Farming Futures R&D fund: Automation and Robotics Round 2
UK Research and Innovation's Farming Futures R&D fund supports collaborative research to advance automation and robotics in UK agriculture, horticulture, and forestry.
Funder: UK Research and Innovation
Due Dates: September 30, 2026 (Full application deadline, 11:00am UK time)
Funding Amounts: Up to £20 million total; eligible project costs between £500,000 and £2.5 million; project duration 12–36 months.
Summary: Supports collaborative R&D to advance automation and robotics in UK agriculture, horticulture, and forestry sectors.
Key Information: Open to UK-registered businesses leading collaborations; projects must benefit farmers/growers in England.
Description
This funding opportunity, part of the Farming Futures R&D fund and delivered by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) in partnership with Defra and Innovate UK, aims to accelerate the development and adoption of automation and robotics technologies in agriculture, horticulture, and forestry. The competition supports ambitious, collaborative projects that address key sector challenges—such as productivity, sustainability, resource efficiency, and reducing reliance on seasonal labour—through innovative automation and robotics solutions. Projects must demonstrate clear benefits to farmers or growers in England and align with sector priorities for environmental and societal impact.
