Farm Businesses have until the End of August to Apply to New Farm Innovation Fund.
The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has launched a new funding pot to help small and medium sized farm businesses drive innovation in the sector.
The Farming Innovation Investor Partnership Fund
The Farming Innovation Investor Partnership Competition is a £5m fund that combines private sector investment with government grants to help farm businesses increase sustainable food production, drive progress to net-zero, improve farm resilience and support nature recovery.
Businesses have until 11am on August 30th to apply for the funding.
According to DEFRA, the Farming Innovation Investor Partnership Competition is an extension of the £270m Farming Innovation Programme, which has already committed more than £100m to support early-stage R&D projects in the agri sector.
Pioneering Innovations
Examples of these projects include autonomous livestock monitoring systems, robotic fruit harvesting systems, AI-based weeding systems, intelligent robotic cow cubicles and digital crop management for the early detection of glasshouse pests and diseases.
Applications are encouraged for projects across the livestock, arable, horticulture, bioeconomy and agroforestry sectors that support productivity, sustainability, and farm resilience.
Application Deadline
The competition is funded by DEFRA, run in partnership with UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) and delivered by Innovate UK. It is open for applications now, and businesses have until 11am on August 30th to apply for the funding.
Act Swiftly to Secure Funding
Ian Parker, Director at Whitley Stimpson, urged any businesses interested in applying to act quickly.
He said: “There is a limited window to apply for funding through the Farming Innovation Investor Partnership Competition, so if you’re working on innovative solutions for the agri sector and feel this funding could help you deliver these, don’t delay. You have just a month to put in an application. As a practice that has supported farmers and the farming industry for many years, Whitley Stimpson is well place to advise on making an application to this fund and anyone wishing to do so is welcome to get in touch to discuss it further.”
Application Process
To start an application to the Farming Innovation Investor Partnership Competition, click here.
To speak to Whitley Stimpson about making an application, get in touch on +44 (0)1295 270200 or email ianp@whitleystimpson.co.uk.