Defra Funding: Farming Innovation (multiple competitions)

Farming Futures R&D Fund – Theme 2: Sustainable proteins (Expression of Interest)

Opening Summer 2022

This competition is for UK businesses and research organisations who want to work on longer-term projects that will benefit farmers, growers or foresters in England.

Projects should focus on reducing emissions in agricultural practices and adapting to a changing climate.

R&D Partnership Projects

If you have a new farming product or service you want to develop, you can apply to be funded as a ‘Research and Development (R&D) Partnership’ project.

It’s your chance to pitch something that could improve farming methods and help the environment.

You need to be a business registered in the UK to lead a project. Research organisations and other businesses, including farmers, growers and foresters, can collaborate as part of the project team.

Large R&D Partnership Projects 

Theme 1: Climate smart farming

Opens 30 March 2022

Closes 29 June 2022

You’ll need to collaborate with at least one other business or research organisation (Agri-TechE can help members identify partners). Projects can last up to 4 years and need to cost between £3 million and £6 million.

Apply here

Small R&D Partnership Projects

Round 2 opening Autumn 2022

You’ll need to collaborate with at least one other business or research organisation (Agri-TechE can help members identify partners). Projects can last up to 4 years and need to cost between £3 million and £6 million.

Research Starter Round 2

Opens 23rd May 2022

Closes 6 July 2022

If you, or a group of farmers, have an idea you think could improve farming and solve a long-term practical challenge, you can apply for funding for a ‘Research Starter Project’. The funding is for farmers, growers and foresters to explore ways to bring benefits across the whole farming community. You’ll be able to investigate a problem you know exists to work out what could best be done about it.

£28-56k for a project length of up to 1 year. UK Businesses can lead these projects.

Apply here

Feasibility Studies Round 2

Next round opening Autumn 2022

If you’ve been researching an idea that could improve farming, you can apply for funding to check if it will work in practice. The ‘Feasibility Studies’ competition is for projects that cost between £200,000 and £500,000.

Projects can last for up to 2 years and should help you decide if it’s worth investing more in the development of a product or service.

You need to be a business registered in the UK to lead on a ‘Feasibility Studies’ project. Research organisations, farmers and growers, and other businesses can be part of the project team as collaborators.

Find out more information on the Farming Innovation Programme page.