ADAS
ADAS is the UK's largest independent agricultural and environmental consultancy, employing 450 scientists across 60+ disciplines. It delivers applied research, policy advice, and practical on-farm solutions to farmers, government bodies, developers, and food producers as part of RSK Group.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1946
- HeadquartersHelsby, United Kingdom
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What ADAS does
ADAS is the UK's largest independent provider of agricultural and environmental consultancy, policy advice, and applied research, operating as RSK ADAS Limited within the RSK Group. Founded in 1946 and headquartered in Helsby, UK, the firm employs 450 scientists, advisors, and consultants across more than 60 environmental and agricultural disciplines, serving farmers, agricultural businesses, developers, landowners, government bodies, and food producers. Its core offerings span six practice areas: Agriculture (arable, horticulture, livestock, soil and water quality), Biotechnology (eDNA diagnostics for species detection and microbial source tracking), Climate Change & Sustainability (net zero, water stewardship, responsible sourcing), Data & Evaluation (digital solutions, environmental modelling, remote sensing), Environment (ecology, biodiversity net gain, arboriculture, archaeology), and Planning & Land Development (planning approvals, land referencing, renewable energy development). Proprietary tools include the Farmscoper decision support system, the LUMEO land use management and optimisation platform, the NMPT-GB nutrient management planning tool (launched 2026 in partnership with Defra, AHDB, and RSK Business Solutions), and a DNA-based Fusarium Basal Rot soil test (co-developed with University of Warwick, funded by Innovate UK).
The business operates as a B2B professional services consultancy on a project-based, quote-based pricing model with multi-year contracts. Revenue is generated through applied research contracts, policy advisory engagements, and ongoing monitoring services for government departments (Defra, AHDB, Innovate UK), water utilities (Affinity Water, Portsmouth Water), research institutions (University of Warwick, Rothamsted Research, Niab, John Innes Centre), and landowners. The firm markets primarily through content (website, newsletters, social media), industry events, and direct client engagement, with international reach available through its RSK Group parent. ADAS also administers the ADOPT Fund, a grant programme (Round 6 offering up to £5 million) for UK farmers, positioning it as both a research provider and a policy delivery partner.
ADAS firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ADAS
- Legal name
- RSK ADAS Limited
- Website
- https://adas.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1946
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- ADAS is the UK's largest independent agricultural and environmental consultancy, employing 450 scientists across 60+ disciplines. It delivers applied research, policy advice, and practical on-farm solutions to farmers, government bodies, developers, and food producers as part of RSK Group.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ADAS industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Agricultural and Environmental Consultancy
- NAICS
- Farm Management Services (115116), Support Activities for Crop Production (11511), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Environmental Consulting Services (54162)
- SIC
- Agricultural Services (700), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Computer Programming Services (7371)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Farm Data Management & Decision Support Services (FMIS Setup, Data Integration, Analytics) (AFACACAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Decision Support & Agronomic Modeling (Yield, Irrigation, Pest/Disease Forecasting) (AFAAAFAF), Farm Management & Decision Support Software (FMIS, ERP, Recordkeeping) (AFAGALAA), Farm Data Platforms, Integration & APIs (Interoperability/Middleware) (AFAAAFAG), Farm Management Information Systems (FMIS) & Farm ERPs (AFAAAFAA)
Keywords
Where ADAS is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Helsby
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
ADAS business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Agricultural and Environmental Consultancy: Professional consultancy services providing applied research, policy advice, and independent advisory services to agricultural businesses, landowners, developers, government bodies, and food producers.
- Research and Development Services: Contract research services for government agencies, industry bodies, and private sector clients including disease monitoring, fungicide efficacy testing, and environmental assessments.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Project-based consultancy services |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
ADAS product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ADAS provides independent agricultural and environmental consultancy, applied research, and policy advice through 450 scientists working across more than 60 scientific disciplines. It also develops proprietary decision-support tools (Farmscoper, LUMEO, NMPT-GB) and biotechnology products (eDNA analysis, Fusarium Basal Rot Soil Test), and operates industry networks such as the Yield Enhancement Network, serving farmers, land developers, food producers, and government bodies across the UK.
