Funding open for large on-Farm R&D Partnerships

The second round of the large R&D partnerships fund to accelerate new solutions and their integration into existing practices by farmers, growers, foresters and researchers has now opened (Feb 20).  It offers a share of £8 million backing to industrial research and experimental development projects that address major on-farm or immediate post-farmgate challenges and opportunities within the UK food and farming sector.

The competition is part of wider funding being provided under the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs’ Farming Innovation Programme, which is delivered by Innovate UK’s Transforming Food Production challenge.

To qualify for funding project applications must show they address a significant challenge or opportunity in at least one of the following industry subsectors:

• livestock
• plants
• novel food production systems
• bioeconomy and agroforestry

Within their submissions, applicants must also show that their solutions or project outputs will significantly improve productivity, sustainability and the environmental impact of farming.

Other key targets are to support the progression towards net zero emissions and to enhance resilience. This includes helping farms deal with input stresses, such as the recent spike in fertiliser prices, or in dealing with threats from pests and disease.

With funding intended to reach a wide portfolio of projects across a variety of technologies, industry sectors and business sizes, applicants are being encouraged to form collaborative partnerships to share knowledge and ideas, with a focus on being able to move through demonstration, commercialisation and adoption phases.

Projects can last up to 4 years and have project costs between £3 million to £5 million.

The competition, due to close on 19 April, has a 2-stage assessment process including an interview stage.

This funding has been allocated for business-led consortia that:

include at least 1 small or medium sized enterprise

involve at least 1 grant claiming academic institution, research and technology organisation, charity, not-for-profit or public sector organisation

Katrina Hayter, Interim Executive Director Healthy Living and Agriculture, Innovate UK, said: “As always with great ideas that will stand the test of time, the foundation is most often in collaboration. Bringing together the unique knowledge of farmers and growers, with the expertise of researchers and technology specialists, is key to finding solutions that work in the real world.

“We look forward to supporting applicants and helping to identify truly exciting partnerships that have the potential to help meet the sustainability, efficiency and net zero challenges facing the UK’s agrifood industry both now and in the future.”

More information online