Defra Farming Innovation Investor Partnership 2026
Supports UK SMEs in developing late-stage, high-impact agricultural innovations that advance productivity, sustainability, and net zero goals in farming.
Funder: UK Research and Innovation
Due Dates: June 17, 2026 (Full application) | December 2, 2026 (Heads of terms with lead investor)
Funding Amounts: Up to £5 million total; individual project costs must be £750,000–£3 million for up to 18 months; grant covers up to 45% (micro/small) or 35% (medium) of eligible costs.
Summary: Supports UK SMEs to develop late-stage innovative farming solutions with aligned private investment, aiming to advance productivity, sustainability, and resilience in agriculture.
Key Information: Projects must secure private investment at least twice the amount of the grant requested from an approved investor.
Description
This funding opportunity, delivered by Innovate UK in partnership with Defra, supports UK-registered micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in developing ambitious, late-stage innovations for the farming sector. The programme’s goal is to drive significant improvements in productivity, sustainability, and resilience in UK agriculture, with a strong emphasis on solutions that help the sector move toward net zero emissions. Projects must demonstrate tangible benefits to farmers, growers, or foresters in England and require both grant funding and aligned private investment from a selected pool of investors.
