Payments for research and innovation

New £53 million investment for farming innovation

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A person in a white lab coat stands in a greenhouse aisle, inspecting ripe red tomatoes growing on tall vines supported by white rails on both sides, with green foliage surrounding the walkway

The Farming Innovation Programme (FIP),will receive an additional £53 million investment this year. This means that those trialling new technologies and innovative approaches to cut costs, improve productivity and strengthen business resilience on farms will be able to benefit from a total investment of £123 million across the 2026/27 financial year.

Farming Innovation Investor Partnerships Competition: deadline reminder

Woman picking ripe strawberries from plants growing in rows inside a polytunnel during harvest.

There is still time to apply for funding through the Farming Innovation Investor Partnerships competition. If you are developing a near-market innovation that could benefit farmers or the wider agricultural sector, the application window remains open until 17 June.

Farming Innovation Investor Partnerships: helping new solutions reach farms

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Photograph of a small, gray, porous pellet resting on bright green moss with scattered dry leaves and grass around.

Through the Farming Innovation Investor Partnerships competition, 12 projects are expected to secure more than £40 million in private investment to help bring agri-tech innovations to market. A further competition will open next month.

ADOPT round 6 opens today: hear how farmers are using funding

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Graphic showing the Defra farming podcast logo alongside headshots of this guests.

As Round 6 of the Accelerating Development of Practices and Technologies (ADOPT) Fund opens, we hear from two farmers who have received funding. Thomas Slattery from the Support Hub speaks to Bryony Graham in Essex and Peter Southwell in East Yorkshire.

First precision breeding and low emissions projects awarded funding 

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precision_plants_founders_mark_turner_wearing_gloves_and_charles_clowes_holding_hemp_dna

From rubber made from dandelions to climate‑friendly faba beans in dairy farming, we’re pleased to highlight the innovative projects to receive funding under the first round of precision‑breeding and low‑emissions competitions.

Coming soon: Over £12 million to fund farm innovation

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I’m pleased to let you know that 2 new competition rounds will open this autumn through the Farming Innovation Programme (FIP).  The competitions offer research groups alongside farmers, growers and foresters the chance to test and develop ideas that could improve productivity, sustainability and resilience in agriculture.