New £12.6m Defra Innovation Fund Opens for Farmers and Growers
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Farming has always been about adapting, innovating, and finding smarter ways to make the land work harder. Now, with the launch of a brand-new £12.6 million funding opportunity, farmers and growers have the chance to take bold new ideas from the drawing board into the field.
Defra has announced two new competitions under its Farming Innovation Programme, styled as a “Dragons’ Den for farming.” The aim? To back research and development projects that don’t just tackle today’s challenges, like labour shortages, rising costs, and animal health – but also unlock long-term growth and sustainability. From robotic strawberry pickers to high-tech cattle health monitoring, Defra and Innovate UK are on the lookout for practical solutions that can help the sector thrive.
Funding details
The funding, delivered in partnership with Innovate UK, will open this autumn. It’s split into two key pots:
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Small R&D Partnerships: up to £7.8 million is available to support later-stage projects that can help bring new products or services to market. This is about taking promising ideas and making them commercially viable. Applications open 15 September.
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Feasibility Studies: worth £4.8 million, this strand is for farmers and businesses with early-stage concepts. It’s designed to test new ideas, assess potential, and build the case for larger R&D projects down the line.
Both streams are open to farming businesses with a vision, whether that’s making day-to-day operations more efficient, reducing reliance on seasonal labour, cutting chemical use, or driving improvements in sustainability and animal welfare.
Why it matters
Farming Minister Daniel Zeichner described the programme as giving farm businesses “the tools they need to thrive.” He added: “By working with investors to fund and develop new equipment and technology, we are helping farms become more resilient, productive and profitable. These grants put the Plan for Change into action, supporting farmers to adapt, compete and grow, whatever challenges and opportunities lie ahead.”
The funding builds on a growing track record of farm-led innovation. Take Rootwave, for example, a project already backed through the programme. Rootwave is pioneering an electrical weed control technology that reduces reliance on herbicides. CEO Andrew Diprose explained that while “an e-weeding concept has been considered for some time,” it is only now, with growing pressure to move away from chemical use, that the technology has found its moment. With funding support, Rootwave has been able to test, refine, and generate wider adoption of its environmentally friendly approach.
A chance to diversify and futureproof
For farmers already exploring diversification, this new funding represents more than just research support, it’s a gateway to resilience. By developing new products, trialling breakthrough technologies, or exploring sustainable practices, farms can create multiple income streams and reduce reliance on traditional models alone.
The £12.6m fund is an open invitation to think creatively about the future of farming. Whether it’s smarter automation, renewable energy applications, or consumer-facing innovations, the opportunity is there to develop ideas that strengthen both the rural economy and the environment.
Join us at Farm Business Innovation, 5-6 November at the NEC, Birmingham, to discover the latest opportunities, insights, and funding initiatives shaping the future of UK farming. Don’t miss your chance to gain practical advice and connect with industry leaders.
