University of Lincoln, UK, Awarded Highest Honour by the Queen at Buckingham Palace

Representatives from the University of Lincoln, UK, have attended Buckingham Palace, where they were presented with the highest honour that can be awarded to a University in the UK by Her Majesty the Queen.

The Queen’s Anniversary Prize recognises the outstanding work carried out by UK universities in terms of quality and innovation that benefits the wider world. They are granted every two years, and this is the first one chosen by HRH King Charles III. The University of Lincoln has been given the award for the work of Lincoln Institute of Agri-food Technology (LIAT) in supporting the success and sustainability of the UK’s food and farming industries through innovations in research, education and technology.

The University was presented with the Queen’s Anniversary Prize by the Queen and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, at a special ceremony held at Buckingham Palace on Thursday 22 February.

Attendees included Professor Neal Juster, Vice Chancellor of the University of Lincoln, Professor Simon Pearson, Director of the Lincoln Institute of Agri-food Technology, and Professor Andrew Hunter, Former Deputy Vice Chancellor Research and Innovation (now retired), who were accompanied by PhD students involved in the innovative agri-tech projects.

Professor Neal Juster, Vice Chancellor of the University of Lincoln, said: “When it was announced that we would receive the award in November last year, everyone involved was incredibly proud to be recognised for the highest national honour bestowed on a UK university.

“In the eight years since it was founded, our Lincoln Institute for Agri-food Technology has gone from strength to strength, forming key partnerships within the agricultural sector, leading the way with innovative projects, and putting sustainability on the agenda for the future of the sector.

“To be presented with this award by the Queen is a great honour and a suitable reward for everyone who has been involved with making the Lincoln Institute for Agri-food Technology the huge success that it is today.”

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, commenting on this year’s award, said: “I want to say a huge congratulations to the winners of the 2022 -2024 Queen’s Anniversary Prizes for higher and further education. I know this year’s honours will be particularly special as we remember the late Queen Elizabeth II and her long-standing support for these awards, and for the tremendous good that education can bring. The UK has a long and proud history of research, discovery and excellence in education and training. I am delighted that the 2022 -2024 winners are continuing that tradition.”

LIAT’s multi-disciplinary team of researchers brings together sector-leading expertise in a diverse range of disciplines, including agriculture, artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics, engineering, crop science, environmental sustainability, food manufacturing, and supply chain management, among many others.

They are engaged in internationally significant research in collaboration with a range of academic and industry partners, from family-run businesses to multi-national corporations. This industry-focussed research and development includes the deployment of world-first automation, machine learning and robotics systems.

Professor Simon Pearson, Founding Director of LIAT at the University of Lincoln, said: “This award is recognition of the work the University is doing to change people’s lives, in the UK and all over the world.

“The Lincoln Institute for Agri-food Technology has extraordinary diversity of projects that are multi-disciplinary and genuinely impact, agriculture and society. We have the opportunity at Lincoln to continue transforming lives with the technologies we develop, and I’m proud of everybody at the University who contributes. The Queen’s Anniversary Prize is a fitting tribute to our dedicated staff and students.”

The University of Lincoln hosts the UK’s first global centre of excellence in agri-robotics research, Lincoln Agri-robotics. Along with the University of Cambridge and University of East Anglia, Lincoln is also the lead partner in the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training for Agri-food Robotics (AgriFoRwArdS) – a first-of-its-kind advanced training centre.

LIAT also has a long-established record of working with major partners to develop the future of agri-tech throughout the region. In October 2023, the University of Lincoln, along with partners at the University of Cambridge were awarded a £4.9 million grant from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) to help fund their drive to make the Lincolnshire and North Cambridgeshire (LINCAM) region a global innovation centre for agricultural technology.

Sir Damon Buffini, Chair of Royal Anniversary Trust, said: “The Queen’s Anniversary Prizes for higher and further education are an integral part of our national honours system, shining a light on the groundbreaking work taking place in universities and colleges across the UK.

“All 22 prize-winners demonstrate excellence, innovation and impact, with many tackling some of the toughest problems we as a society face today. They are to be commended for reaching this pinnacle of achievement in the tertiary education sector. Congratulations!”