LiveLab
LiveLab Limited is a UK agricultural analytical laboratory founded in 2006, providing grain, feedstuff, biogas, soil, seed, and waste testing alongside agronomy services to UK farmers, feed manufacturers, and grain merchants using Diode Array NIR instruments and an online client portal.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersOakham, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What LiveLab does
LiveLab Limited is a privately held UK agricultural analytical laboratory founded in 2006 and headquartered in Oakham, Rutland. The company provides testing and consultation services across seven product lines: grain analysis, animal feedstuff analysis, biogas analysis, waste analysis, seed testing, soil analysis, and agronomy consultation. It serves grain merchants, feed manufacturers, biogas plant operators, landowners, growers, contractors, and farmers across the United Kingdom through direct engagement and a secure online client portal.
The laboratory employs Diode Array NIR (Near Infrared) instruments alongside wet chemistry methods and ISTA-standard seed testing protocols. LiveLab claims to be the first UK laboratory to offer real-time analyser-to-desktop result streaming, the first to deploy second-generation rapid mycotoxin testing methods, and the first to use Diode Array NIR technology for feedstuff analysis. Results are delivered through the LARS client portal, typically within 24-36 hours of sample receipt, with same-day turnaround available for biogas digestate samples. Twelve-month grain sample storage is provided.
Revenue is generated through usage-based per-sample testing fees and recurring monitoring contracts, with pricing supplied on a quote basis. Customer logos include enterprise grain and feed accounts (ADM Direct, Premium Crops, Grainmonitor Ltd, CAM) alongside mid-market and SMB agricultural businesses. The company holds multiple sector-specific accreditations, including Gafta GTAS Analyst (No. 18), UFAS for feed analysis, PAS 100 for compost/soil, DEFRA licensing for animal by-products, and ISTA (No. 58 LGC AFPS) for seed testing, and is working towards UKAS ISO 17025 accreditation.
LiveLab firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- LiveLab
- Legal name
- LiveLab Limited
- Website
- https://livelab.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- LiveLab Limited is a UK agricultural analytical laboratory founded in 2006, providing grain, feedstuff, biogas, soil, seed, and waste testing alongside agronomy services to UK farmers, feed manufacturers, and grain merchants using Diode Array NIR instruments and an online client portal.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
LiveLab industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Agricultural Laboratory Services
- NAICS
- Testing Laboratories and Services (54138), Postharvest Crop Activities (except Cotton Ginning) (115114)
- SIC
- Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Agricultural Services (700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Laboratory Analysis Services (Wet Chemistry, Microbiology for Grains) (AFAOAMAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Forage & Feed Testing Services (Silage, Hay, Pasture) (AFACAKAM), Soil Health & Biological Testing Services (Microbial Activity, Organic Matter, Respiration) (AFACAKAD)
Keywords
Where LiveLab is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Oakham
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
LiveLab business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Grain Analysis Services: Contract analysis services for grain merchants covering wheat, barley, oilseed rape, oats, beans, peas, rye, linseed, millet, canary, and borage. Includes mycotoxin and erucic acid testing. Revenue from per-sample testing fees.
- Animal Feedstuff Analysis: UFAS compliant laboratory delivers routine QC analysis for feed manufacturers. Results available online for all parameters. Revenue from testing contracts.
- Biogas Industry Analysis: Leading supplier of analysis to UK biogas industry. Routine plant monitoring of digestate samples completed same day. Revenue from ongoing monitoring contracts.
- Agronomy Consultation Services: Full BASIS agronomy service for landowners, growers, and contractors including advice on wheat yields, quality, and digestate spreading.
- Seed Testing Services: Diagnostic germinations and disease testing for farm retained seed using ISTA methods. Revenue from per-sample testing.
- Soil Analysis Services: Analysis for phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, and full PAS 100 compliant suites.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Custom agricultural testing packages |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
LiveLab product offering
Product offeringCore offering
LiveLab provides laboratory analytical testing and agronomy services to the UK agricultural industry. Using Diode Array NIR instruments, wet chemistry, and ISTA-compliant methodologies, the Oakham-based laboratory analyses grain, animal feedstuffs, biogas digestate, soil, seed, and waste samples, delivering results online in real-time via its LARS client portal. The company also offers BASIS-registered agronomy consultation for landowners, growers, and contractors.
Product overview
LiveLab is a leading independent provider of analytical services to agriculture and related industries, operating as a unified laboratory offering multiple interconnected analysis services. The core offering comprises seven main product lines: Grain Analysis (wheat, barley, oilseed rape, oats, beans, peas, rye, linseed, millet, canary, borage), Animal Feedstuff Analysis (soya, corn, sunflower, maize, palm, feed), Biogas Analysis (feedstock, digestate, fertilizer), Waste Analysis, Seed Testing & Analysis, Soil Analysis, and Agronomy Services. All services are delivered through a single GAFTA assured laboratory facility using advanced Diode Array NIR instruments, with results streamed online in real-time. The laboratory also provides supplementary services including microbiology, wet chemistry verification, resistance testing, PCN quantification, and faecal egg enumeration.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Grain Analysis Comprehensive grain analysis covering wheat, barley, oilseed rape, oats, beans, peas, rye, linseed, millet, canary, and borage. Includes mycotoxin and erucic acid testing with results available within 24-36 hours and streamed live from analysers to client desktops. Targeted at grain merchants and trading companies.
