Farming Innovation Programme: feasibility round five
Forecasted
Farming Innovation Programme: feasibility round five supports businesses, researchers and agricultural end users with collaborative studies to assess new solutions that benefit farming in England.
Funder: UK Research and Innovation
Due Dates (Anticipated): September 2027 (Competition closes)
Funding Amounts: Up to £15 million total; £200,000–£500,000 eligible project costs; projects up to 24 months
Summary: Supports collaborative feasibility studies addressing major farming challenges and benefiting farmers, growers or foresters in England.
Key Information: A UK registered commercial business must lead, with at least one other grant-claiming UK partner.
Description
Defra’s Farming Innovation Programme, delivered in partnership with Innovate UK, supports feasibility studies investigating new solutions to major on-farm or immediate post-farmgate challenges and opportunities. This competition draws funding from the industry-led Research and Development Partnerships Fund. Studies should help determine whether further investment in developing a product or service is worthwhile.
The programme prioritises early-stage solutions that substantially improve productivity, sustainability and resilience, reduce farming’s environmental impact, and support progress towards low-emission farming and net zero. Projects must demonstrate benefits for farmers, growers or foresters in England in commercially relevant situations. Collaboration between businesses, researchers and agricultural end users is central, with farmers, growers or foresters involved throughout the project to keep outputs relevant to their needs.
