A share of £12.5M is up for grabs via the third round of the Farming Futures Research and Development Fund, which is set to open in January.
Ahead of its launch, Defra has published new guidance for the latest round of funding is encouraging farmers, growers, businesses and researchers to apply for a share of the £12.5M, with grants for projects worth between £500,000 and £1.5M available.
Boosting productivity
In partnership with UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), Defra will match-fund projects which will boost productivity and sustainable farming practices through the development of automation and robotic technologies on farm.
The fund aims to bring together agri-food businesses and researchers to address strategic and sector-wide challenges through transformative solutions. Previously funded projects have included fruit scouting robots, automated vegetable harvesters and new types of fertiliser.
Ingenious solutions
“This is an exciting opportunity for farmers and growers to come together with businesses and researchers to invent ingenious solutions to the problems our agriculture and horticulture sectors face,” says Mark Spencer, farming minister.
“Automation and robotics has huge potential to improve productivity and sustainability and by supporting some of the most promising ideas to get off the ground we are investing in a successful agriculture and horticulture industry for generations to come.”
How to apply
This investment forms part of Defra’s £270M Farming Innovation Programme, which was launched in October 2021. More than £70 million has been spent so far on industry-led research and development in agriculture and horticulture.
Applications can be submitted from 9 January 2023, and project leads should be UK-registered businesses of any size while farmers can participate as part of a wider consortium.
