£20m up for grabs to develop on-farm ‘human replacements’
© LELY Agri-tech businesses are being invited to apply for another slice of funding to develop innovative new products as Defra opens a second round of its Farming Futures R&D Fund.
With £20m up for grabs, the cash is intended to support projects that improve productivity, manage labour pressures and make everyday tasks more efficient.
See also: Defra adds another £53m to farm innovation pot
This might include robots and innovative technologies that can plant, tend and harvest crops. Livestock research companies are also eligible to take part, and the scheme is being extended to include the ornamentals and forestry sectors.
Defra farming minister Stephen Morgan said: “Farmers work incredibly hard to put food on our tables, often battling to find enough seasonal workers when the pressure is on.
“This funding will help put cutting-edge robots and technology into their hands, easing that burden while boosting yields and profits.”
The £20m fund forms part of the recent £53m boost to the government’s Farming Innovation Programme, run in partnership with Innovate UK. The total funding pot for the 2026-27 financial year stands at £123m.
Previous beneficiaries from the 2023 funding round include Fieldwork Robotics, which is using government funding to make its raspberry-picking robot more reliable so it can be rolled out commercially.
In the livestock sector, Roboscientific’s DETECT project has also developed technology that can “sniff out” illness in dairy cows using breath analysis.
To be eligible for the new round, projects must be collaborative between tech companies, researchers and farmers, have a total value of between £500,000 and £2.5m, and address industry challenges and support sustainable growth.
The deadline to apply is 30 September 2026.
Capital grants going fast
Defra has confirmed that 75% of the £225m made available through its Capital Grants 2026 programme for farmers, land managers and foresters in England has now been spent.
The new round opened on Thursday 30 July and 25% was gone within the first day. The money is intended to cover up to 40% of the cost of various items and actions that can help farmers benefit nature, improve water quality, enhance biodiversity and support sustainable land management. There are 80 eligible items.
Defra has urged anyone still thinking of applying to act quickly before the whole £225m is allocated. It also advises that capital grants available through the Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier offer are funded from a separate budget.
