- Innovate UK support: Minimal Financial Assistance and Collaborative Research & Development
Case Study: Turning Welsh natural resources into high-value, sustainable products
Agroceutical Products Ltd (APL), based in Powys, is a farmer-led innovation company developing high-value products from Welsh natural resources. Supported by Innovate UK, the business is delivering a portfolio of projects that combine agricultural expertise, green chemistry and circular economy principles to create new income streams for farmers while addressing environmental and market challenges.
Founded by Kevin Stephens, who grew up on a Radnorshire hill farm, Agroceutical Products has a long track record of working at the intersection of farming and science. Earlier projects include the cultivation of daffodils grown at altitude to produce galanthamine, an approved drug for Alzheimer's disease, providing both a critical pharmaceutical compound and a viable commercial crop for Welsh hill farmers. Lessons learned from this work now underpin the company's latest Innovate UK-supported innovations.
One of these, Wool2Lube, addresses the under-utilisation of Welsh sheep wool and the growing demand for environmentally friendly lubricants. Much of the wool produced by hill and mountain sheep has limited commercial value, while industries operating in open environments face increasing regulatory pressure to move away from petroleum-based lubricants. Wool2Lube explores a novel, low-impact process for extracting lanolin from wool using liquid CO₂ and green co-solvents, overcoming the inefficiencies of traditional wool scouring methods.
The extracted lanolin is refined into biodegradable biolubricants suitable for demanding applications such as agriculture, marine equipment and wind turbines, where strong rust resistance and hydrophobic properties are essential. By creating a new market for low-value wool, the project aims to generate additional income for farmers while reducing reliance on fossil-based products.
Building on this work, Agroceutical Products has also secured Innovate UK Collaborative Research & Development funding for Bracken for the Circular Economy (BraCE). This project tackles another long-standing agricultural challenge by transforming invasive bracken into sustainable, peat-free growing media. Led by farmers and supported by academic and industry partners, BraCE develops practical harvesting and processing methods that convert bracken from a costly burden into a valuable resource for horticulture.
Together, Wool2Lube and BraCE demonstrate how farmer-led innovation can turn environmental challenges into economic opportunities. By valorising under-used natural materials, Agroceutical Products' Innovate UK-supported projects contribute to rural economic resilience, reduced environmental impact and the development of scalable, sustainable supply chains rooted in Wales.
Project facts
- Business: Agroceutical Products Ltd
- Location: Powys
- Innovate UK support: Minimal Financial Assistance and Collaborative Research & Development
- Projects: Wool2Lube; Bracken for the Circular Economy (BraCE)
- Key focus: Circular economy and green chemistry
- Wider impact: New farm income streams, reduced environmental impact and sustainable rural growth
