listens to that. It creates a sense of trust when you are bringing new technology into agriculture.

‘Being here is enabling us to find solutions much faster and that’s vital because time is of the essence – we need to bring in more sustainable farming practices because of climate change.’