Deadline Date: June 17, 2026
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), in partnership with Innovate UK, is offering up to £5 million in grant funding to support innovative farming projects developed by UK registered micro, small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in collaboration with private investors.
The programme focuses on developing ambitious late-stage innovative solutions, technologies, systems and approaches that improve productivity, profitability, sustainability and resilience in the agriculture sector, support the transition towards net zero emissions by 2050, accelerate the commercialisation and adoption of near-market farming innovations, and deliver clear benefits to farmers, growers or foresters in England.
The funding opportunity is part of Defra’s Farming Innovation Programme delivered by Innovate UK. Successful applicants will receive grant funding from Innovate UK alongside aligned investment funding from one of the programme’s selected investor partners. The initiative also aims to provide participating businesses with access to commercial expertise, including leadership support, market access opportunities, skills development and strategic resources.
Projects submitted under this competition must have total eligible costs between £750,000 and £3 million and must run for a duration of 18 months. All project activities must take place within the UK, and applicants must demonstrate plans to exploit the project outcomes in or from the UK. Projects are not permitted to begin before 1 April 2027 and must clearly show how they will benefit the farming, growing or forestry sectors in England.
To lead a project, organisations must be UK registered SMEs and be willing to negotiate terms for aligned private investment. Applicants must also seek private financing that is at least twice the value of the grant requested. Although discussions with investors are encouraged before applying, organisations may still submit an application prior to securing investment discussions.
The competition is highly competitive and subject to funding availability. Applications will be assessed for eligibility and alignment with investor support before grant funding is offered. Innovate UK may also consider factors such as prior conduct, outstanding payments and broader government funding priorities when making final funding decisions.
For more information, visit GOV.UK.
