FETF offers grants for equipment, technology and small infrastructure to boost productivity, improve slurry management and enhance animal health and welfare.  ADOPT provides collaborative farmer-led, innovation grants, for farmers and farm businesses to trial new technology and methods on their farm.  These practical research projects will help to prove innovative ways of boosting farm productivity, food security and nature’s recovery across England. 

FARMING EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY FUND (FETF)

This spring, the government will launch one round of FETF, with grants of between £1,000 and £25,000 available.  Over the past 3 rounds of FETF, farmers, growers, foresters and other contractors in England have received over £107 million to buy new equipment and technology.  

In total, £30 million will be available for productivity and slurry management projects and £16.7 million will be available for animal health and welfare. 

The Farming Innovation Programme (FIP)  

Through FIP, funding is available to farmers, growers and foresters who want to develop and use new, innovative methods and technologies.    

You'll be able to apply for grants through the following competitions:  

  • A thematic competition that builds on the opportunities unlocked by the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023, with up to £12.5 million available to fund research to deliver the practical benefits of precision breeding technology to farmers. For example, enhanced disease resistance or reducing the need for nutrients or pesticides.  
  • A thematic competition focused on Net Zero farming with up to £12.5 million across projects to fund research focusing on technologies and practices to help transition the sector towards Net Zero.   
  • Further Industry-led competitions with up to £17.6 million across projects. These will range from early-stage feasibility to those at a later stage in the R&D pipeline towards commercialisation.   
  • The FIP competitions pages at Farming Innovation Programme website will host full information on how to apply once the calls go live. 
  • FIP has already invested £51.8 million, with an additional £98 million committed to ongoing projects which are advancing agri-technology research.  The types of projects supported include: 
  • The use of semi-transparent solar panels in glasshouses and polytunnels.  
  • The use of daffodil extract in cattle feed to help reduce methane emissions from cows.   

To access example case studies, visit the FIP case studies collection at Case Studies – Farming Innovation Programme 

ACCELERATING DEVELOPMENT OF PRACTICES AND TECHNOLOGIES FUND (ADOPT)   

ADOPT provides collaborative farmer-led, innovation grants, for farmers and farm businesses to trial new technology and methods on their farm.  These practical research projects will help to prove innovative ways of boosting farm productivity, food security and nature’s recovery across England.   

It will open for applications in spring 2025 and grants will be available to fund projects of between £50,000 to £100,000 in size.  

To ensure farmers and growers can access ADOPT and the evidence generated effectively, we have established a bespoke Support Hub to support farmers in their application and encourage collaboration.  The hub will be led by RSK ADAS with support from the UK Agri Tech Centre and Soil Association.    

This is to encourage farmers, foresters, growers, research organisations and others in the industry to consider these opportunities and to start to think about the types of projects and who to partner with. 

The UK Food Valley welcomes these new funds which has an important role to play alongside other support for agritech development, such as the programmes offered in Greater Lincolnshire by UKRI, the Launchpad, Barclays Eagle Lab and the University of England, as well as capital investment grants for technology on farms.