- Animal Feedstuff Analysis UFAS compliant laboratory analysis of animal feedstuffs including soya, corn, sunflower, maize, palm, wheat/bran/oat feed, sugar beet, and meal. Delivers routine QC analysis for feed manufacturers with online results across all parameters.
- Biogas Analysis Consultation and analysis throughout the biogas production process, including feedstock, digestate, and fertilizer testing. Provides routine plant monitoring with same-day digestate analysis for UK anaerobic digestion operators.
- Waste Analysis Analysis of waste materials supporting compliance with waste regulations and environmental standards for agricultural and related industry clients.
- Seed Testing and Analysis Seed testing services using ISTA methods, offering a full suite of diagnostic germinations and disease testing for all commodities including farm retained seed. Positioned as equivalent to DEFRA licensed seed testing.
- Soil Analysis Soil analysis services covering phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, and full PAS 100 compliant suites including major and trace elements, organic matter, humic and fulvic acids for nutrient management and regulatory compliance.
- Agronomy Services Full BASIS agronomy service for landowners, growers, and contractors providing advice on increasing wheat yields and quality, spreading digestate, and other agronomic consultations.
- Comprehensive Laboratory Services GAFTA assured laboratory offering grains/oilseeds/pulses analysis, Diode Array NIR feedstuff analysis, forage analysis, ISTA-compliant seed testing, soil elemental analysis, microbiology (Salmonella, E. coli, moulds), international reference methods, wet chemistry, resistance testing, PCN quantification, and faecal egg enumeration as supplementary services.
Quantifiable outcome
- Grain samples processed and available by 4pm when collected at 9am
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use LiveLab
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
LiveLab technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
LiveLab partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
LiveLab competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Mérieux NutriSciences: Food safety and quality testing laboratory with European operations covering agricultural commodities and feed analysis. Overlaps with LiveLab's grain, feedstuff, and mycotoxin testing services.
- Intertek Group: Global testing and certification provider with agricultural commodity testing services. Operates as a broader incumbent with deeper accreditation and global reach than LiveLab.
- Bureau Veritas: Global testing, inspection, and certification company with agri-food commodity testing services. Competes in similar agricultural laboratory testing space as a broader incumbent.
- ALS Global: International testing services group with agricultural and food testing divisions. Provides overlapping grain and feed testing capabilities but at much larger scale across multiple geographies.
- SGS SA: Global leader in testing, inspection, and certification with significant agricultural and food testing operations. Direct competitor in agricultural commodity testing but operates at vastly larger scale and broader service breadth than LiveLab.
- Eurofins Scientific: Major European testing laboratory network with dedicated agri-food testing services including grain, feed, and soil analysis. Competes with LiveLab in UK agricultural testing but offers far broader geographic and service footprint.
Direct peers
- Sciantec Analytical Services: UK-based agricultural testing laboratory providing feed, grain, and forage analysis. Direct comparable in size, scope, and UK market focus to LiveLab.
- NRM Laboratories: UK-based laboratory providing agricultural testing including grain, soil, and feedstuff analysis with UKAS accreditation. Direct UK competitor serving similar agricultural customer base.
- Cawood Scientific (formerly Scientifics): UK-based agricultural and environmental testing laboratory offering similar grain, soil, and feed analysis services. Closest direct UK peer to LiveLab with overlapping service menu and target customers.
Emerging players
- R-Biopharm: Specialist in mycotoxin and food safety testing with rapid test kits and laboratory services. Adjacent competitor particularly in the mycotoxin testing niche where LiveLab has first-mover status.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
LiveLab social profiles
Digital presenceLiveLab compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
LiveLab financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
LiveLab leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
LiveLab funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
LiveLab 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 LiveLab
What does LiveLab do?
LiveLab provides laboratory analytical testing and agronomy services to the UK agricultural industry. Using Diode Array NIR instruments, wet chemistry, and ISTA-compliant methodologies, the Oakham-based laboratory analyses grain, animal feedstuffs, biogas digestate, soil, seed, and waste samples, delivering results online in real-time via its LARS client portal. The company also offers BASIS-registered agronomy consultation for landowners, growers, and contractors.
Is LiveLab a public or private company?
LiveLab is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was LiveLab founded?
LiveLab was founded in 2006. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is LiveLab based?
LiveLab is headquartered in Oakham, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does LiveLab make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Grain Analysis Services are the primary driver. The others are animal Feedstuff Analysis, biogas Industry Analysis, agronomy Consultation Services, seed Testing Services and soil Analysis Services.
Who are LiveLab's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Mérieux NutriSciences, Intertek Group, Bureau Veritas, ALS Global, SGS SA and Eurofins Scientific. Direct peers are Sciantec Analytical Services, NRM Laboratories and Cawood Scientific (formerly Scientifics). R-Biopharm is listed as an emerging player.
Does LiveLab have an API?
No public API is recorded for LiveLab.
What industry is LiveLab in?
LiveLab's product category is Agricultural Laboratory Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAOAMAJ, Laboratory Analysis Services (Wet Chemistry, Microbiology for Grains), with a secondary code of AFACAKAM, Forage & Feed Testing Services (Silage, Hay, Pasture). Its NAICS code is 54138 and its SIC code is 8734.