Defra launches £12m drive for farm innovation  

Farmers across England are being offered the opportunity to turn cutting-edge ideas into real-world solutions through the Farming Innovation Programme, described as a “Dragons’ Den for farming”.

The two new competitions – backed by Defra and delivered with Innovate UK – aim to bring game-changing technologies to life, from robotic harvesters to early warning systems for livestock health.

Backed by government and delivered in partnership with Innovate UK, the initiative is designed to bring practical solutions to life, such as robotic strawberry pickers and cattle health monitoring systems.

Farmers and agri-tech developers are encouraged to begin preparing applications ahead of the competitions this autumn.

See also: Opinion: How innovation in agriculture is undervalued

One example of funded innovation is the Hoofcount camera system, which helps dairy farmers detect lameness in cows early, cutting vet bills and improving yields.

Defra farming minister Daniel Zeichner said: “This is about giving farming businesses the tools they need to thrive.

“By working with investors to fund and develop new equipment and technology, we are helping farms become more resilient, productive and profitable.”

The competitions opening this autumn include:

• Small R&D Partnerships (opens 15 September): £7.8m for later-stage projects to move new farming products closer to market
• Feasibility Studies (opens 13 October): £4.8m to test early-stage ideas and assess their commercial potential.

Defra says this funding forms part of a wider £11.8bn investment into sustainable farming and food production over this parliament.

The innovation drive will support the Labour government’s New Deal for Farmers, aimed at boosting productivity, protecting supply chains and returning farms to profitability.

Elsewhere, former NFU president Baroness Minette Batters has been appointed to advise on reforms aimed at improving farm profitability. The report is due to be published this autumn.

NFU welcomes funding

The NFU welcomed Defra’s Farming Innovation Programme competitions as a clear sign of government backing for practical, farmer-led solutions to key challenges like labour shortages, sustainable production, animal health, and net zero.

NFU deputy president David Exwood said: “We’ve long called for innovation and knowledge exchange programmes that reflect the realities of farming life and deliver tangible benefits on farm, and that means funding must remain accessible to all and responsive to the sector’s needs.

“We’ll keep working with Defra to ensure these programmes support farm businesses and deliver long-term benefits for rural communities.”