Processors and Growers Research Organisation

What Processors and Growers Research Organisation does

Processors and Growers Research Organisation (PGRO) is a UK company limited by guarantee and registered charity that functions as the country's centre of excellence for applied research on pulse and vegetable legume crops, particularly combining peas, vining peas, and field beans. Founded in 1944 and headquartered at the Research Station in Thornhaugh, Peterborough, PGRO conducts variety evaluation trials, agronomic testing, pest and disease monitoring, soil and seed laboratory analysis, and contract research, and publishes authoritative industry references including the annual Pulse Descriptive Lists, the Pea & Bean Crop Walkers Guide, and Pulse Magazine. Its product portfolio spans the PGRO Agronomy Pea & Bean App (mobile RL variety guides and pest/disease reporting), the Optibean seed-rate calculator, the Vining Pea Prediction Tool (machine-learning harvest-date forecasting using earth observation and historic crop data), and a master tenderometer calibration service for industry-wide pea maturity measurement.

PGRO's revenue model combines a statutory grower levy of £1.21 per tonne on UK pulse crop sales (which automatically confers membership), competitive bidding for public research funding from DEFRA, AHDB, Innovate UK, and EU programmes, and private commercial contract research executed through its wholly-owned subsidiary PGRO Research Limited, with surpluses returned to the charity. Services are delivered free of charge to levy-paying grower members and via paid associate membership to non-grower organisations, with additional GTM channels including the website, Pulse Magazine, the Inside the Pod podcast, the annual PGRO/Syngenta Roadshow, webinars, and a member Industry Directory. The Board of Trustees includes representatives from across the UK pulse value chain — Frontier Agriculture, Agrii, ADM, Birdseye, Princes, Senova, British Growers Association, Pulses UK, and the University of Lincoln — institutionalising PGRO's position as the default research and advisory body for the UK pulse crop industry.

Name

Processors and Growers Research Organisation

Legal name

Processors and Growers Research Organisation

Website

https://pgro.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1944

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

PGRO is a UK charity and non-statutory levy body that operates as the national centre of excellence for applied research on peas and beans, providing variety evaluation, agronomic testing, pest monitoring, and decision-support tools to UK growers, agronomists, and the agricultural trade.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Research Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Crop Production (11511), Soil Preparation, Planting, and Cultivating (115112), Dry Pea and Bean Farming (111130)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Seed & Hybrid/Variety Selection Consulting (AFACABAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Nutrient Management Planning & Fertility Programs (AFACABAB), Carbon, Sustainability & Farm Certification Support (Agro-Environmental Advisory) (AFACABAL)

Keywords

• Pulse crop research
• Variety evaluation services
• Agricultural seed testing
• Soil analysis services
• Agronomic advisory services

Headquarters

HQ city

Thornhaugh

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Grower Levy: Statutory levy charged at £1.21 per tonne of produce sold by UK grower members. UK levy paying growers are automatically considered members and can access information and services free of charge.
2. Public Research Funding: PGRO competes for public funding in consortia with other organisations for defined project support, including DEFRA, AHDB, and European research programmes.
3. Commercial Contract Research: PGRO Research Limited (wholly owned by PGRO) conducts private and confidential commercial contract research. Surpluses are returned to the charity for further research activities.
4. Associate Membership: Non-grower organisations and individuals can access PGRO research and advisory services by paying associate membership fees.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Processors and Growers Research Organisation (PGRO) is a UK-based agricultural research body that delivers applied research, variety evaluation, and advisory services for pulse crop (peas and beans) production. It provides soil and seed testing, pest and disease monitoring, agronomic decision tools, and knowledge transfer to UK pulse growers, agronomists, processors, and trade members, funded through statutory grower and processor levies.

Product overview

The Processors and Growers Research Organisation (PGRO) is the UK's centre of excellence for peas and beans, offering a portfolio of research services, publications, digital tools, and advisory services for pulse crop growers. The core offerings include the annual Pulse Descriptive Lists (variety evaluation publications), the PGRO Agronomy Pea & Bean App (successor to the Agronomy Guide), and the Vining Pea Prediction Tool (using machine learning for harvest forecasting). Supporting services include seed and soil testing laboratories, tenderometer calibration, contract trials and evaluations, and research publications including Pulse Magazine and technical updates. The organization also provides a podcast (Inside the Pod), conference facilities, plant clinic advisory services, webinars, and an Industry Directory for members.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Inside the Pod: PGRO podcast for Pea and Bean Growers
• PGRO Agronomy App

Products and services

• Pulse Variety Evaluation Trials Multi-year independent field trials assessing the agronomic performance, yield, and quality of pulse crop varieties (peas and beans) for UK growers and the trade.
• Seed Testing Services Accredited laboratory testing of pulse seed samples for germination, purity, moisture, and seed-borne diseases, supporting seed producers, merchants, and growers.
• Soil Analysis Services Soil testing services analysing nutrient status and soil-borne disease risk (e.g., foot rot pathogens) relevant to pulse cropping rotations.
• Pest and Disease Monitoring Service In-season monitoring, forecasting, and alerts for key pulse crop pests and diseases to inform spray and management decisions.
• Agronomic Advisory and Publications Technical agronomic guidance, crop protection publications, and decision-support tools that translate PGRO research into practical recommendations for growers and agronomists.
• Associate Membership Paid annual membership for agronomists, trade representatives, processors, and other stakeholders providing access to PGRO research, publications, and member events.

Quantifiable outcome

• Grower levy leverage of over 100%
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Northern Ireland Research Partners (various)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 December 2025Multi-partner research project in Northern Ireland successfully developed pea varieties with enhanced nutritional qualities, reduced allergens, and no characteristic pea flavor. Project aims to provide sustainable locally grown alternative to imported soya.
• SyngentacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual joint PGRO/Syngenta Roadshow events covering topics such as boosting pulse nutrition, mixed cropping developments, nitrogen gap filling, and crop protection findings. Partnership provides combined expertise from the UK's pulse research centre and a major crop protection/input company.
• AHDB (Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAHDB funds research projects that PGRO participates in, including variety trials, pest monitoring development, and the AHDB Aphid News bulletin. PGRO publishes AHDB-funded research and contributes to the AHDB Recommended List system.
• Agri Tech EastminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovation cluster organisation that PGRO participates in, shown as partner on website footer. Likely involves sharing of research findings and participation in agritech innovation initiatives.
• FERA (Food and Environment Research Agency)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on surveillance of virus disease in UK pea crops and plant health identification services. FERA scientists have been involved in identifying and monitoring the bean broomrape (Orobanche crenata) occurrence in the UK.
• University of LincolncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner represented on PGRO Board of Trustees by Prof S. Pearson. University collaboration on research and knowledge transfer in pulse crop science.
• Rothamsted ResearchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing research collaboration on pest monitoring systems, particularly the pheromone trap monitoring system for pea and bean weevil developed jointly with Rothamsted Research and ADAS.
• ADAScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgricultural development and advisory service collaborating with PGRO on field development of pest monitoring systems and integrated pest management research.
• LEGVALUEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean research project on legume value chains in which PGRO participates, focused on developing sustainable legume-based farming systems across Europe.
• DEFRA / Sustainable Arable LINKcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK government funding body providing grants for pulse crop research through LINK programmes, including research on bruchid beetle control and other crop protection projects.
• Koppert UKminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBiological control products supplier providing the pheromone monitoring system for pea and bean weevil, distributed through Koppert UK's commercial channels.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Strengths4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/pgroresearch

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Processors and Growers Research Organisation