Product overview
ADAS offers a comprehensive portfolio of agricultural and environmental consultancy services organized into six core service areas: Agriculture (including arable farming, livestock, horticulture, and soil/water quality), Biotechnology (molecular diagnostics including eDNA testing), Climate Change & Sustainability (net zero, water stewardship, responsible sourcing), Data & Evaluation (including decision support tools like Farmscoper and LUMEO), Environment (ecology, biodiversity, archaeology), and Planning & Land Development. The company also provides specialized tools such as the NMPT-GB nutrient management planning tool and the Fusarium Basal Rot soil DNA test. Additional offerings include expert witness services, training programs through the Yield Enhancement Network, and BASIS-certified courses. These services are delivered by 450 scientists and advisors across 60+ environmental and agricultural disciplines.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Agriculture Services
- ADAS Biotechnology
- Climate Change & Sustainability Services
- Data & Evaluation Services
- Environment Services
- Planning & Land Development Services
- Expert Witness
- Training & Networks
- Farmscoper Decision Support Tool
- LUMEO
- NMPT-GB Nutrient Management Planning Tool
- Yield Enhancement Network (YEN)
- Fusarium Basal Rot Soil Test
Quantifiable outcome
- Reduced nitrate leaching losses by up to 90% compared to weedy stubble control
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use ADAS
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
ADAS technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability6 records
Feature6 records
ADAS partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- DefracorePartner in development of NMPT-GB nutrient management planning tool launched for farmers and land managers in England and Wales.
- AHDBcoreAgricultural and Horticultural Development Board partnered with ADAS and RSK Business Solutions to develop NMPT-GB tool using AHDB Nutrient Management Guide guidance.
- John Innes CentreminorScientific partner leading precision-breeding research for Europe's first precision-bred oilseed rape under £2.5m LLS-ERASED project.
- University of HertfordshireminorResearch partner in LLS-ERASED project developing precision-bred oilseed rape varieties.
- BOFIN FarmerscoreLed the £2.5m three-year LLS-ERASED project for Europe's first precision-bred oilseed rape.
- AHDBcoreAHDB's largest single CSFB research investment valued at approximately £750,000, with a third from industry partners, involving ADAS, Niab, and Rothamsted Research.
- NiabminorResearch partner in CSFB Research+ project addressing cabbage stem flea beetle control in England.
- Rothamsted ResearchminorResearch partner in CSFB Research+ project addressing cabbage stem flea beetle control in England.
- AHDBcoreAHDB awarded £821,755 contract to ADAS-led consortium for three-year fungicide efficacy data project assessing performance against diseases in wheat, barley, and oilseed rape.
- Harper Adams UniversityminorResearch partner in AHDB-funded fungicide efficacy consortium delivering performance data over three years.
- SRUCminorResearch partner in AHDB-funded fungicide efficacy consortium delivering performance data over three years.
- RSK GroupcoreRSK ADAS Limited is part of RSK Group Limited, an international environmental consultancy. This parent-subsidiary relationship provides ADAS with global reach and access to integrated environmental services across Europe, Africa, Middle East, Asia, and Australia.
- Affinity WatercoreCo-funder of ADAS research study on cover crops demonstrating 90% reduction in nitrate leaching losses and increased soil nitrogen supply.
- Portsmouth WatercoreCo-funder of ADAS research study on cover crops demonstrating environmental benefits including reduced nitrate leaching.
- University of WarwickcorePartnership with University of Warwick's Crop Centre to develop DNA soil test for Fusarium Basal Rot detection in UK onion fields, funded by Innovate UK and Defra.
- AHDBcoreADAS completed review of grain contaminants enabling AHDB to issue new guidance on ergot management practices for UK cereal sector.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights7 records
ADAS competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Arcadis: Global design, engineering, and environmental consultancy with significant UK environment and ecology capability. Comparable to ADAS's Environment Services and biodiversity net gain offerings, but as a broad incumbent rather than an agriculture-focused specialist.
