Tesco has selected two sustainable technology companies as the winners of its Agri-tech Challenge as the retailer invests in innovation to improve food security.

AgroSustain was named as the winner of the early-stage category. The company developed a sealing technology which is created to strengthen plant resilience and protect crops.

According to the business, the technology forms an invisible barrier on the plant’s surface using edible ingredients to help crops withstand difficult growing conditions.

This new feature aims to decrease crop losses, support higher yields and lower reliance on other conventional treatments.

Additionally, HerdAdvance won, which is an automated livestock management technology that was created to make cattle monitoring and handling safer, easier and more efficient.

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The technology feature captures key performance data including weight, water intake and temperature in real time as the cattle drink and reduces the need for overall handling.

This new feature aims to address labour, health and safety challenges while backing more efficient and sustainable beef production.

The win secures fast-track introductions to Tesco’s supplier network, as well as a trial with one of the retailer’s supply chain partners.

This move is part of the supermarket retailer’s wider commitment to backing sustainable agricultural practices.

Claire Lorains, group quality, technical and sustainability director at Tesco, said: “The farmers we work with are telling us innovation has a critical role to play in helping the industry become more productive, efficient and resilient.

“But a promising idea will only make a meaningful difference if there is a practical and realistic path to implementing it on farm. That’s especially true in a year when British farmers have faced challenging conditions, including record heat and widespread drought.”