Farmers and growers can now apply for the new competition for up to £1 million in project costs to drive the development of new technology and innovative farming methods, with a focus on practical solutions that make a real impact on farms.
If you have an ambitious research and development project which supports productivity and sustainability in the sector, you can apply for a share of £12.5 million from the Farming Futures competition, which is part of the Farming Innovation Programme. There are two strands of funding under the competition: Strand 1 for Feasibility projects (£200,000 to £500,000); and Strand 2 Industrial Research (£500,000 to £1 million).
Projects could:
- find new ways to detect pests and prevent and manage disease
- help farmers to reduce their fertiliser use
- boost soil resilience
- manage threats from extreme weather and flooding
The competition addresses the challenges to plants, crops and farmed animals, from both their biological (biotic) and physical environments (abiotic). Projects researching how gene editing and methods such as regenerative cropping could boost productivity and crop resilience are also encouraged to apply.
The deadline for applications is 19 July 2023.