- WSP: Global professional services firm with a sizeable environment, planning, and ecology practice serving UK and international developers and public-sector clients. A broad incumbent that competes with ADAS's Planning & Land Development and Environment Services lines, but without ADAS's agricultural specialism.
Direct peers
- Niab: UK crop science organisation providing agronomy, variety testing, and applied agricultural research to levy boards, government, and growers. Closest direct peer to ADAS: competes for the same Defra/AHDB research contracts and runs complementary applied-research programmes (NIAB is itself a co-research partner with ADAS on CSFB Research+).
- Agrii: Major UK agronomy services and crop inputs provider offering on-farm advice, trials, and decision support to arable and horticultural growers. Closest commercial (non-academic) peer to ADAS's agricultural advisory business and a direct competitor for farmer-facing agronomy work.
- SRUC (Scotland's Rural College): UK land-based college delivering applied agricultural and environmental research, consultancy, and education across the UK. Directly comparable to ADAS as a research-plus-consultancy provider; SRUC is also a current ADAS consortium partner on AHDB's fungicide efficacy work.
- NatureMetrics: UK eDNA and biodiversity monitoring specialist serving infrastructure, water utility, and conservation clients. Directly comparable to ADAS Biotechnology (Great Crested Newt eDNA, crayfish eDNA, microbial source tracking) and a commercial competitor in the same regulatory-driven niche.
- CABI (Centre for Agriculture and Biosciences International): International not-for-profit providing scientific expertise, agricultural research, and invasive-species management to governments and agribusiness. Closely comparable to ADAS in mission and customer mix, and stronger on global reach.
- Soil Association: UK charity providing organic certification, sustainability advisory, and farming research. Comparable to ADAS in offering sustainability, carbon, and land-use advisory services to farmers, food producers, and policymakers in the UK.
- Rothamsted Research: UK's oldest agricultural research institute, delivering applied and strategic R&D in crop science, soils, and pest management. Directly comparable to ADAS's research arm; an ADAS partner on the £750k CSFB Research+ consortium and a competitor for Defra/UKRI funding.
Emerging players
- Harper Adams University: UK's leading specialist agriculture university, increasingly active in applied agricultural research, crop trials, and agri-tech. Active ADAS partner on the AHDB fungicide efficacy consortium and an emerging competitor for levy-board-funded research work.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
ADAS social profiles
Digital presenceADAS compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
ADAS financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ADAS leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
ADAS funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ADAS M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about ADAS
What does ADAS do?
ADAS provides independent agricultural and environmental consultancy, applied research, and policy advice through 450 scientists working across more than 60 scientific disciplines. It also develops proprietary decision-support tools (Farmscoper, LUMEO, NMPT-GB) and biotechnology products (eDNA analysis, Fusarium Basal Rot Soil Test), and operates industry networks such as the Yield Enhancement Network, serving farmers, land developers, food producers, and government bodies across the UK.
Is ADAS a public or private company?
ADAS is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was ADAS founded?
ADAS was founded in 1946. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is ADAS based?
ADAS is headquartered in Helsby, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does ADAS make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Agricultural and Environmental Consultancy is the primary driver. The others are research and Development Services.
Who are ADAS's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Arcadis and WSP. Direct peers are Niab, Agrii, SRUC (Scotland's Rural College), NatureMetrics, CABI (Centre for Agriculture and Biosciences International), Soil Association and Rothamsted Research. Harper Adams University is listed as an emerging player.
Does ADAS have an API?
No public API is recorded for ADAS.
What industry is ADAS in?
ADAS's product category is Agricultural and Environmental Consultancy. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFACACAC, Farm Data Management & Decision Support Services (FMIS Setup, Data Integration, Analytics), with a secondary code of AFAAAFAF, Decision Support & Agronomic Modeling (Yield, Irrigation, Pest/Disease Forecasting). Its NAICS code is 115116 and its SIC code is 700.